At first, Ava Maree thought life in the wilderness would be unsurvivable without social media or online games — even if it was only for five days. The 8-year-old Mosgiel Brownie is at Berwick Lodge this week, for the 2026 Ignite GirlGuiding camp, where cellphone reception is patchy at best. But she is learning that life is actually more interesting without a connection to the outside world. Leaders of the future gather on the confidence course at Berwick Lodge yesterday as part of the 2026 Ignite GirlGuiding camp. The main aim was to encourage the girls to step out of their comfort zones and give them confidence, by being away from home and doing new things with new people.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 19, 2026 15:41 UTC