Local scouts show off their skills

The Gauteng region’s yearly KonTiki raft-building competition, held each year at the Arrowe Park Scout Camp on the edge of Homestead Lake in Benoni, attracted entries from some 60 Scout groups from all over the province.

About one thousand Scouts participated in the event. The local Sandton District was also well-represented, with raft teams entered from the 1st Bryanston, 1st Morningside, 1st Peter Place, and 1st Rivertrail Scout Groups. The 1st Fourways, 1st Parkmore and 1st Midrand groups were also at the camp for the weekend.

The selected theme was The Minions are coming. Scouts were encouraged to include the theme into both their raft design and construction, as well as their campsites.

As the teams arrived, they began to set up their camps and started building their rafts. The rafts were inspected constantly to ensure their safety.

A team of six to eight Scouts had to spend the next 24 hours out on the lake on their rafts, which had to be prepared with the necessary cooking and sleeping equipment. Throughout that time, they had to complete a number of tasks to assess the mobility and seaworthiness of their constructions.

Numerous activities and challenges were also provided for the shore-based supporters, including a cooking competition and the judging of the campsite constructions.

During the afternoon, about 800 clubs visited the campsite to take part in the Beaver Challenge, a series of fun games and activities provided by the participating Scout groups. Cubs is the junior branch of the scouting movement, which accommodates children in the seven to 11-year age group. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Leader of the local organising committee Jan Schubart said he was very happy to see the spirit and enthusiasm displayed by the Scouts over the weekend. Since the very first KonTiki held at Murry Park in 1985, this event has continued to develop in popularity and numbers.

Scouts South Africa also runs a similar KonTiki competition in the Western Cape each year, which is held at Zandvlei in Cape Town.

The idea behind this event has also spread internationally, with Scouts Australia adopting a similar raft-building competition as part of their program.

Scouting is an outdoor-based educational programme, which aims to train young people with skills and building their self-confidence, so that they can become future leaders in communities.

Membership is open for both males and females.

Details: Visit www.scouts.org.za or

contact their Gauteng Provincial office on 011 440 6491.

Related article: 

https://fourwaysreview.co.za/298833/scouts-reach-111-mark/