COUNTY CAMP

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 41, 5 February 1946, Page 5

COUNTY CAMP

SCOUTS AT ROTOMA A SUCCESSFUL WEEK The annual County Boy Scout • camp, of. a week’s duration held this ~year on the sand spit at Lake Rotoma terminated on Saturday morning, when the seventy odd boys, from all parts of the Bay of Plenty, dispersed to their respective homes. The camp, which was aimed not only ■at instructional work in a number of sides of scouting but also at bringing out the initiative and re*, sourcefulness in each individual boy, was an v unqualified success, the lads responding well to the responsibility .placed on them. \

A trihute to those to whom fell >tlie running of the camp was the fact that the week was marred by no untoward incident or accident. The boys were particularly well behaved even the typical ‘last night in camp’ being quiet and orderly. The camp was under the control of District Commissioner Lofley, of Opotiki, who acted as Camp Comimandant. Scoutmaster Howell (Awaken) was in charge of the Quarter- . master’s Store (in which there was a signal absence of rats, rats, rats .as big as cats etc.) and the issuing of: rations. The two other members

■of the stall consisted of A.S.M. Lieut. G. West (Whakatane Achilles Sea Scouts) and Mr Rau, Scout committee man from Waiotahi, who, owing to the difficulty experienced in finding Scouters to help control •the camp, offered his assistance. To make for better and easier ad.ministration, the boys were divided ;up into patrols each patrol averaging five lads under a patrol leader, the latter being chosen for his pre•vious experience. The hoys in each patrol lived together, ate together, slept together worked together and ,earned points together. The. latter method* of giving points, was introduced on the first day, and proved to be a never failing stimulant. ..For neatness and cleanliness of tents, kitchens, pots and pans, and anything in which a high standard was required points were allotted to teach patrol, the team spirit being ■.emphasised as a means of attaining the highest possible degree of efficiency .

A feature of the camp was the. patrol cooking. In place of the old method Avhereby one cook prepared .sufficient food for the entire camp f .taking all responsibilit3 r from the iboys themselves the now almost Dominion wide method of patrol cooking was introduced. A typical day commenced at 7 a.m., when the strains of the Reveille drifted over the sleeping tents. The whole camp immediately became .busy ahd alert, and a short time later the signal was given to collect rations. Each patrol then prepared _and cooked its own/ breakfast. At 9 a.m. parade and Dag break took place and this was followed by a thorough inspection of the camp. Normal activities took place till lunch time when rations were drawn ..and lunch’prepared. The program' me continued in the afternoon till 4 p.m. when a general swim took place. This was under strict supervision all safety precautions including a boat patrolling on the outside .of the swimmers, a lifebouy and a team of lifesavers ready on the

beach being taken. Following the swim, rations for dinner were drawn, and the meal prepared. (Doubtless many mothers would be amazed at the expert manjner in which their apparently kit-chen-shy" sons cooked tasty two course meals including everything from vegetable stews and stewed fruit to plum puddings, all done to a turn and excellently served). In ths evening, the usual Scout get-together was held, when songs, jokes and anything that went for .amusement filled in the time between dinner and supper. The latter consisted of hot cocoa and either buns or biscuits. One of the highlights of the week was a tramp round the edge of the lake and over some of the bush clad hills to a small bay some distance .away. A fourteen foot dinghy man-

ned by the Whakatane Sea Scouts pulling four oars made the long trip round to the bay carrying the ‘tucker’ and flapjacks were prepared .over camp fires on the beach. On Friday evening, a number of visitors from Awaken arrived via •special bus, for the campfire ceremony. Awards for the greatest num J ber of points gained were, made to members of the Edgecumbe troop,

whilst the winning troops in the athletic sports held on Thursday afternoon were, announceld. Comm. Lofley acted as Master of Ceremonies, whilst County Commissioner C. King-sley-Smith, made the presentations and awards and later addressed the visitors. Camp broke up on Saturday morning, and the last of the lads were en route for their homes shortly after lunch having spent a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable week.