Scouts & Cubs Camp at Kariong

The camp started off with a blast! Kids sitting on trolleys when they were supposed be unpacking gear from the trailers and cars to the camping ground. We did a lot of things in just three days!!!😮 The scouts and cubs did a list of things that you will soon know.

The first day in the camp was hectic with unpacking, pitching tents and setting up the camp. There were rules so it`s fun and safe at the same time. By having boundaries and rules that are fair like being in an adult’s sight and kind to all from the ages 9 to 14. We started with an opening parade and after we were assigned to our patrols. Pitching the tent was fun because I learnt a lot of things that would be helpful in the future. Mika organised a scavenger hunt and all patrols had to find 6 tent pegs, but my patrol found 11! We had sausage sizzle for lunch and for dinner we had a Thai chicken curry with help of Tariq. The patrol who did the curry learnt how to clean \ rinse rice. In the night we roasted MARSHMALLOWS!!! So many marshmallows. We also had zombie pudding and the tent near the fire got no sleep because the scouts were talking and since the tent wasn`t soundproofed (I don`t think any tent is) we hear every word they were saying until they went to sleep.😴

Day 2 we all woke up to the coldest breeze in the world I think it was the Antarctica breeze. Marco made hot chocolate that everyone gulped down and helping themselves to a hundredth serving. We had a good breakfast and ate pancakes and cereal. We all sat on a stump that was near the fire just to keep warm. After breakfast we went on a 2km hike that turn into a 3km. We ate honeysuckle straight from the plant and went to the lookout were everyone smiled at the camera and got a picture were everyone is in it 😄. At lunch we had wraps and devoured it. We had free time and Ingrid (Car) took 4 cubs for abbs sailing. Abb sailing was fun, Habberfield was so generous and invited us so we could use their equipment and learn how to abb sail. When we got back to camp all the scouts were chopping firewood with an axe to make a stove so we could have cooked dinner. Some kids went to the flying fox and discovered that one did not work. ☹️ I learnt how to use an axe and that it`s very hard. For dinner we stuffed mince or lentils into a butternut, squash, capsicum and zucchini wrapped in foil and placed it on to the fire to cook. For dessert we had the most delicious thing ever, we sliced the banana in half then wedged some chocolate and put it on the fire and done. It’s called banana boat. We had marshmallows back at camp and yes, the cubs had to hear the scouts talk while trying to go to sleep. 🥱

Day 3 was so sad because we had to leave the campsite and pack up everything. Cleaning the tents was so annoying because it was so sandy, and I made a lost and found box because my friends left some of their belongs in the tent. Once the cleaning was done everyone went their own ways some cubs were planning the attack on Haberfield and making a path to our camp and Haberfield’s, the scouts sat around the fire pit while trying to light the fire. After 30 mins of free time, we had to put some things in the truck and dismantled all the tents even the leader’s ones😮.  We had the leftover food that we could eat for lunch we threw it in a wrap with mince cheese and aioli in it. We did our last packing up before closing parade we all picked up the left-over rubbish and left for a long trip back home.

Camp was an amazing experience, and I would definitely do again, I learnt bravery and how to do things I never thought I would learn you go out of your comfort zone just to try something new like abb sailing it was scary at first but I never gave up camp gave me that can do attitude that I will hold on for ever. If I was you, I think you need to go camping because there is so many things that some people might never experience in their life. So, pick up and tent a sleeping bag and plenty of marshmallows to keep you awake all night🤭😂 (don`t do that!). Go camping and feel the fun of camping I guarantee you with learn and find a passion that you might off not had.

by Nyra Chotani-Dias