Aeronautical camp new scout venture

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32494, 2 January 1971, Page 16

Aeronautical camp new scout venture

About 145 boys from 1 Kaitaia to Invercargill will i gather at Kaiapoi tomorrow <

for the first national aeronautical camp run by the Scouts Association. Mr D. O. Watson, the area scout leader for Canterbury, who is also the camp chief, said that every boy would get at least two flights either in a powered aircraft or a glider. The camp is being run in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Division of

the Ministry of Transport and the Canterbury Aero Club.

The camp will be opened tomorrow afternoon by the regional manager of the National Airways Corporation (Mr J. E. Davies). Flying, which will be done at the Rangiora airfield, will begin on Monday morning and conclude on Friday afternoon. The cost of attending the week’s camp is $2O a boy, into which is built the charge for the flying experience. Mr Watson said it was the intention of the organisers to give instruction in aircraft flying and maintenance, and to allow aviation in all its aspects to be the principal topic. The scouts will visit Christchurdh Airport during the week. In the past the scouting body has run camps for boys with special interests such as flying or sailing. The present camp is the first to be open to all boys who are not especially knowledgeable about flying. Mr Watson said the organisers were very satisfied with the response from the boys. Later on those interested could join the Venturer Scouts and attend an annual flying school held at Matamata, to obtain their student pilot licence and go solo. It is planned to hold a camp every two years, alternating between the North and South Islands.