EVENT REPORT:

Oregon Camporee in Coervallis, Oregon, July 8 - July 18, 2005

Camporee, (n), An assembly or gathering of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts on a local or district level. [camp1 + (jamb)oree.]

Alternately, 700 Girl Scouts and Guides from as far away as Hawaii, Alaska and Great Britain, camping and communing in a municipal park a la SOAR.  Indeed, the host community of Corvallis, meaning Heart of the Valley, lies on a farmed plain between the Cascades and Coast ranges, and, with its hot days, afternoon winds and cool nights, felt a lot like the Merritt SOAR. We workshopped, out-tripped to the famous Oregon coast, swam in the local pool and did service projects. Each evening we gathered for entertainment (the hypnotist was awesome), inspiration (a US Olympic gold medalist and female engineering professor) or ceremony (Campfire Ashes and advancement). All this was capped by a day at the local da Vinci Arts and Technology Festival (where I rode a Segway) and dinner (for our lucky patrol) at the Hilton Hotel.

My eight Pathfinder-aged girls from Dawson Creek to Victoria were amazing campers, travellers and just nice people. In six days, they gelled to win the “Golden Spatula” Camp Cooking Award with their excellent meal preparation, presentation and good manners. My co-leader, Vicki Welker from Langley, was a perfect partner. All travel arrangements (12 hours by bus and train) were made by the BC Provincial Office (wonderful!). The border guards were friendly; my passport and expenses were paid for, thanks to my District and Area, and the weather was fabulous!

Isn’t Guiding wonderful?!