Just like in the June and July school holidays, my column writing in these September school holidays is coming to you from a Scout camp, this time in Maryborough, where I’m spending six days and five nights with 1,000 mates from around the state of Queensland at Cuboree.
This time, though, I have an office and a desk and am not writing from a tent, although I wouldn’t have minded either way.
Cuboree is a camp specifically for the Cub Scout age (8 to10) and occurs every two years.
It is supported by volunteer Scouts and Venturers who run activities, Leaders, and adult helpers.
This year was the 7th Cuboree, and I hope to send many more Cub Scouts from the Capricorn district in the future.
As someone new to Scouts, everything has been a learning experience.
As a child, I never experienced what it was like to be a Scout or a Girl Guide, so I am doing it as an adult instead.
Almost five years of tenure, and I’ve found myself in various roles, which have provided me with extensive experience in how the movement operates locally.
Now, I’m taking it up a notch.
Transitioning from Chairman to Joey Scout Leader, to Group Leader and then to District Commissioner has meant that my fundamental understanding of the purpose and structure is well and truly cemented, aided by in-house training courses online and in person.
With LEAP being my first big camp of 350ish youth and adults in the June and July school holidays and Cuboree seeing me join 1,000 others, I’m on an accidental and unintentional path of preparedness in true Scouting style.
My next adventure is to the New Zealand Jamboree in December 2023 and January 2024.
At a guess and based on previous New Zealand Jamborees, I’ll be joining around 5,000 youth and adults.
Heading into 2025, I’ll be back in Maryborough for the Australian Jamboree, which attracts 8000 – 12,000 youth and adults from around our country.
Then there is the finale of the experience, a World Jamboree in 2027.
With my daughter Madison having just returned from a World Jamboree in Korea, where she spent three weeks with 50,000 Scouts from around the world, I’m looking forward to when I can experience that as well, but as an adult.
I like to understand how these things work, and I am in awe that volunteers entirely orchestrate them. My experience will also mean I can share with our local Scouts about what to expect and better prepare them and encourage them to take the opportunities.
One of the things I love most about Scouts (there are many) is how everyone’s strengths are leveraged.
It’s as if Scouting has got it right and is ticking along in the background, waiting for the world to catch up.
When you apply to attend a state, national or international event as an adult, you’re asked what your skills are, and you’re asked what your three preferences are from a responsibility perspective.
At LEAP, I was the Well-being Subcamp Leader for one of the four subcamps onsite.
I care deeply about the well-being of our young people and chose well-being as one of my preferences for jobs for the camp.
At Cuboree, I was in the Promotions Team, which means I attached myself to a subcamp.
I spent half the day photographing the group of 200ish youth members and the other half uploading thousands of images from all subcamps to a website.
I also enjoyed choosing some great images to share on social media and spent time moderating subcamp Facebook groups.
I love capturing happy moments and memories, and this role allowed me to adventure and participate in all the activities throughout the Cuboree.
I’ve been assigned to a Patrol Adult Leader role for the upcoming New Zealand Jamboree, which means I will directly lead a unit of six youth members on their adventures in New Zealand.
In a Scouting Jamboree, units serve as the primary organisational groups, typically comprising a set number of scouts and their leaders.
Each unit may represent a local scout group or be a mix of scouts from different groups.
Units usually have their own designated camping areas and participate together in various activities, meals, and events throughout the Jamboree.
Subcamps are larger divisions within the Jamboree that contain multiple units.
Each subcamp usually offers its own set of amenities, such as dining halls and activity areas, and may even have its own unique schedule of events.
The subcamps make it easier to manage the large population of a Jamboree by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable groups.
This also allows for more efficient distribution of resources like food and medical services.
The organisational structure aims to create a safe and well-ordered environment where thousands of Scouts can enjoy various activities and experiences.
Every experience means I can learn new skills, meet new people and try new things.
I’m a keen, but very dodgy, photographer with a great entry-level camera, but I’ve learnt so much in such a short period on camp because of those around me who’ve taught me how to use my camera correctly.
Another thing I love about Scouts is the chain of command and the unspoken expectation that it be adhered to.
Put simply, the balance of ‘Chiefs and Indians’ is correct, as long as everyone stays in their lane and follows the chain of command.
Another example is the Scouts getting the span of control right and waiting for the rest of the world to figure out a framework that has consistently worked for 116 years.
Overlay all of this with a code, a promise and law, and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded experience of respect, doing what is right and believing in yourself.
It doesn’t matter if your everyday Scout role is as a District Commissioner, a Section Leader or a Group Leader; what matters at these big events is that you stay in your lane, comply with the duty statement and ensure, above all else that the safety of youth is the priority.
After all, they’re why we do this.
As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”
For those adult volunteers who I know don’t do this work for any reason other than to make a difference in the lives of young people, it reminds me of a quote by Harry S. Truman, which reads, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
The confidence and resilience of our youth will be thanks to a contribution we’ve made but which won’t necessarily be credited, and that’s ok.
