BB New Zealand Communication
Kia ora
Welcome to 2023
It feels surreal to already be midway through the 1st month of the new year. I trust the holiday season has been an opportunity unwind and to connect with family in readiness for another year.
It's a big one for BB New Zealand. We celebrate 140 years as a movement with many exciting events and activities, not least of which will be a National camp in the first week of the October school holidays. Start planning now and register early to take advantage of travel discounts. The National Founders camp will be a week long event and therefore, require more resources (money) than a traditional weekend camp.
There is updated information on the national camp and the other exciting events and expeditions planned throughout the year, including Cant 140 camp in early March. A number of our leaders and myself will attend and look forward to celebrating with the Canterbury/West Coast Battalion at Waipara.
We have postponed the Echo Bush Leadership Course to April/May to allow a little more time for our young men to attend this very worthwhile course, which offers a nationally recognized outdoor education qualification. It is heavily subsidized thanks to Maerewhenua Trust and well worth encouraging young men over 18 throughout our movement to attend.
So please take a look and register your interest now! Travel costs were an issue last year, so the earlier you commit, the better the travel deals, especially by air.
As mentioned in our last Bugle www.bb.org.nz is now live!
We still have a ton of resources to load, but take a look and give us your feedback via the contact page, fill it out and click submit.
As we embark on a new year in 2023 we hope and pray God would continue to build a strong faith, foundation and future destiny across the BB movement, and may you be strengthened in 2023.
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
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 March is the Month to give us your token!!
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 Canterbury area in April/May 2023 (We have postponed from February due to time and staffing constraints) with dates to be confirmed.. 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.
We have four significant events highlighting our celebration of BB's 140 years since the founding of the movement in 1883.
We have updated the information since the last Bugle. Please click on the events that interest you and register early!
Cant140!!
Canterbury National Camp
3rd - 5th March 2023 - NOT FAR AWAY!
Cant140 will be held at Waipara Adventure Centre hosted by the Canterbury/West Coast Battalion to celebrate the heritage of the BB Movement and is open to everyone nationally.
Please click on the button link to register and pay with the Canterbury Battalion. If you have any questions please email on this address: camp140@14thbb.org.nz
BB Stewart Island Expedition 2023
14th-19th April 2023
We have a dozen people interested in this trip, so if you are keen, please email Les today as places will be limited to 16 participants across both expeditions.
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
BB NATIONAL FOUNDERS CAMP 2023
1st - 6th October 2023
Findlay Park on the shores of Lake Karapiro will host the 2023 Founders Week National Camp where we will celebrate 140 years as a movement. I had the pleasure to visit Findlay Park to see the facilities for the first time and all I can say is WOW! I didn't want to leave and the water slide will be there for another day!! The camp next year is going to be huge, so start planning. We will have more information in the upcoming Bugles so you can fund raise and prepare.
Contact Stu Thompson for more information: stu.thompson@bb.org.nz
BB Whanganui River Expedition 2023
10th - 13th 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. Sign me up!!!
Contact Mike Brewer for more information on the link below.
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!!
Camp Recap 2022
Central Region Camp - Findlay Park November 2022
Northern Region Camp - One Big Adventure November 2022
There were many great camps in 2022 and these were a couple held in November. It was a pleasure to visit Finlay Park where the Central Region Construction Camp was held. Stu Thompson did a fantastic job organising a camp with a great theme whereby the boys were able to do a bit of DIY with the Edge Workshop trailer in attendance.
This year the national camp will be held at this venue, so please register early and get your fun raising efforts underway!
The Norther Region camp held at One Big Adventure managed to skirt the increment weather and we were blessed with the right conditions for most of the outdoor events. The camp included a couple of great speakers with Mountain Climber, Alistair McDowell and itinerant Global preacher, Owen Pomana.
Foxton Beach Camp Renovation Project 2023
Mike the National Director and Stu Thompson, the Program Director recently followed up on the last camp held at the BB Foxton Beach. We stayed the night and spent the following morning assessing the condition of the camp. We wanted to determine how much work would be required to renovate the current buildings to restore them to a reasonable condition. Time and weather have taken their toll and there is no doubt there is a big task ahead in order to do the work required to restore the infrastructure
In saying this, the assets remain solid and worth spending time and resources on to retain as a going concern, especially considering the legacy of the camp. The main building was established in 1947 and the accommodation block in 1979. The main block needs a new roof and there is much work required to restore internal fittings, but the structures are sound.
We are currently investigating if this would be a worthwhile restoration project as part of our celebrations for the 140th. If you have ever stayed at this camp or would like to help in any way next year, please get in touch and drop me an email.
BB Subscription 2023
In 2023 we will increase the current yearly rate by $7. The new rate of $75 per boy per annum will apply from the first term of 2023.
We are acutely aware of the pressure on families of boys around the movement and want to be clear that we don't want any boy to miss out due to cost of the subscription, and ask that if you require assistance in any way to help get boys along to BB, please get in touch.
Funny to finish!
