This year's summer camp took place at the Mataffin Scout Hall, with 300 participants including camp Leaders. The majority of the Scouts in Mpumalanga come from rural and disadvantaged areas. The camp theme was "Back to Basics". The setup of the program was influenced by the theme which looked at the basics of scouting and how they can best be implemented. The program included the following topics: - Environment - Culture - Personal development - Basic scouting skills, - Art and craft - as well as adventure and fun On the second day of the camp Scouts left the site in Mataffin and went to town in Nelspruit for the Environmental Challenge. This challenge was an ongoing project. Prior to the camp the Scouts were divided into 24 peer groups and started a run for the most valuable waste products. The Scouts had to collect waste such as cardboard boxes, cans, plastics and paper. This waste was now going to be separated and recycled as the second phase in this Environmental Challenge. The type of waste and the amount they separated formed part of the points they could gain. The competition points were as follows: - Cans = 5 points - plastic bottles = 4 points - plastic bags = 3 points - bottle caps/tops = 2 points - paper = 1 point. Then the Groups were tasked to create their own arts and crafts. They used tools such as scissors, wire, wool and paint. The amount of waste collected by the Scouts was enormous and the creativity produced was amazing. The Groups designed a fashion collection, kites that flew up to 20 meters in the sky, sculptures, bags, music instruments and many other great art works. With this project the Scouts were able to demonstrate their Scouting values to the community of Nelspruit and they experienced firsthand how important it is to protect the environment. When the challenge was over, the groups filled in a questionnaire on the topic of recycling and environmental protection. Wednesday was a cultural day. South Africa has a unique and diverse culture. While many South Africans realizes this, it is always astonishing to find that many are not really acquainted with the details of the different subcultures. The program for this day included cultural songs, dances, games, stories, the arts and crafts of the different subcultures. The Groups presented five different cultures namely Zulu, Swazi, Tsonga, Sotho and Ndebele. It was a great experience for all, as many discovered and learned new information about their own and others cultures. Thursday was a career exhibition day with focus on personal development and leadership. This activity formed part of a career guidance curriculum developed to broaden the horizons of the Scouts and show them what a variety of opportunities are out there for them. Nine different stakeholders from various professional fields were invited to present careers options. There were stakeholders from Nicro, FET College, Mbombela police department, Masisukume Women Crisis, Childline, the Botanical Garden, GRIP and the Defence Force. Youth were made aware of their opportunities and strengths in life. Friday the final day of the camp focused on traditional scouting skills. Scouts were divided into smaller groups to ensure a direct involvement of all participants. The Groups looked at observation, mapping, pioneering, camping and first aid skills. The response and commitment shown by the Groups was overwhelming, it made everyone realised the relevance of the basic skills of Scouting. And finally what would scouting be like without adventure and fun? These elements played a significant part of the camp. The evening program for each day consisted of night hikes, a cultural evening, an open stage evening and a camp fire. One of the highlights for the Scouts was the visit to Mbombela Stadium, to watch a rugby game between Pumas and Griffons. For many it was their first visit to the stadium. The Scouts were given a chance to take part in the game, the event was a great success and Scouts received a positive feedback from all around Nelspruit. With a well designed quality program aimed at youth development, the Mpumalanga 2012 Summer Camp was a success and it was enjoyed by all who participated.