NASHIK, DEC 29, 2018: The 13th National Boscoree, a gathering of the Don Bosco Scouts and Guides is all set to commence in Nashik from December 30, 2018, to January 3, 2019. Organised by the Salesians of Don Bosco, 4815 participants are expected to participate in this mega extravaganza themed 'Health, Harmony and Holiness'.
In the pre-camp preparatory days on December 27 and 28, the Boscoree organisers assessed the preparation made thus far, focusing on sorting of souvenirs, camp book, staves, and the Teenager magazines into sub-camps. Each committee is finalising the preparations with Father Savio Silvera, Father Glenford Lowe, and Father Ian Doulton closely monitoring the completion of preparations.
All the subcamp chiefs with their assistants and team are working on tent pitching. BOSCOREE 2018 is awaiting the participants, preparing their campsites to welcome the Scouts and Guides who are expected from all over the country, pitching tents, organising their camp areas, erecting the flagpoles, and preparing their camp gates. While a good deal of work was accomplished there are still things to check off the list.The following schools - Little Flower School Imphal, Auxilium Higher Secondary School Meghalaya Shillong, Don Bosco Chingmerong Imphal, Don Bosco High School Satgaon, St. Thomas high School Tinsukia, Don Bosco School Siaha Mizoram, Auxilium Convent School (New Church, West Bengal), Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Umswai, Don Bosco School Mao Gate, Holy Child School Guwahati, St. Mary's Convent School Geyzing, St. Mary's Rosseta Guide Company Chenikuthi, St. Anthony's Higher Secodary School Shillong, St. Joseph's High School Moranhat, Assam, St. Mary's High School, Barpeta Road, Assam, St. Xavier's (Don Bosco) Harmulty, Lakhimpur, DBHS Karbi, Little Flower Higher Secodary School Dibrugarh, Assam - have already arrived at the campsite, even though many of their trains were delayed by seven to nine hours. Father Rolvin D’Mello, Father Ajoy Fernandes, Brother Neville are coordinating the travel arrangements.
The food committee on its toes since the morning of December 27 has been catering to 250 organisers reaching a total of 380 people (250 organizers and 131 participants) for breakfast and lunch on December 28.
One hundred and ninety mobile toilets are installed in the camp area with all the washrooms and toilets of the Don Bosco School and Kilbill School made available. A total of 54 housekeeping staff are working round the clock to maintain cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation.
The programme committee is rehearsing for the grand opening ceremony, peace rally, grand campfire, and valedictory function. The unique feature of this edition of the Boscoree 2018 is the Digital Campfire, without using wood, ensuring that along with a no-plastic focus, the entire event is eco-friendly.
The work of sorting 4,500 camp kits containing 45,000 different souvenirs for 16 sub camps has also been completed. A total of 76 Rovers and Rangers from Naigaon, Nashik, Alirajpur, Lonavla, and Dakor are participating as volunteers. Prominent local newspapers in Nashik like the Sakal, Lokmat Times, Maharashtra Times, Pudhari, Loksatta, Divya Marathi, Punya Nagari, carried 'curtain raiser' articles on December 27, 2018.
''There's a lot of excitement and enthusiasm in the air. With all the scouts and guides arriving tomorrow, we will be truly on course,'' Father Ian Doulton, 13th National Boscoree Camp Chief said.