KEY POINTS:
A tent city is rising on the edge of Christchurch as thousands of scouts arrive in the city for the Scout Association's centennial jamboree.
More than 3000 scouts will live under canvas at the Canterbury Agricultural Park from today until January 6.
Camp chief Ross McKenzie said the jamboree marked 100 years of scouting in New Zealand.
"This follows the international jamboree held in England earlier this year, where scouting commemorated 100 years since the first camp at Brownsea Island," he said.
"Scouting in New Zealand started very shortly after this with the first group being established at Kaiapoi, north of Christchurch."
Mr McKenzie said scouts attending the Christchurch jamboree would take part in a wide range of challenging activities.
Along with traditional scouting activities, such as camping and outdoor cooking, scouts will also participate in caving, a high wire course, sailing and a number of other adventure-based challenges.
Scouts from 14 countries mostly in the Asia and Pacific regions are joining groups from around New Zealand.
Mr McKenzie said scouting still held widespread appeal among young people.
"While you could think that scouting might have become less relevant in recent years, we are finding that the reverse is actually true and that our programmes are meeting a need for young people - many of whom would not get the opportunity to pick up the skills that you learn from activities like camping with a group in the outdoors and going tramping."
A contingent of Fijian scouts has arrived at the venue, despite 10 of their colleagues being banned from entering New Zealand under the Government's sanctions against Fiji following the last military coup.
A public open day at the jamboree is planned for January 2.
- NZPA
