WORK on the revamp at the Baden Powell (BP) Scouts Camp at Burman Bush is well on its way to completion, with the final phase of the project currently underway.
Visiting the campsite last week, KZN Scouts’ Steve Camp said he was thrilled with what had been accomplished so far. Camp has been in contact with German Rover Scouts, Dorothée and Dr Michael Boecker, who are funding the revamp, regarding the progress, and said they were equally thrilled with what had been achieved and that the project was nearing completion.
The couple spent a week camping at the BP Camp in 2003 and fell in love with the site. However the site was systematically vandalised over a period of time which left only the shell of the camp buildings standing. Mrs and Dr Boecker donated funds to rebuild the camp and restore it to its former glory. Revamping of the camp site, Baden Powel hut/hall which will be used as a training centre as well as the kitchen and ablution facilities are now complete. The Pioneer hall and storerooms and warden cottage have also been completed. Camp said he was pleased with the results and the final ‘odds and sods’ on this phase would be completed within the next two weeks.
“We are entirely off the grid. There are now solar panels on the hall roof as well as the warden’s house roof which will be used for electrical appliances. There are water tanks and we will be harvesting rain water and using gas for power and cooking. The chapel site has been increased in size with some of the bush having been cut back, and an entrance has been included to the camp fire circle by a Pietermaritzburg Rover Crew. We will also be cutting back some of the bush to increase the size of the camp site area,” he said.
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A mural of Baden Powel is being painted by Amy McIntosh from the Highway Rover Crew, on the wall of the dining area at the training centre, and work is almost complete on an office and storage rooms. Shelving for books will be added in the library in the Pioneer Hut/hall.
Steve said an A-framed gateway on the parade ground was erected in 1972 and named the Hawkeye gateway, after the tremendous work done by Alan ‘Hawkeye’ Berry-Smith, the then camp warden. The Impiza Rovers rebuilt the gateway over the past weekend.
The final phase will see the completion of the hostel which will have eight rooms and toilet facilities. There will be a veranda at the front which will be used for activities. 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.
“We hope to finish the work on the hostel soon as the Boeckers will be bringing students on an exchange from Germany to stay in the hostel for a week and a half in June,” said Steve.
Regional manager for KZN Scouts, Bindu Singh, who also visited the site last week for the first time in a while, was also taken aback by the progress.
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