Once a scout always a scout: four Venture Units from two different scout districts packed up their rucksacks, armed with a totem pole and enough food to survive for three days, they set off for Comino.

The Birkirkara Group arrived ahead of the others at Blue Lagoon quay. On arrival, they cleaned the campsite because it had been left in a untidy state. In the afternoon, the other groups arrived in Comino. After settling down, and pitching their tents the Birkirkara Group officially opened the first joint Comino Camp at around 7.30pm.

In the evening after all groups had their dinner, the Birkirkara Venture Unit with the help of six senior scouts from the Birkirkara Troop, organized a treasure hunt around Comino for all venture scouts. Each group of ventures had to use their orienteering skills to find various locations around the island, including a late night swim to Cominotto.

The highlight of the Comino camp was a visit by a helicopter used by the Italian Military Mission based in Malta. After landing, the scouts were given a talk by Captain Galea, a Maltese helicopter pilot. Captain Galea explained what the helicopter is used for, how he became a helicopter pilot and many other things. The scouts were given a tour of the helicopter and took pictures of it from close quarters.

The highlight of the visit was a search & rescue demonstration carried out under the supervision of the Head of the Italian Military Mission Col. Salvatore Fadda, Col. Luigi Iezzi, and Head of helicopter team, Lt. Col. Felicissimo. The helicopter visit was made possible thanks to a joint venture between the Italian Military Mission and Maltese scouts.

In the evening, a Red Indian Campfire night complete with Red Indian costumes and totem poles was organized along with a barbecue. The Dingli Group won the Totem Pole competition while various campfire stunts and sketches were enjoyed by all. Sunday morning was spent striking tents, cleaning the camp site, strictly adhering to Lord Baden Powell’s final message “to leave the world in a better shape than we found it”.

The scouts also had several companions such as mice, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, and wild rabbits and endured extreme heat, but even so the Ventures who attended are already looking forward to the next joint activity.