Scouts camping on a wet and rainy weekend

Well - s'pose I should be thankful for some small mercies - like a waterproof tent. We took some scouts out camping and the weekend started fine but then it became a wet and rainy weekend. - (I unpacked my suitcase and found gear I had taken there, but not worn, quite DAMP - so yeah). Just as well that I took James and not Brodie (who has a reputation for going camping only in gumboots!!!)
Anyhow the youth came together from our Scout Zone and about 100 youth bunked down for the weekend. They had a ball. From our Group only 4 where brave enough to face the two madcap leaders and a camping experience away. I have to say - well done guys -you survived with flying colors. Seeing that what happens on camp stays on camp - I can't tell you some of the most funny stories / jokes we had - suffice to say - competition giggles has - more to work on her humor she needs.
Pics below - enjoy

So after we set up the campsite, we build the first part of the framework for the afternoon wide game - some water battle that needed a observation tower - a derrick for more supplies, a flag pole and urm stores. The platform also doubled as a local prison and while water-boarding was no longer an option some "prisoners" did get a free shower. - urm we also placed ONE sticky plaster in the middle of the floor and told scouts that if they fall down they have to aim for the sticky plaster - if they miss - they dont get to use that for whatever damage they would have done to themselves!! Suffice to say - they all decided to give that part a miss.

LOL - never mind the cars - the scouts did a good job themselves running round at speed!!




After a half day of running round in cold and drizzly weather - my cooked lunch was described as "Da Bomb" and "Papabears Super special" I have to admit - it was rather tasy and went down well. Nothing left over here!! Maybe - just maybe here is a new burger waiting for McDonalds to be "discovered"?? I am sure it would be a great hit!!

Mothers take NOTE - They DO KNOW how to wash up - so its up to you to utilize their newly acquired skill at home!!













The day finished with a camp fire and sing songs and stories and jokes - a good time to show of your camp blanket and all your badges and dear I say it - some warmth!!

Sadly Campfires are a endangerd species in Canterbury - with almost year round fire bans in force, the youth today no longer get to learn the skill in how to light fires / cook safely on fires and just basic fire safety eticette. Shame really because it is becoming a lost art very soon . . . .








The next day saw all the scouts competing in some games - we had a very intense wheelbarrow race (where listen and following instructions came at a premium) to the old gum boot toss/ tow a tractor / set up a electric fence (hehehe sadly no juice running through the fence - shame )/ to see how many hits it takes to pound in a 4 inch nail and how long it takes to cut a piece of a 2x4 / to tossing over a high rope a decent hay bale!
















Camp has finished with a traditional Scouts own and flag down.













Time to pack up and head back home - and a WARM shower and my very own comfy bed!
Oh and I got to watch the last 40 min of rugby before I crashed in bed- seems the All Blacks have re-discovered a way of winning - playing a decently game - so all in all a great weekend.

:)

Another Kea Camp - cheeky little NZ Parrot's -

So here I am s'posed to be in "retirement" but in Nov 09 - I have been rather busy.
First there was the Patrol Leader only camp - then the build a rope bridge across the creek Scout activity and then a Kea Camp. Next weekend I'm off on another weekend camp - this time from / with our Scout Zone. Mamabear will have a long list of jobs waiting for me during Christmas - I'm sure!!
Anyhow with out further adoooo here are some of the best pic's from kea camp
Enjoy

Getting the Flag pole ready. Then had to test it to make sure it held up ok. I have to say the lashing and knotting was first Class!! Go the "Former Guide" that did some good work here! :)












Incoming activity - getting the place mats decorated, which we then laminated for their use at dinnertime. Keeps them quiet and occupied while leaders set up the next activity. I have to say there is / was some fantastic artwork happening. I can see a budding Michaelangelo
:D










Vinnie had his first camp and he felt a bit overwhelmed, and homesick. This Kea took the Scout Kea motto to heart ( I care, I share, I discover, I grow) and gave a welcome hug and looked after Vinnie for a few hours! Well done!!











The official Flag break happening - and yep - it was correct and yep - stayed up it did, well done you have. I'd like to point out too that we anchored the post with 3 yes three only Tent pegs!!











Just in case - we had to advertise ourselves. The campsite last week was very full (long weekend here) but this weekend it was nearly empty - bar our Keas - some guides and a couple of caravans. That meant we could make a lot of noise - hehehe and give the guides some cheeky Kea - urm - stuff!! - see below later.





Hi ho hi ho - off to the mines - oooops forest walk - we go - exploring time yay!!








The sun shone - mostly - and the theme was based on water safety - so naturally we decided to have a tug of war - in the river. We then challenged 7 guides against our Keas. Not surprisingly the bigger and meaner girls won easily. But not for want of trying - and we certainly made the bigger grunting noises!!!! (hehehe payback time for that came later the next day)





You want to float down THERE. Ok we got it, will do, river allowing!!
(Actually the tins demonstrated how fast the flow can be)









Kids and water - goes well together. Here we are "improving" the Dam the guides had started and lost interest in. We also added a water wheel to demonstrate who power can be made!! This could have kept them going till tea time - sadly there was more to do / see/ go to . . . .







Feeding time of the cheeky Keas - and what better way to finish of a polished tucker with a decent dollop of good old Kiwi ice cream!! Yummmm









Indoor Campfire. Sadly we have fire restriction on and so have to be creative when it comes to indoor fires. We use a old gnarled branch and some tea-light candles. If you got a bright idea on what else we can do - let us know via the comments!! A lantern springs to mind . . . .






The concentration!!!! Turns out the only way to get a perfect round circle pancake is in the wrist action!! For some Keas this was the first time they helped with food cooking. Havnt they done well!!!! Hmmmm that reminds me - I need to go for a long walk - these pancakes where most delicious!!






LOL - having been beaten in the tug-of-war we sent the Keas for a walk very bright and early (you believe it - they were awake at 5.30 am - crack of dawn stuff!!) and took them past the guides who needed a sleep in - and of course we had to do the Kea chant. Which went down real well with the girls - so much so that brought them a peace offering later - which was duly accepted. Ahhh nothing like a good humored friendly inter - rivalry between the two youth movements. Bring it on



Hand drawn chariots - some water - and a challenge to get as much water as possible across the field to get to a winner. wohoooo








Sponge ball water fight - everyone (who participated) got wet - no further comment required (although I am not sure why a leader had to wear a life jacket - was he afraid of the Keas??)







At the end of Camp - presentation of the "I survived my first Kea camp badge" - nice badge too.








The birthday boy got to lower the flag!! And with that the camp finished. Some tiered and happy campers went home - hmmm wonder how many fell asleep on the home journey???












Ok these are a very small cross section of what we did on camp - I am going to burn all 100 plus photos on a cd and give it to the Kea leader - if any of you Keas want a copy - Hassle the cheeky grown bird!! Mind you - a small number of pictures aren't that great a quality - I'm still mucking about with the new SLR Camera - learning the different settings etc etc - anyways - enjoy

Scouts and Bridgebuilding at Omaka

hmmmm ok so the two scout troops combined one night and took out some timber and ropes and a lot of enthusiasm and urm - well some kind of skill "and build a bridge they did". This was held at a nearby Scout Camp site called Omaka and as you can see there is a creek running -
so take some scouts and water and try and keep them dry - a impossible task!!

Still there was eventually some impressive pioneering skills on display - so we must have taught them well??


Urm - ok - how did we do this??
Did we take this toothpick and urm - whip it - no lash it to the thing-a-ma-jig - over there??? Come to think of it . . . .
Did we bring the hupa-whats-it gadget??






One patrols effort taking shape - they ended anchoring both ends and laying spars across - and had a easy walk!!








Urm - Houston we have a problem - I'm sure I didn't eat that much yesterday for Breakfast!!!!!

( shhhh - dinner on the other hand . . . .)






Ok so we used three blocks and tackles and some more rope and some pulleys and tightened the ropes and hey presto
I can even wave - before I fall in!!
Puts some new meaning to the words - "pride comes before the fall"






Hang in there buddy - it will be worth it.

On the other hand it's only water - cold at that . . . .







A different approach and this one requires a team work and also some skill. A very effective way of keeping dry if you know what you are doing and have a small creek to cross.







Urm - how do I step off here???









Monkey see - Monkey do!!!!!

Some niffty footwork and climbing skills on display here!! At least he had dry feet - Gumboots and all withstanding






Now there is a story behind this and it goes as follows.

See Mr Schick here had one to many close shaves and decided to SAVE his shaving for a full month of "Movember".
The idea being to raise funds (not hairs) by shaving of whatever growth they can muster for a good cause - urm - some male cancer thing!! I hope he's got good sponsors on that small growth . .

Oh and they tell me its enhancing the visual looks - and urm - well Ladies -
^^ I havn't got his permission to give you his vital details . . . . .

Last Supper - for my scout Group

Uhu - I received heaps more pictures taken on the night. Enjoy
Papabear





















































Thus concludes a very enjoyable night out with my fellow folks from Scouting -
after this there were more camps and activities - pics to follow asap I get time

Papabear
over and out