by Cl Ethan Fortes for BISMumbai

Commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the beginning of the Salesian Missions in Gujarat, the community of Don Bosco Kawant organized a Scout and Guide Camp from November 5 to November 8, 2024. Scouts and Guides from the various houses of Gujarat participated in the camp showcasing their skills in scouting techniques and the different activities spread across each day of the camp.

The camp was inaugurated in the presence of of the Police Sub Inspector of Kawant Mr AD Chauhan and Fr Ashley Miranda, the Vice Provincial of the Salesian Province of Mumbai. While addressing the troops gathered at the Inauguration, he mentioned how scouting plays an important role in instilling discipline and leadership qualities within an individual. He also praised the community for organizing the camp so as to help the young students practice and enhance their scouting skills. On the first day, the troops were taught the different types of knots and lashings along with their uses so as to help them in preparing their gadgets for the forthcoming days. The young clerics of the Province assisted in teaching these important knots and lashings through demonstration. In the evening, Mr AD Chauhan along with his team displayed and explained a few of the artillery that the police carry along for defence. In his session, he also showed how a pistol is dismantled and reassembled explaining that each police officer learns these techniques so as to protect citizens when faced with a violent attack. Following the session on defence each troop depicted the practice of a value by way of skits, dances and singing songs at the campfire that evening. 

The second day included a trek to Rami Dam where the students along with their scoutmasters and volunteers enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere and the open air of the village. The day concluded with the students showcasing their physical prowess by way of their physical displays. Each troop showed their strength, resilience and discipline in setting up human pyramids and performing gymnastics for the crowds.

The final day consisted of  students enjoying a series of adventure games set up in the campus. These included rope climbing, balancing oneself on the plank and  scout crawling. At the grand campfire, each troop displayed the uniqueness of the culture of their region by way of dance performances. The camp concluded with the felicitation of each of the troops along with their Principals and their scout masters and Guide Captains.

The camp concluded with a sense of joy and nostalgia among the scouts and guides present. Ms Hemangi Rathwa, a student of Don Bosco Narukot shared that she learnt a lot of things at the camp along and also made a lot of friends too. Ms Hanshika Chauhan, a student of Don Bosco Alirajpur, expressed her gratitude for the wonderful camp organized saying that it was a motivating factor for her to go further in scouting and progress higher.