She said the group's experience on the water was usually limited to that on Hamilton lake so an adventure as sea was particularly special. The adventure would see the venturers take responsibility for everything on the trip, from judging the sea conditions to cooking their own meals.
The group left from Buckland's Beach and sailed to Rangitoto where they climbed to the summit. They then sailed on to Motuihe Island where they stayed the night. The following day they sailed to Waiheke Island where they spent the night at the Scout Den, before heading on to Oponui Island for the last night of the trip.
Anne said the group enjoyed the Kawau trip immensely and were looking forward to this trip even more because it was for longer.
She said the group would learn about anchoring, time management, planning, and general life skills. "To get to this point they have undertaken a lot of training, they've learnt first aid, and plenty of outdoor skills. One of them has even done a day skipper course."
Anne said scouting was evolving. "We are aiming to become more relevant and current. Scouting offers a whole set of very relevant life skills that benefit both the individual youth and the community we live in, such as leadership, team work, responsibility, confidence building, as well as a wide range of practical skills. It's not all about tying knots as is often perceived - that is just one practical skill."
Anne said there was significant participation growth in Scouts, but "the constraint is getting enough leaders".