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Scouts battle heat |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Jan 06 2007 at 8:14 AM |
Dated 6th Jan 2007 - Source
SLEEPING may be last on the agenda for the 8500 scouts and 3000 volunteers at the 21st Australian Jamboree, but it's an unavoidable and sometimes uncomfortable reality.
After a day packed with anything from rock climbing to mud fighting in temperatures regularly above 30 degrees, scouts return to their Elmore based campsite to settle down for the 10.30pm curfew in preparation for the 6am wake-up call and another action-packed day. 
Each 36-scout troop is responsible for the set-up and maintenance of its campsite, typically comprising nine scout tents, two adult troop leader tents and a kitchen tent.
But the task is made less daunting with the mandatory "10 nights under canvas" requirement each scout must achieve before joining the jamboree.
Director of Scout Camping Alistair Horne said that the experience of 10 nights' camping before participating in a jamboree held the scouts in good stead to cope with any heat, dust, or homesickness.
"Because of our policy the scouts come prepared," he said.
"The bus drops them off, they're allocated a campsite and a good troop will have its site assembled in two hours.
"Troop leaders manage the scouts' welfare, yet despite the conditions, we've had no complaints.
"Each scout is pretty independent; they have to be. One troop leader per six scouts is a thin spread, without their (scouts) self-management skills this whole jamboree wouldn't be possible." Mr Horne said.
Each day the scouts clean out their tents and cook their own breakfast before a bus leaves the Elmore site at 8am to take the scouts to their off-site activities, with the on-site activities kicking off at 8.30am.
Jacob Tannous, 12, of Sydney, said the morning curfew could be difficult to meet.
"The tents can get hot," he said.
"Once you're outside and the day has started the heat is fine and it's definitely worth it.
"The best thing about sleeping in a tent is there's always someone to talk to and it doesn't matter if dirt gets inside."
Mr Horne said the tough sleeping conditions may be beginning to take their toll on some scouts.
"They've all been great, they're a credit to themselves." he said.
The jamboree runs until January 13
Pictured Scout Jacob Tannous