Benefactors thrilled with Burman Bush scout camp revamp

REVAMP work at the Baden Powell (BP) Scouts Camp at Burman Bush received a stamp of approval by a German couple who helped fund the project.

German Rover Scouts, Dorothée and Dr Michael Boecker, spent a week camping at the BP Camp in 2003 and fell in love with the site.

In the past, BP Camp was used to deliver outdoor activities for Scouts, but systematic vandalism over the period of a year, left only the shell of the camp buildings standing.

The couple donated funds to rebuild the camp, which will be carried out over three phases.

The first phase, which includes the revamp of the camp site, a dining hall (which will be used as a training centre) and kitchen and ablution facilities as well as fixing up the hall and store rooms and building a warden’s cottage is almost complete.

The second phase will include refurbishment to the main kitchen and big dining hall and a new training room will be built.

Phase three will see the completion of the hostel, which will have 10 rooms and toilet facilities. KZN Scouts will partner with the City to also use this hostel when running environmental education camps for the youth, which is something the Boeckers are passionate about.

Visiting the camp on Tuesday for the first time since the revamp started, the couple said the change was unbelievable.

“It was terrible seeing the camp breaking down and we knew it was worth saving. A lot of people said we couldn’t rebuild but we never stopped believing,” said Michael.

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Dorothée said it was a dream come true for the couple to see what had been done on site so far.

“It’s a real Scout dream. You can never stop a Scout from dreaming. Michael and I started Scouting as children, and our children are also Scouts. We saw so many Cubs and Scouts here when we were visiting, and with this revamp, and with the new fence which is ensuring the camp is secure, we want parents to know it is a safe place for their children,” she said.

“We have been doing fundraising events in Germany for this project and once this first phase is finished the camp can start running again. Then we can work on the hostel for groups and schools to use. It is good to have a place like this to use for training. It is great as you feel as if you are in the bush, although you are in a city, and it is a good meeting place for international Scouts too. We will bring German Scouts over once the revamp is complete,” said Michael.

During their stay at the camp, the couple met Vernon Farr, who was warden at BP Camp for 17 years. He accompanied them on their visit the camp this week.

“I left the camp six years ago after the vandalism started. We were robbed three times in one week and I left the site, it was heartbreaking. If it wasn’t for the crime, I would still be here. I am very impressed by what is taking place here, it looks unbelievable now,” he said.

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