4th Namibian Scout Jamboree held at Cheetah Conservation Fund
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE - 30 August 2009
CONTACT: Dr. Laurie Marker (ph: 067- 306225, cell: 081-1247887) or Matti Nghikembua (cell: 0812831162)
4th Namibian Scout Jamboree held at Cheetah Conservation Fund
The fourth bi-annual Namibian Scout Jamboree took place between the 26th and 30th of August, 2009 at the Cheetah Conservation Fund outside of Otjiwarongo. For four days, the Jamboree brought together 117 young men and women from 12 to 18 years of age to hike, learn survival and life skills, meet new friends, and share information between scout groups in the country. The programming was led by 32 scout leaders and supplemented by CCF staff. Reinwaldt and Vera Dorgeloh handled logistics for the Jamboree. Most scouts came from the north, and the rest came mostly from Tsumeb and Windhoek.
During the four days, the scouts hiked 30 kilometers total between three base camps within the Cheetah Conservation Fund and Waterberg Conservancy farms. At three base camps, the scouts learned various skills including pioneering techniques, how to tie knots, how to build viewing towers, and about health and hygiene including first aid and HIV/Aids. The activities also allowed the scouts to participate in sports and games. As part of the lesson on survival skills, scouts also learned about mapping and compass reading, which they put into use during their daily hikes between base camps. At the CCF Centre, the scouts toured the education centre and learned about CCF research and participated in programmes about conservation and field research. The scouts watched demonstrations involving radio tracking and learned about human, wildlife, predators, and livestock interactions, and strategies for preventing conflict with predators.
The Camp Director of Namibia, Ellis Muller, led the jamboree. Mr. Muller has been in Scouts and worked as a Scout (Rover) leader for the past 14 years, and this is his first jamboree. Mr. Muller is an optical technician by profession, but as with all scout leaders, he volunteers his time and energy in helping prepare young people for successful futures.
“It has been a great success, and CCF has been wonderful. Everyone appreciates all of the opportunities that have been provided to the Scouts by CCF,” said Mr. Muller.
The Cheetah Conservation Fund is an organization dedicated to saving the cheetah and its environment through research, education, and conservation. CCF staff thoroughly enjoyed hosting the visit for the scouts. “From our standpoint, it has been wonderful to see our future leaders have an opportunity to learn and develop life skills these past few days. Because this program is not based in schools, the volunteerism involved on the part of the leaders is very important. The exposure these scouts get to nature is also significant. Speaking as a past scout, a strong relationship with nature helps a person build character,” said CCF Founder and Executive Director Dr. Laurie Marker.
Editor’s notes:
- The Cheetah Conservation Fund is a Namibian non-profit trust dedicated to the long-term survival of the cheetah and its ecosystems. The Fund’s activities include working actively with Namibian farmers, schools, and communities, as well as conducting international research on cheetah demographics, ecology, biology, and the human impacts affecting cheetah survival.
- Scouts of Namibia is part of the worldwide Scouts organization which celebrated 100 years of leadership development in 1907. The Scouts mission is to make a person better through lessons and training in leadership, personal development, and survival skills. For more information contact: Ellis Muller: 081 394 2246, or the Scouts of Namibia office: 061 277 974
- If you would like more information on Scouts of Namibia or CCF’s research and education work, please contact CCF at:
Namibian Rover Scouts spent four days at Cheetah Conservation Fund near Otjiwarongo with over 100 scouts throughout the country during their biannual Jamboree. Scout Camp Manager, Ellis Muller (second from the right) coordinated the activities for the Jamboree.
Namibian scouts preparing for conservation activities at the Cheetah Conservation Fund where they learned about cheetah ecology and integrated programs where farmers and cheetahs could live together.
A group of six Scouts hiking to reach their camp before dark. During four days, over 115 scouts from throughout Namibia spent four days at the Cheetah Conservation Fund during their bi-annual Scout Jamboree. During these days, the scouts hiked 30 kms and participated in a variety of activities including health and HIV awareness, conservation of cheetah and wildlife in an integrated livestock system and survival skills for living in the wilderness.
