Everyone likes some part of the outdoors. Cooking fresh meat on a camping trip, taking a second to lie down at the beach, or going for a pleasant autumn walk with the dog. Going out into nature is an amazing way to relax in this fast-paced world, with proven benefits to physical and mental health. As such, it’s important to connect with the outside world in some way, especially from a young age. Scouts ACT is dedicated to making this connection, teaching everyone from 5 to 25 to challenge themselves with opportunity and adventure.
Joining the scouts is hardly an original idea, with the first scout group having been founded in 1907 by Robert Baden-Powell. Even so, the Scouts of Australia have a dedicated branch in Canberra, focused on keeping kids entertained through an extraordinary amount of activities.
There are five groups of scouts, with each group determined by the age range with its scouts. Then, these 5 groups divide into smaller sections based on their closest viable scout hall. The groups of scouts are the:
- Joeys (5-8 years old)
- Cubs (8-11 years old)
- Scouts (11-14 years old)
- Venturers (14-17 years old)
- Rovers (18-25 Years old)
Each group has its own members, development areas, and goals to focus on, prioritising safety, learning, and fun before all else.
What Does Scouts ACT Teach?
Scouts ACT is dedicated to teaching a wide variety of values, skills, and ideologies in order to make certain that you or your loved one gets the most out of your experiences.
As mentioned before, each group in the scouts has its own development areas. Younger scouts, such as the cubs, are taught basic life skills such as sharing, being creative, and making friends, but also learn fundamental ideas, such as learning to have fun whilst not caring about winning, build an identity, and learn from mistakes.
On the flip side, older scouts, the Venturers and Rovers, are taught to be self-reliant, discover a career path to follow, and to build new friendships outside of school and work. These scouts are also allowed to venture into competitions, such as The Queen’s Scout Award, allowing them to receive the ultimate achievement of a scout.
Obviously, the scouts focus on traditional outdoor activities, such as overnight hiking, camping, and even hot-air ballooning. The scouts are also taught a few hyper-specific skills, such as the performing arts, amateur radio operation, and leadership development. Scouts are also incentivised to take on contemporary issues, such as youth health, responsible risk-taking, and vocational skills.
Building off of this, the scouts have two promises to choose from, which can be selected by the individual.
On my honour, I promise: To do my best, To be true to my spiritual beliefs, To contribute to my community and our world, To help other people, And to live by the Scout Law
Or, choosing the other promise:
On my honour I promise: that I will do my best, To do my duty to my God, and To the King of Australia To help other people, and To live by the Scout Law
There is also the Scout Law, a guideline to help all scouts choose the right path.
Be Respectful: Be friendly and considerate. Care for others and the environment.
Do What is Right: Be trustworthy, honest and fair. Use resources wisely.
Believe in Myself: Learn from my experiences. Face challenges with courage.
Is it for Me?
Of course, not everyone is placed in the perfect position to participate in the activities, so it is important to take note of some essential details.
To start, of course, is the cost. The price of enrolling with the scouts is dependent on which group is being considered. The cost is determined by weighing local factors, such as fundraising, against financial pressures, like maintenance. The price should be between $450 and $550 AUD for the full year. This price does not include the uniform, which can cost between $35 and $50 or certain activities, which can be expensive. Yearly, it is likely that enrolling a single person into a scout group can cost over $1000 if they participate in every camp or activity. That being said, Scouts ACT believes that financial issues should not stop somebody from becoming a scout, and as such, they recommend speaking to a group leader to discuss payment options and support.
Another factor to consider is the location. There are dozens of locations for scouts to meet up across Canberra, depending on the age demographic of the person enrolling. The map can be seen here. There is usually some kind of scout hall located every five kilometres around the ACT, though it is very important to note whether or not the nearest scout hall accepts your group, such as the Rover units, which only accept members of 18 years or older.
Safety should definitely be considered, as the outdoors is no joke, especially for younger members. Scouts ACT has a very low-risk appetite for most aspects of operating, such as child protection, finance, and adult training; however, certain aspects, such as events and adventurous activities, contain certain risks which are taken in the pursuit of learning and fun. You can rest assured, however, that scout leaders are trained in risk management and are required to obtain a Working With Vulnerable People before being accepted as an official leader, and will do everything in their power to keep you or your loved one safe.
If you aren’t sure, Scouts ACT lends parents a helpful guide, which can be used by anyone, in order to make a decision.
