Co-campfire leader Noel Walker leads more than 500 keas, cubs, scouts and leaders in a song at a centenary "virtual campfire" at Dunedin's Edgar Centre on Saturday night.
North Otago scouts got the real thing while Dunedin scouts settled for a "virtual camp-fire"on Saturday night at events to mark the centenary of scout camps in New Zealand.
About 260 past and present leaders and keas, cubs, scouts, venturers and rovers from North Otago sat around a large campfire on the banks of the Waianakarua River, co-organiser Tony Brady said last night.
The site was chosen because it was immediately across the river from a scout camp which had been used for decades until its sale nine years ago, he said.
In Dunedin, more than 500 scouts and supporters, including many past scout leaders, gathered around a virtual campfire inside the Edgar Centre.
Co-campfire leader Noel Walker said last night it was decided to hold the campfire indoors because of the time of year.
Mr Walker and his wife, Sue, who have co-directed 15 scout variety gang shows in Dunedin, led the crowd in an hour of songs, games and "yells".
The North Otago participants also enjoyed songs and games, plus skits from the Columba and St Patricks scout groups and the North Otago venturers, Mr Brady said.
Scout groups from around the country were encouraged to hold campfires on Saturday night, the closest Saturday to July 3, 1908, when the first scout camp in New Zealand began at the Blue Skies camp, in Kaiapoi.
Photo by Craig Baxter
