1. BE THE LEADER 2016 Adelaide, South Australia
Douglas Scrub
(approx.)
By Amelia Bates

2. Day 1 - Friday 8th July Our Room Plane Trip Douglas Scrub
On the first day we arrived off the plane and went on a bus to Douglas Scrub Guide Camp. When we arrived we were sorted into cabins found out our patrols, had the opening ceremony, dinner, a debrief and bed. That night we learnt how cold it could get in SA. 
We also made many new friends in just those first view hours.
Plane Trip
Douglas Scrub
NEW FRIENDS!!!!

3. Day 2 – Saturday 9th July - Part 1
The next morning after breakfast and patrol duties we all settle down in the “common room” and a listen to a talk by on of the leaders about communication, a vital part in being a good leader. To learn further about this we completed 2 activities. The first was coming up as a group different forms of communication, what communication looks like and what animal do we think represents communication. The second activity was with a partner listening to each other to try and make a picture.
Between morning tea and lunch we did 2 activities: paracord bracelets and a relaxation class. In the relaxation class we were taught how to relax and clam our selves down if we are stressed or anxious. Paracord bracelets were bracelets made from a piece of paracord wound in a certain way. The cool thing about them is that you have a couple of metres of rope wrapped around your arm that you can use in an emergency. They are really fun and easy to make!! 

4. Day 2 – Saturday 9th July - Part 2
After lunch Helen McLean who is the State Executive officer of GGSA came to talk to us about leadership. She told us various leadership styles and what makes a good leader. She talked to us about the importance of the process to become a good leader and how to be a leader you must know how to be part of a team. Helen also gave us a teamwork activity to do within small groups. We had to work out how to pile up a stack of 6 cups into a pyramid without touching them and all we had to do it with was the 6 cup, a piece of string and a rubber band.
After Helen’s talk we had afternoon tea and then did TEAMWORK CHALLENGE 1. This was basically in our patrols making a tower out of newspaper in 15 minutes, tallest tower won. I think that my patrol did quite well on the working together side of things and our tower was pretty tall however during judging time it fell down…. …. never mind….  we were proud that we actually had a tower!!
Night Wide game….
Leadership
Challenge
Teamwork challenge 1

5. Day 3 – Sunday 10th July
On the third day we did high ropes and initiative games. The high ropes was a normal high ropes course with challengers that were hard but fun.  The initiative games included things like: making a catapult, making a river crossing thing that we turn into a chair and slack lining.
In the afternoon Jane Scotcher who is the CEO of Ronald Macdonald House SA came to speak to us about resilience. She talked to us about what resilience is, why it is important and how it helps leaders. Some of the things she said were focus on the happy thought not the unhappy thoughts and to deal with the BIG challenges you must first handle the smaller ones.
At night we also had a campfire which we had inside because it was cold and rainy outside. Each patrol had 2 or 3 songs that they ran and we all had a lot of fun!!

6. Day 4 - Monday 11th July
On the 4th day of camp we went to Victor harbour where we completed a scavenger hunt. In the scavenger hunt we went to various landmarks and historic elements of Victor Harbour (it was a major whaling station in the past) and explored the town itself. We were supposed to go to Granite Island to do the other half of the scavenger hunt but unfortunately due to bad weather we couldn’t go. Instead the leaders organised for us to see a movie and we all want to see the BFG. We had lots of fun at victor harbour looking at its sights, buying souvenirs and spending time with friends!!! 
That night when we arrived back at Douglas Scrub we in our patrols had to come up with an item we could perform for the Guides have Talent Performance night. My patrol did a dance routine to a song. It was lots of fun and at the end the leaders got up and performed a poem about all the different patrols and what they had achieved at camp!!!
(my camera began to loose battery so I didn’t get many photos on this day )

7. Day 5 – Tuesday 12th July
On the last day we did some screen printing and a lot of teamwork challengers. The first teamwork challenge was an outdoor cooking challenge in which we had to cook a three course meal outside luckily because it was raining and hailing outside we got to it inside which was less of a challenge but we still used these pots and burner in one thing that I cant remember the name of … anyway we cooked the meal and it was really yummy!!!
In the afternoon we did a whole bunch of other teamwork challenges with our patrols including making a wheel out of newspaper that the whole patrol could walk on, cup challenges, balloon challenges and more cup challenges  It was a lot of fun and we learn many valuable teamwork lessons from completing and failing these challenges.
That night we also had our formal dinner which meant we all got dressed up and had a very nice dinner that the lovely QMs made.

8. Day 6 – Wednesday 13th July
It was upsetting to leave all our new friends we had made but also glad because I could see my family. I learnt many new and wonderful things on this camp that I have taken into my life and have helped me to become a better fairer leader. I feel this was an amazing opportunity and I will encourage any girls who have the opportunity to go to go. Inez and I also gave a presentation to our guide unit and taught other guides some of the things we were taught.
Thank you for supporting and helping me financially to get to Be the Leader. I had a great time, learnt many new things, made many friends I keep in touch with and feel that because of this opportunity I am better at being a good leader that can help others as well as herself. I am extremely grateful for your support.