Text: Sophia Auer and Francisca Dias
Photography: Tomas Isbjørn Liberg Foshaugen
With Roverway coming closer and closer, you may have seen some images shared on our Social Media of a very specific gathering… Well, indeed! On the 16-18 February weekend, there was a Head of Contingent and Rover Representatives meeting on the Stavanger campsite. To understand better what the meeting was for and why it was important, we spoke to a couple of RoverReps, and here we will share what they told us.
First of all, you may be asking yourself… what exactly is a RoverRep?
Well, if you look closely at the name, RoverReps are Rovers that represent you as participants and your contingent as a whole. They are participants themselves, who help their Contingent Management Team (CMT) with different tasks, for example planning their journeys and are the key component for good communication between participants and the contingent. They have an open ear for their country’s Rovers, they bring the wishes and concerns of the participants to the CMT and thereby shape how the Roverway will look like!
To find out more about what exactly the HoC and RoverRep gathering entailed, we asked three RoverReps, Joscha (Germany, 20), Tobias (Norway, 17) and Rory (Ireland, 19), some questions and here is what we found out!
The gathering in Stavanger was the first time all the HoCs and RoverReps got together at the main campsite area in Stavanger, and overall it was described by our three RoverReps with great intensity as “a wonderful experience”.
The weekend started with a presentation of the agenda. After that, all attendees had the chance to socialise. They could finally talk face to face with one another, people they had met before, but only online, for meetings!
The main components during the gathering were the different presentations and activities surrounding Roverway. Each Planning Team Department presented the work they have been doing so far and their plans for the next few months. Each got the RoverReps and HoCs involved in the discussion of certain topics, such as how the campsite will look like and even how to name certain areas on the site.
There were many other moments where RoverReps had the chance to talk with each other about life, and their country’s Scouting culture, and share their excitement about Roverway! These were remarkable moments for them: “My highlight of the weekend was (…) on Saturday night when I was talking to some other RoverReps until deep in the night” mentioned Joscha. As for Rory, he really was keen on meeting “so many amazing new people” and also getting “a Norwegian Scout Neckerchief”! Tobias found the International Evening the real kicker: “It was really fun walking around and seeing the tables of the different countries with foods, snacks and even quizzes.”
Furthermore, a truly unforgettable moment for all RoverReps was the visit to the Stavanger campsite. They walked across it, looked all around and were even given a map with the campsite plan, including an explanation of where everything would be located in the summer, such as the main stage and activity areas. Additionally, the warm meals that were given during the weekend came from the same place that will be providing them during RoverWay. We could go as far as to say that RoverReps did a little test drive of them for all of us!
After a weekend full of such intricate work and emotions, it is also important to reflect on what was learned. For that, why not ask our RoverReps what they expect from Roverway?
“In summer, I hope to make many new friends and have an amazing experience on an outdoorsy path.”
(Joscha, 20, Germany)
“This meeting really set my expectations for Roverway, and I’m looking forward to having a good time with a fun programme, and establishing new friendships across borders just like I did this weekend.”
(Tobias, 17, Norway)
“I expect Roverway to be NORTH of the Ordinary and to be a safe and inclusive place for young people to be who they are”
(Rory, 19, Ireland)
It is clear to see that all three of them are looking forward to meeting new people, the thrilling paths and also the camp itself. Now it’s your turn: are you ready to go NORTH of the Ordinary? Have you started preparing yet? Keep in mind that Roverway is coming closer and closer… You don’t want to miss anything, so follow roverway2024 on Instagram, where all the hottest news will be posted!