BB New Zealand Communication
Kia ora
Welcome to the first term in 2023
There is a saying that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!
I know many leaders have been planning and activating their units for the year and have begun their work in the first term to lead the boys to achieve goals and badges this year.
And we have many events planned and much to organize to make these happen. We have some exciting news already with events that celebrate 140 years of BB with the first major one being CANT 140. The Canterbury Battalion have over 200 boys attending the camp at Waipara on the 3rd-5th March which is an outstanding start to the year!
There has been great interest in the Stewart Island Expedition so if you or someone in your unit is keen, please register below as we will be confirming travel details for this very soon.
The National Founders Camp planning has taken a few more steps and this week we have confirmed we are planning to include a day trip to the Waitomo Caves which will add a very special dynamic to this camp, and why not as we look to really celebrate 140 years.
The Echo Bush Leadership course in the South Island now has confirmed dates in June and we welcome those who would like to achieve a nationally recognized qualification in leadership at a great reduced cost at $300pp. I can also personally attest to the course being a great deal of fun!
In order to help leaders plan we hope you have been able to access the new website at www.bb.org.nz Please let us know if you have any problem registering and accessing the resources section. We would love to hear from you about what other resources you would like to see loaded up.
BB New Zealand would like to acknowledge how many Kiwi families have been devastated by the weather events in the last month and I know many of you will have reached out to assist where you can. We pray they would know the reality of God's love and comfort through their communities as people draw closer through adversity.
There is no doubt we live in very turbulent times.
Now more than ever we need a strong movement of Men who adhere to the Objective of BB which is as relevant now as it was 140 years ago..
"The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys' and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true, Christian manliness."
In His Service
Mike Brewer - National Director
0274 967 537
Stay Sure & Stedfast - Hebrews 6:19
Now is the time to register for the early bird discount and organize early travel to Nelson Lakes.
The early bird discount will save you over $150 and this is an already heavily subsidized course. Your early bird discount means the whole course is only $300, additionally if you are traveling from somewhere in the country that requires air tickets you may also qualify for $200 toward this cost.
Click the tab now to register!!
BB & One New Zealand Team up in 2023
One Good Kiwi is a funding initiative from One New Zealand (formerly Vodafone NZ) where they give away $100,000 per month every month of the year.
In 2023 BB New Zealand have signed up to be a Donee organization and we need your help!! Individuals associated with the BB Movement can download the App in the Google Play Store or in the Apple Store and then donate tokens to their favorite charity. Simple!
The more tokens donated the larger the share of the funds going to our movement.
We ask that you please circulate this option to your Unit, Friends, Family and even the neighbour's dog!!
Click on One Good Kiwi to find out more.
Please join now, and please note we will now be featured in April and you will be able to donate your tokens!!
NZOIA Bush Leadership Course
If you are 18 - 25 and want to extend your bush skills and gain an NZOIA qualification, then now is the time to join our Echo Bush Leadership Course 2023.
The following perquisites would help, but if you are interested get in touch regardless;
- Be 18 years old or over
- Hold a current First Aid Certificate
- Have the following experience as evidence in a logbook:
- Personal experience – at least 10 days experience (a bush walking day is considered to be at least 4 hours) bushwalking
- Instructional experience - at least 5 days additional experience as a co-leader or assistant leader in a bush environment
The course will be held in the Arthurs Pass area 24th - 28th June.
Early registration is encouraged. There is a generous subsidy for the course, thanks to Maerewhenua Trust. What would normally cost well over $1,000 will cost around $300.
Cant140
Canterbury National Camp
Now closed, see you at Waipara!
BB NATIONAL FOUNDERS CAMP 2023
1st - 7th October 2023
Registrations are now open for Founders Camp 2023 at Finlay Park on the shores of Lake Karapiro from the 1st-7th October the second week of the school holidays.
We are excited to celebrate 140 years as a movement and we have heaps of amazing activities planned.
Here are some of them
- Hydro Slide
- The Rocket
- Adventure Trail
- Animal Survival
- Cage Soccer
- Confidence Course
- Flying Fox
- Go Karts
- Indoor Climbing & High Ropes
- Mini Golf
- Sling Shot Paint Ball
- Airsoft competition (TBC)
But wait! There’s more, A Waitomo Caves visit is included!!!
Please register and encourage your unit to start planning, fund raising and booking travel to get to Finlay Park in October. We are expecting over 200 attendees, so we will need to do some planning too, so the earlier we know numbers, the better.
BB Stewart Island Expedition
14th-19th April 2023
We have a good number confirmed on the Stewart Island Expedition, however there are still places available! Please register on the link below before Friday 3rd March so we can confirm ferries and accommodation in Oban.
There is also generous subsidy available from Maerewhenua Trust for Delta Senior and Echo men (Approx. $400 per application) so please get in touch with either Les Bouterey or Mike Brewer to find out more.
This amazing journey will involve an expedition to one of the remotest places in Aotearoa, with the opportunity among many other things to see Kiwi along the lowland tracks of the Island. Click below for the updated information on costs and logistics. Be quick, this one is popular already!
Contact: Les Bouterey for more information: bouterey@actrix.co.nz
Whanganui River Expedition
9th - 12th December 2023
This will be a unique expedition to discover one of New Zealand's historic and mysterious rivers, over a 4 day period, staying in huts and tents along the riverbank. We now have a firm itinerary and information from the canoe hire company contained below.
Register and pay on the link below which will help us determine the number of guides required. We need a minimum of 10 people to make it happen.
Trip Length, rough itinerary & Dates
4 Day Trip departing on Saturday 9th December. I can absolutely confirm that departure date with you and the 4 Day option is fantastic for a group of this dynamic as it offers flexibility with timings throughout the day and offers more time for off river exploration
in canyons & campsites.
Our 4 Day Trips start at Whakahoro and finish at Pipiriki
Our recommended campsites are -
-Night 1 - Ohauora
-Night 2 - Mangapurua
-Night 3 - Tieke, Ramanui or Ngaporo
Tieke & ramanui are both at the same point on the river, just directly opposite one another. Ngaporo is further downstream so if you chose this site you would have a slightly earlier finish on the final day which could work well for a large group if everybody is heading home after the trip.
Technically our trips do start and finish here in Ohakune at our base where you can leave your vehicles and we can shuttle you to and from the river. Ideally we meet everybody the day before departure to collect barrels & drybags for packing their gear so they can arrive bright and early the next morning, all packed and ready to go. We have an onsite motel however that may be too small for your numbers. There is a hostel a 10 second drive away which may suit your group more for pre trip accommodation. It is called LKNZ and has lovely clean facilities, and reasonable pricing. There is also a Top10 and DOC site in Ohakune.
Group size, ratios and Guide accompanying
With a group of the size and dynamic you are talking of which is 25-40 people, with 3 or 4 children per adult. That ratio of children to adults is similar to school camps and Duke of Edinburgh trips that we also do. Now these trips don't always want a fully guided trip with catering and gear provided which is understandable. However for safety, they do take guides with them.
Our guide to guest ratio is 1:10. So one guide for every ten customers.
Our guides are fully qualified & experienced. They will be there to help the group work on their canoeing skills, to navigate the rapids and the river and for swift rescues should there (probably) be capsized. They also know all of the hidden canyon & waterfalls spots you may otherwise paddle straight past.
Pricing
- The price per person includes 4 Day Canoe hire, includes hire of canoe, paddles, lifejackets & safety ropes, watertight barrels & drybags for gear, shuttle to and from the river with car and gear storage whilst you are on the river, a paddle & safety briefing at the rivers edge before you set off and a waterproof river map to take with you.
- The price also includes hiring a guide over the period we are on the river and will provide safety, local knowledge and enhance the trip for everyone. The following cost is based on 20 people with a minimum of multiples of 10 to spread the cost of the guide/s across the whole group. Total price per person is $350pp
- Please note the above price does not include food and transport to Ohakune or accommodation on the Friday night.
Foxton Beach Camp Renovation Project 2023
We have identified the priority work needed for the Foxton Beach BB Camp is the replacement of the roof which we will make the project for the year in conjunction with celebrating the movement's 140th.
We are awaiting quotes for materials and will coordinate labour to make the project happen this year. We are aiming for May at this stage with the hope of some good weather and the camp not having anyone staying.
More on this in the next Bugle, but in the meantime if you are interested in helping out, just drop me an email on the link.
The Hope Project 2023
BB New Zealand are supporting Dave Mann from The Hope Project to deliver the Hope Project booklets nationally in the lead up to Easter.
We are specifically targeting Auckland, however we would encourage our leaders and boys countrywide to get behind the Hope Project team.
Delivering the booklets is a wonderful opportunity for boys to share the gospel and achieve credits toward their spiritual or community service badges they may have planned for the year.
In addition the booklets represent a wonderful devotional opportunity for your group.
Click on the image above to find out more.
Leigh-Ann is on the move
Sad news to report, Leigh-Ann Bailie our Executive Officer based at the National Resource Centre for the last 3 years is off to Australia. The good news is, she will continue to work with us from her new home in Maryborough North of Brisbane in Queensland.
Leigh-Ann's husband John will take over managing the local foodbank in Maryborough and they felt a clear call from God to go. The doors opened for them after 7 years in New Zealand.
We are glad we will still retain contact with Leigh-Ann and many of her valuable skills for BB New Zealand, however we will miss the physical contact, not to mention the display of coordinated outfits and associated accessories!
What's Happening?
Windsor Park Fishing Competition
Windsor Park held their first Annual Fishing Competition22 boys took over Murrays Bay Wharf and fished, jumped and swam all evening.
Delta Boy Corbin Hill took home the trophy with the first and biggest catch of the night 🙂 Phil Yeaman
1st Mosgiel Heritage Bus Visit
1st Mosgiel had the amazing opportunity to go to the depot for Heritage Buses Otago (it’s a council owned paddock) with the boys and be shown around by the trusts president. For the older ones of us it was chance to relive our childhood and those horrible vinyl seats (ugh) and our boys leaned how to ask subtle questions in a way that dated their leaders. Heritage Buses are supplying a bus for us to go to 140th camp in Canterbury Yeeehaaa!
Tauranga ICONZ Foundry Visit
The Tauranga City Iconz Delta Seniors are learning about metal casting and they plan to cast zinc objects using an ancient metal casting process they have learnt from the owners of Baycast Foundry at Mt Maunganui. This journey began with a recent visit to the foundry to learn about the sand casting method using silica sand mixed with clay & a little moisture . The lads will now go away to produce a small wooden pattern which when completed, will be used to make a 3 dimensional imprint in the sand mix and eventually they will melt down some zinc and pour it into their moulds. Hopefully this will result in turning out a metal copy of the object they made as the pattern. The City Delta Unit has their own furnace which was built by Josiah Dixon (who is our national Youth Rep and an NLDC Staffer) from a steel bucket lined with concrete. The process involves getting a very hot fire going using quality coal in the furnace and a good garden blower to melt down the zinc & when it is molten it will be poured into the mould and once it is cooled down, the sand cast is dismantled and the resulting object is finished off using a metal grinder. Well that’s the plan anyhow!
Funny to finish!
