Scouts SA 2026 AGM

 Watching the Scouts SA AGM (2026). It was held in the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide (South Australia) this evening. 

 https://www.youtube.com/live/OB9UqILtVrE?si=m8CPZEWlzwniAkS7

Penny Hike

 

Tonight, the Cub unit went on a penny hike. Thankfully, the weather was ideal for a night out of the hall and getting out and about.

 

You may be asking, what is a penny hike?

 

A penny hike is when scouts go out for a walk round their local area. When they come to a junction they must toss a coin, heading right on tails, left on heads (or straight over/right depending on junction, etc). This activity will count towards the Walkabout badge work (even if you have not been invested yet, it will still count towards the badge work).

 

The total km covered on the hike was 5.25km. This adds to the total each cub has hiked for the Walkabout badge requirements. 

 

At this stage, scouting person and I have not ever covered the same route twice while doing a penny hike. Which can be a good thing.

 

Overall, it was a great night to get out of the hall and explore the local area

110th year of Cub Scouts

 To celebrate this incredible milestone, a national Cub Scout campfire will also be held in July 2026; more details to follow (about the campfire).

There will also be a national Badge Design Competition, with all Cub Scouts encouraged to enter their own badge designs. There will be five state winners, and each winning design will enter a national competition to become the official event badge.

 

We are looking forward to seeing how the designs will turn out and the campfire ideas / plans for later in the year! 

The Australian Lamb ad is back for 2026!

While we generally focus our posts on activities that we get up to etc, we thought we would share this year's lamb ad, ahead of the Australia Day long weekend. Australia Day is on Monday, so we have a long weekend this year.  

Enjoy!

Golden Grove Scout Group - All Section End of Year Break Up

 This evening, our scout group had their end of year break up. There was a water slide, games and a BBQ (plenty of food for everyone). Badge presentations, and generally a great time was had by all.

 

So that wraps the scouting year at least, although there is still plenty of other non-scouting activities happening over the summer break. 

 

 

Come and Try Paddling

 Today, the Cubs had an opportunity to do a come and try paddling activity at Glenelg Activity Centre. We were sharing the time slot with Ridgehaven and Hope Valley Cub Units.

 

It was a great day, with a couple of our youth members to assist with a training exercise for one of the activity leaders as apart of their assessment.

 

The activity counted towards the Paddling Outdoor Skills Area, which we are sure will please a few of our youth members.

 

Overall, it was a great day and one that the youth members who attended really enjoyed. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hidden Impact of Every Scout Night

 

Below is a email sent to every Leader within Scouts Australia.

 

I (as Wilbur) am sharing this as I live with a Scout Leader (Cub Section) and I know how much work she does for the youth in her section.  

(Subject Line) The Hidden Impact of Every Scout Night

 

You Make the Difference: The Hidden Impact of Every Scout Night

 

Each week across Australia, thousands of volunteer Leaders turn up: unlocking halls, supporting the duty Patrol Leader, setting up obstacle courses, organizing badge work, supporting young people to lead, checking the arrangements for the night hikes, packing away gear, and encouraging hesitant voices to speak up. Sometimes you’re thanked, often you're not. Sometimes the night feels chaotic, the lesson unclear, or the Group distracted. And yet - you keep showing up.

 

What you may not always see is this: you are changing lives.

 

New national data from the Resilient Youth Survey confirms what many of us have felt in our hearts for years - that Scouts builds stronger, more resilient young people. The data shows that Scouts score an average of 91% across key well being measures, compared to 82% for the national average. That means the program you deliver each week isn’t just fun - it’s transformative.

 

Your Scouts are:

· More hopeful about their future

· Better able to cope with stress and anxiety

· More likely to have trusted adults they can talk to

· More willing to give back to their community

· More respectful, inclusive, and connected to others

 

These are not just numbers. These are futures you’re shaping - one activity, one Patrol meeting, one encouraging word at a time.

 

You may not see it now, but your commitment is laying foundations that will support these young people for the rest of their lives. You’re helping a shy 11-year-old learn confidence. You’re showing a teenager how to solve problems, serve others, and believe in themselves. You’re helping young Australians become the kind of adults our country needs: resilient, compassionate, and community-minded.

 

The Scout program works - and you are the reason it works.

 

So the next time a session feels like a scramble, or the tent pegs won’t go in, or the youth members forget the equipment again - take heart. You are not alone. And what you are doing matters more than you know.

Because of you, our communities will be stronger tomorrow.

 

Thank you - for every week you’ve given, and every Scout you’ve inspired. The difference you make is profound. Keep going…

 

Australia needs you!

 

Yours in Scouting,

Brendan Watson OAM 

Chief Commissioner, Scouts Australia