FOR local scouts, every week is full of hands-on activities, learning and community projects, with the last few months as busy as always for the group.
While some legacy community groups struggle in the digital age to keep young people engaged, the Broken Hill Scouts remains popular.
“The numbers have stayed fairly consistent for quite a long time now I’d say,” said Broken Hill Scouts Group leader Kerry-Sue Pascoe.
From ages 5-17 the Joeys, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers participate in activities ranging from prospecting in the Outback, to learning valuable life skills like how to use a match, and celebrating Mothers and Father’s days.
Once a boys-only club, Ms Pascoe was in the first unisex rank of scouts in South Australia in 1973, beginning what has become decades of involvement.
“The programs have changed quite a lot,” she said. “We still do all your basic bush-craft, camping and hiking, but we also encompass a lot of holistic stuff as well.
“Kids can tap into all different sorts of ways of exploring their own capabilities.”
In recent months, the scouts and venturers visited McDougall’s Well to dig for amethysts, camp and hike.
“The kids all ended up with beautiful gems and stones,” Ms Pascoe said.
“We try to get out and around Broken Hill and visit different places, like we had a look at Lifeline and saw what it’s like behind the scenes after hours”.
All of these activities are only possible with volunteer helpers and leaders, which can be hard to come by.
“Our leaders have been the same for quite a while because there’s so much training that has to be done,” she said. “There’s hours and hours of online and face-to-face training.
“Most of the courses are only offered in Sydney.
“So for people to get to Sydney, they’ve got to take basically two days off work for a weekend course.”
As for the rest of the year, the scouts are busy fundraising for members to attend the 26th Australian Jamboree in January in Maryborough.
