5 September 2009
Cheetahs Challenge Scouts to Competition
Posted by admin under: International .
I received a press release from the Cheetah Conservation Fund regarding a Jamboree they just held for the Scouts (boys and girls) in Namibia, south-western Africa. Can you imagine going out for your national Jamboree and, hey, there’s a cheetah. That would be awesome! It’s heart-warming to hear that the same region that gave Lord Baden-Powell his fame which directly led to his Scouting ideas being widely accepted is still promoting the concept of kids having fun outdoors while learning good character. Here’s what the CCF says.
The fourth bi-annual Namibian Scout Jamboree took place between the 26th and 30th of August, 2009 at the Cheetah Conservation Fund outside of Otjiwarongo. For four days, the Jamboree brought together 117 young men and women from 12 to 18 years of age to hike, learn survival and life skills, meet new friends, and share information between scout groups in the country. The programming was led by 32 scout leaders and supplemented by CCF staff. Reinwaldt and Vera Dorgeloh handled logistics for the Jamboree. Most scouts came from the north, and the rest came mostly from Tsumeb and Windhoek.
During the four days, the scouts hiked 30 kilometers total between three base camps within the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Waterberg Conservancy farms. At three base camps, the scouts learned various skills including pioneering techniques, how to tie knots, how to build viewing towers, and about health and hygiene including first aid and HIV/Aids. The activities also allowed the scouts to participate in sports and games. As part of the lesson on survival skills, scouts also learned about mapping and compass reading, which they put into use during their daily hikes between base camps. At the CCF Centre, the scouts toured the education centre and learned about CCF research and participated in programmes about conservation and field research. The scouts watched demonstrations involving radio tracking and learned about human, wildlife, predators, and livestock interactions, and strategies for preventing conflict with predators.
The Camp Director of Namibia, Ellis Muller, led the jamboree. Mr. Muller has been in Scouts and worked as a Scout (Rover) leader for the past 14 years, and this is his first jamboree. Mr. Muller is an optical technician by profession, but as with all scout leaders, he volunteers his time and energy in helping prepare young people for successful futures.
“It has been a great success, and CCF has been wonderful. Everyone appreciates all of the opportunities that have been provided to the Scouts by CCF,” said Mr. Muller.
The Cheetah Conservation Fund is an organization dedicated to saving the cheetah and its environment through research, education, and conservation. CCF staff thoroughly enjoyed hosting the visit for the scouts. “From our standpoint, it has been wonderful to see our future leaders have an opportunity to learn and develop life skills these past few days. Because this program is not based in schools, the volunteerism involved on the part of the leaders is very important. The exposure these scouts get to nature is also significant. Speaking as a past scout, a strong relationship with nature helps a person build character,” said CCF Founder and Executive Director Dr. Laurie Marker.
I’d say the Disney Channel better watch out because these campers are real Cheetah Girls (and boys).
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