6000 Scouts Likely At 1969 Kaiapoi Jamboree

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31549, 11 December 1967, Page 12

6000 Scouts Likely At 1969 Kaiapoi Jamboree

About 6000 scouts from all over the world are expected to attend the fifth jamboree at Kaiapoi in January, 1969, according to the Canterbury area commissioner of the Scout Association (Mr R. E. Glensor), speaking at a meeting of district commissioners from 26 Canterbury districts on Saturday.

The jamboree site at Kaiapoi will occupy 110 acres, and there will be 24 separate activity camps, including car driving and mechanic training at a motor-racing circuit, an overnight canoe cruise on Lake Pearson, a visit to West Coast gold fields, alpine tramping, glider flying, horseriding, a survival course,

deep-sea sailing, underwater swimming, and pistol, rifle and clay-bird shooting. The jamboree was expected to be the largest held in New Zealand, the meeting was told, and it was hoped that the association’s large building at “Blue Skies,” Kaiapoi would be finished in time.

The $BO,OOO appeal to raise funds for it was going well. Donations were coming in from the various districts, which were trying to raise $2 for each boy. The building planned for the 13-acre “Blue Skies” site with sleeping accommodation for 70, will also include storerooms, training facilities, a hall and a toilet block.

'Hie meeting discussed the scouts’ “new look,” and the new titles for the various leaders were announced.

The programme for the next year was discussed, and the census presented. There were now 6545 scouts and cubs in 193 Canterbury groups —a slight increase on last year.

Scouts had recorded 13,412 camping nights, and Venturer Scouts, 2364. The world membership of the scout movement is 11 million in 85 countries.