Community & Business
8 July, 2022
Experience the Scout way
FOR the past century, the Scout movement has taught people essential skills for life but now local groups have put a call out for adult Scouts to help keep the tradition alive.
As Scouts grows in popularity, the Mareeba den will be participating in a new youth program, which aims to refresh the organisation and bring back exciting and memorable adventures.
Scouts plan to not only open a “den” in Malanda but increase the range of activities available such as camping, hiking, abseiling, alpine and aquatic activities, along with community, creative and personal growth challenges.
In order to do this, local scout groups are calling on adults to volunteer and form a committee which will help young people get back into the wild.
Scout District Commissioner Zoe Williams believes it’s a great opportunity for anyone of any age and encourages people to come along for the adventure.
“Becoming an adult member of Scouting is a really rewarding way to connect with community and support the personal growth and education of young people in a fun way,” she said.
“We’ve seen volunteerism across the community declining over recent years, but through volunteering with Scouts, people become part of a worldwide community.
“We have a dedicated team of adult leaders supporting our youth, but we need additional support to continue to grow the movement in the region and allow more children and young adults to gain the resilience and enjoyment that comes with participating in Scouts.
“It really doesn’t matter whether you’ve had any previous Scouting experience, we provide training to all our volunteers to support them in their roles.”
Mareeba Scouts Patrol Leader Estella Sibthorpe is 14 years old and has been in the scouts since primary school. She believes it is a great opportunity for people to get involved and enjoy the great outdoors and what it has to offer.
“I think it’s important to learn how to be a team and work together and learn important skills to survive in the wild,” she said.
“My favourite part is making friends and hanging out with people, and we all have a really good time. I think it would be great to have more permanent scout leaders come on board, especially ones who really like the wilderness and hanging out with us.”
If you’d like to join the adventure, contact your local scout group or email tablelandsdc@fnqscouts.org.au for more information.
