Jamboree training camp

Every three years, in preparation for Jamboree, a training camp is held so that the leaders can meet all the 34-36 Scouts who are going to be in their Jamboree troop, and so we can test out the patrols. The Scouts in a Jamboree troop can come from a number of home troops, although this year there were only three home troops involved (it’s usually more), and this is why it’s useful to have a shake-down camp. At the camp the kids get to meet each other, find out more about what Jamboree involves, and do some activities … including learning how to use a fire extinguisher.

They also build the gateway (in our case, a painted banner), which got a bit tricky when it started to rain (fortunately we had a big dining shelter), and they also get to help with the cooking and washing up (and to realise that this is going to be part of the Jamboree routine).

On the second day they do an “off-site activity”, which, for our group, involved a hike from Fern Tree down to the Waterworks along the Pipeline Track. This took us past the two lovely sandstone aqueducts, and involved the traditional (for hikes along this route) crawling under the track, before the final descent down the water-free Gentle Annie Falls (in the last photo).

I think that, in general, we’ve got a nice group of kids going away with us come January, which is a good thing … and a good leader team.