Cover Photo: Robbert van der Gaag
Text: Francisca Dias
Edit: Sophie Spickenbom
After six extraordinary days together at the main camp (and 11 in total) it is time to say goodbye. Roverway 2024 in Norway has come to an end, but all the bonds we forged because of it will remain for a lifetime!
On the last full day at camp, 1 August, Roverway held a very special ceremony to celebrate all the beautiful moments, adventures and memories that Rovers experienced: the Closing Campfire!
We were presented with a truly stunning aftermovie of the entirety of Roverway, with a narration that really spoke to everyone’s hearts: “Let us continue building a brighter future, together”. Guides and Scouts, now more connected than ever before, linked their arms and really enjoyed themselves in the moment, as the campfire was lit.
We counted once again with amazing campfire chants, songs and games that got the whole crowd of energised Rovers absolutely buzzing! Some of those included a “Sausage or Finger” guessing game where the representatives of each of the four teams had to touch the face of one of the hosts with either a sausage or their finger and trick them into guessing it wrong! It was quite an interesting bit that really provided people with so much fun.
However, my personal favourite moment, as a member of the Roverposten team, was a video segment inspired by our Toilet Talks section (the one you may have found taped to the inside of the toilet doors at camp)! The idea was that the participants would step into the toilet stall and answer the question “what was your NORTH of the Ordinary moment?”. As expected, Rovers being Rovers, the content of the videos shown was infinitely entertaining.
The highlight of this Campfire was without a doubt singing all together the official Roverway song “NORTH of the Ordinary” one last time. There was a little surprise, though! As the end of the song was approaching, an IST playing the instrumental of the song on the saxophone entered the stage! Everyone cheered loudly as the enticing notes filled the air. Then, the song started again and a huge choir of ISTs joined the band on stage. They sang the song back and forth, along with all the radiant Guides and Scouts there. Bubbles floated around… The atmosphere was magical, to say the least.
In true Guiding and Scouting spirit, right after the Campfire ended, Rovers got their gear ready and did their best to trade all the badges and scarves they still had left! In the air lingered an energy only Guides and Scouts can comprehend: this spirit we all cultivate and live by.
We genuinely hope you have enjoyed this insane ride. Thank you to everyone who was part of and helped make this Roverway something genuinely “NORTH of the Ordinary”!