Bharath Scouts and Guides will organise a State-level camp at Kottary Kudru near Adyar between January 28 and 31, to commemorate the 100 years of first Scouts and Guides camp held at Brownsea island near London on August 1, 1907.
Addressing a press meet here on Friday, Senior Scouter U Gopalakrishna Bhat said that this is the first time that such camps are organised in an island in the district. This camp is different from the usual camps.
Kottary Kudru is an island situated on the Nethravathi river and is spread over 100 acres of land. Only four families reside in this island.
The island can be approached only by a boat. As many as 1,200 participants from across Karnataka including Scouts and Guides and staff are expected to participate in the camp. The camp will include cooking food (four items) without fire including a sweet, treasure hunt, swimming, boat ride, playing in the water, sand sculpture, dance ballet, skit and all-religion prayer on the last day and many cultural programmes etc.
Mr Bhat said preparation for the camp is in full swing. A well has been dug to provide water supply, temporary electricity connection has been given to the vicinity. Home Guards and Coast Guards have given two boats to cross the river to reach the island, life jackets and expert swimmers.
The camp will be inaugurated by Nitte Education Trust Chairman N Vinay Hegde on January 28. Scouts and Guides State Commissioner Kondajji B Shanmukappa will preside while Zilla Panchayat President Sucharitha Shetty and Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof K M Kaveriappa will take part. There will be cultural programmes by Sri Ramakrishna High School students on the occasion.
The camp fire on January 29 at 7 pm will be inaugurated by Alva’s Education Trust Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva. The valedictory of the camp will be held on January 30 and the same will be attended by Dr K R Shetty, Pilikula Nisargadhama Executive Director J R Lobo and Home Guards Commandant Shivaprasad Rai.
District Commissioner I A Kairanna, Camp Officer M G Kaje were present.
