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SCOUTS shouldered the bulk of the labour at this year’s Otago and Southland founders’ weekend camp at Waiora — but two Brighton sisters and their friends loved every minute of it.
More than 300 keas, cubs, scouts and venturers — all aged between 5 and 18 years old and hailing from around Otago and Southland — attended the annual camp this weekend.
There were also about 90 adult group leaders, bringing the total of children and leaders to 428 people.
The small group from Brighton included sisters GraceAnne Patel and FaithEsther Patel, who were staying with their mum, scout leader KathyJean Patel, and fellow group members Annabelle Rackham and Marie West.
GraceAnne said one of the highlights of the camp was the campfire cooking competition, but the entire camp had been ‘‘pretty fun but challenging’’.
The group enjoyed making burritos and apple crumble for their cooking contest entry, and one of FaithEsther’s highlights was the walks the scouts went on.
It was also a good opportunity to build new friendships, GraceAnne said.
As part of the camp, the children had to look after themselves — cooking for themselves and their leaders and cleaning up after themselves, and also setting up their tents.
Otago Southland regional leader Sandra Thompson said entries for the cooking competition — which was an annual staple of the camp — were often ‘‘amazing’’.
‘‘We’ve had Chinese and Indonesian and Indian food, all to a very high standard.’’
The competition, and the tugofwar contest, took place every year, but otherwise the organisers tried to make sure they included a variety of events.
The founders weekend camp marked the birthday of the founder of the scout movement, Lord Robert BadenPowell.
There were about 640 youth members across the OtagoSouthland region, including the older ‘‘Rovers’’ age group for 18 to 26yearolds.