Scouts from the town have returned from the 20th New Zealand Scout Jamboree, in Feilding, having won the national patrol camping competition.
The victory followed their win in the recent lower South Island regional camping competition, where they defended their 2012 regional title.
Six of the seven Balclutha scouts who trained for the jamboree competition as the Hoiho Patrol flew into Dunedin yesterday afternoon.
The winners, with the exception of Bailey Reichel (14), who was holidaying with family, were welcomed by poster-wielding supporters.
During six hours of competition, patrols set up camp and cooked a meal using mystery ingredients for a surprise guest. They also had to construct gadgets using sticks and rope.
They were marked on scouting skills, teamwork, leadership, hygiene and safety.
The Balclutha group served tomato and onion soup, stir-fry with crispy noodles, and ambrosia cheesecake with fruit salad.
Winning was a big deal for the team, which was part of a larger Balclutha contingent at the jamboree, fundraising committee member Joanne McLeary said.
The committee helped raise $63,000 for the 28 scouts and 10 adult leaders from Balclutha to attend the jamboree.
They were joined by more than 3000 boys and girls, and about 1200 volunteers, from New Zealand, Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
