Wings, swings, stings and things at Scout camp

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 579, 28 March 1995, Page 5

Wings, swings, stings and things at Scout camp

The screams and tears of five young female scouts who disturbed a wasp nest started off the recent Combined Inter-District Scout Camp held under canvas at the Kawhatau Outdoor Education Centre near Mangaweka. Thirty seven scouts from Palmerston North, Bulls, Marton and Mangaweka joined with 31 scouts and two senior cubs from the Ohakune Troop to enjoy an extremely active, confidence building and adventurous weekend. All of the Scouts free-descended off a nearby bridge, with most of the Scouts then abseiling down a 20-metre cliff next to the campsite. Parents were heard to ask "you went off that?" in amazement to their children who were typically unfazed by the whole experience. A flying fox had been erected which reached a terminal velocity of "very fast". To build up scouts' confidence one particular cub leader took to riding it in tandem with them, so that all could experience the adrenalin rush. Other activities over the weekend included archery, rifle shooting, pioneering (turning a pile of poles and string into a fimctioning swing), aerodynamics (making model jets, flying saucers and helicopters), compass work, swimming, horizontal bungy and campfire singing. Some of them even managed to get a little sleep. For many it was their first-ever camp, and one most will not forget in a hurry. All are eagerly looking forward to their next scouting activity which is a swimming, lifesaving and snorkelling module in the Waiouru Pool over the next three Wednesday nights.