Jamboree proves awesome experience for local Scouts

BY JULIA WADE

Adventure, adrenaline, challenges, mystery tours and night concerts were all part of a high-octane, action-packed holiday event for thousands of young teens recently, including a few Mangawhai locals.

Three thousand 12 to 15-year-old scouts from across New Zealand and overseas descended on Hamilton’s Mystery Creek Events Centre to enjoy a wide variety of activities during the Scout’s annual Jamboree, December 28 to January 7.

According to the ‘Northern Nightmares’ contingent, aka six Kaiwaka-Mangawhai scouts, four Dargaville members, five from Whangarei and 11 Australian scouts, ‘the Jamboree was awesome!’

Mangawhai scout leader Julia Watson agrees, saying the event is ‘a once in a life-time experience’.

“Jamboree is packed with activities, adventure, challenges, friendship and fun. The teenagers are involved in the planning process right from the beginning including a youth team who has input into the activities offered,” she says. “Scouts design their own troop badge, special camp uniform, site entrance and market day activity – ours chose a Halloween/horror theme based on the ‘Northern Nightmares’ troop name. Scouts are also extended by living with a new group of people under canvas long-term, while working in small teams to meet the challenges and maintaining a healthy camp.”

Along with life-skills such as patrol team building, cooking, grocery shopping, doing laundry by hand and community service building rat traps, other favourite activities included digger operating, rock climbing, abseiling, flying fox, target shooting, archery, quad bikes, drift bikes, laser tag, human fly, human foosball dodgeball, and ‘Scout Champion of the World’ inflatable obstacle course.

While most activities were based on-site, sailing, kayaking, raft making, a water slide, stand-up paddleboards and a surprise activity and well-kept secret addition of jetboating, a highlight for many, were part of an off-site overnight water base at Lake Karapiro.

Each troop also took went on different mystery day tours to local attractions including Hamilton Gardens, Te Awamutu Space Centre, Otorohanga Kiwi House and Cambridge. Scouts also enjoyed special events such as market day, an indoor campfire, the opening and closing ceremonies as well as night-time entertainment with international night performances and a New Year’s party.

“The Scouts have done things that will be with them for life,” Watson says. “They have grown so much in confidence and come back different people, with a new appreciation of others, even for those they already knew. Want to say a big thank you to the community for supporting our fundraising efforts – especially Mangawhai Community Op Shop and Mangawhai Walking Weekend.”
 

Northern Nightmare troop, including ten scouts from Kaipara, say they had an ‘awesome time’ at the latest gathering, where new friendships were made, badges swapped, old friendships renewed and loads of adventurous fun had. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

“They have grown so much in confidence and come back different people, with a new appreciation of others.”

Julia Watson, Scout leader