No Limits to pre-teen camp
The No Limits! kids camp Reunion Day held at the Fitzroy Surf Lifesaving Club recently resembled a crime scene - minus the crime.
The pre-teen camp mates of the 2016 Red Cross-funded camp gathered to reconnect and participate in fun activities including learning to surf and experiencing hands-on the forensic science of fingerprints.
’’The message behind the fingerprint exercise today was to show them no two fingerprints are alike, no two people are alike, and we should embrace our unique identity,’’ said the charity’s youth coordinator Nicola Earl.
The police presence on the scene to guide the camp-buddies through the print process was school community officer Tony Brownrigg. ’’What I’ve been most impressed with today is their teamwork, and how well they followed instructions,’’ Brownrigg said.
To lift a print using fine powder, a brush, and clear plastic strip, required the kids concentration and delicate hands.
He has delivered multiple programmes to countless children at community and school events and for the young reunion goers, he was a friendly familiar face. ’’They are used to me now, it’s a good thing we can relate in a positive way,’’ Brownrigg said.
Earl said the reunion also focused on revisiting the skills they learnt back at the four-day overnight camp in October.
Young people are at the forefront of the annual camp designed to facilitate their growth and overall personal development. It blends outdoor pursuits with specific modules provided by the charity’s community partners: the NZ Police, NZ Fire Service, Surf Life Saving NZ, Taranaki Outdoor Adventures, and Land Search & Rescue.
Stratford’s Devin Coley, 12, said while on camp he had a blast kayaking, but a bigger one getting covered in mud from head-to-toe during the mud-run.
However, top of his camp favourites list was all the new friends he made. ’’The best bit about today has been catching up with my mates, they’re cool, ‘‘ the Toko School student said.
Earl said the kids had a great attitude and gave it a go. ‘‘It was good to see them push their own boundaries.
‘‘We were also lucky enough the sun came out with the Taranaki summer being hit and miss.’’