LAC Ngaro reports on the 2014 Bushcraft Camp:
On the 28th-30th March a group of cadets and officers from 41 Squadron gathered at T.S Taupo at 1900hrs where we spent the night repacking and going over rules and camping grounds for the following days of the trip. The next morning we woke up excited to start our trip, but first we had a bit of a competition during breakfast and I won by eating the most sausages. After breakfast we packed the trailers and headed to Kaitoki camping grounds instead of our usual spot at Fernside (Wairarapa) where we usually do Bushcraft.
After we arrived to the camping grounds we set up tents then all of us (L.A.C Ngaro, L.A.C Walker, L.A.C Rose, L.A.C Hurnen) went out to scout the camping grounds then went for a 1-3hr tramp (so the next day we are able to lead the cadets on the same tramp). On the tramp we went on numerous bridges, saw amazing views and stopped at “Rivendell”, yes the place where “Lord of the Rings” was filmed.
We ended our tramp back at the camping grounds where we the basic cadets prepared for river crossing and we prepared for pack floating in the cold water, we were all soaked by the time we finished but luckily at the end we created our own fires in groups and some roasted marshmallow on top. We headed back to camp to cook our own dinner (again L.A.Cs only). When dinner ended we prepared for the night activities where we ran around in the dark to try and capture the glow sticks, it was a fun exercise.
The final day of Bushcraft and we woke up to making our own breakfast (bake beans or spaghetti with sausages) again just the L.A.Cs with Under Officer McLeod and the Unit Commander. After breakfast we changed and got ready for our tramp. We, the LACs, were in charge of taking small groups of people on this tramp and showing them the area and explaining tramping skills. We stopped at “Rivendell” for morning tea and continued (like yesterday’s tramp). We all headed back to the camping grounds for lunch and started to pack up to go back to T.S Taupo.
Bushcraft this year was my favourite camp that I have done with my Squadron because we did different activities compared to the new cadets. I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for next year!