Scouts enjoy a week of challenging fun
When it comes to summer activities for children the granddaddy of them all is the scouting movement. And with good reason…as I found out this morning at Camp Oakley.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
One Hundred and fifty scouts between the ages of ten and thirteen have been camping out at their official training grounds in Burrell Boom. The young troopers left home four days ago to spend seven days and nights out in the field.
Landy Garcia, Assistant Camp Director
“This is one of the biggest Scouting activity in the Scouting calendar each year. All the Scouts throughout the whole country look forward to make this camp an annual pilgrimage.”
The camp is unique because it helps to build each child’s character through a number of adventurous and educational activities. The campers are involved in a number of daily sporting events like the mountain bridge, tubing, and other water and field games.
Landy Garcia
“The difference is clear. The Scout is well disciplined, we teach our young people to become responsible young people; they become self-reliant. Nowadays young people must learn to do things for themselves.”
The campers say although they have two more days to go before they go back home ,the experiencing has been rewarding.
Jarren Serrano, 10 years old
“I have been learning how to cook.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“And what have you been cooking?”
Jarren Serrano
“Hotdogs and ramen.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“And while they are teaching you how to cook, do they also tell you children how you can safely use fire?”
Luannia Castillo, 10 years old
“Yes. Mostly they say have been telling us a lot of things, how to safely use fire because mostly our Scout leaders are around to guide us and to help us. But mostly they say when there is a lot of fat in the pot they say don’t hurry throw the things in because the fat can blow and burn you.”
Because the children are involved in a number of outdoor activities it is expected that there will be some minor injuries. But no need to worry, parents, because also on the trip is B.D.F. and camp volunteer Dr. Reymundo Bautista.
Dr. Reymundo Bautista, Camp’s Physician
“The classics sprains and strains of training. These kids they have fun, but we always take safety measures. However, they are prone to all the accidents.”
The camp coincides with the one hundredth anniversary of the scout movement worldwide. Today we found the children enjoying themselves despite the challenges. They say the discipline is helping them to be productive and more responsible.
Chris Vasquez, 12 year old Scout
“It will help me to respect others and to achieve my main goal in life”
Phaedram Mohammed-Ali, 12 year old Scout
“I feel quite unique because most troops only have mostly guys and first the Scouts was only for boys, but now we girls changed it.”
Cory Constantino, 14 years old
“Stressful, tiring. You have to wake up five-thirty in the morning and then go to sleep about ten o’clock at night and they drill you have hard, so it’s been very tiring and stressful”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Is it true the first night at camp you guys took a long time to fall asleep?”
Sean Stezaker, 10 year old Scout
“Yes.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“So they had to call unu out and what did they make you guys do?”
Sean Stezaker
“Jumping jacks and laps.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Till yuh get tired?”
Sean Stezaker
“Yes.”
Dorian Blair, 12 years old
“We get to have fun, meet other people from the other districts and socialise.”
Landy Garcia
“Of course the Scout shows his commitment to his community, to his surroundings, to his school. Loyalty, discipline, this is what makes the Scout far outstanding.”
The young troopers are expected to return home on Friday.
The campers are expected to retire early tonight because around four tomorrow morning they will be shuttled to the Baron Bliss Lighthouse where they will join their peers from across the country to renew their Scout promise at sunrise. The symbolic event is in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the Scouting movement.
