1st Leichhardt Scouts

Who are we?

1^st Leichhardt is among the oldest registered Scout Groups in Australia. It was one of the original 11 Troops registered in Sydney in 1908 in the newly-formed ‘League of Boy Scouts’.

The Group has four youth sections, Joeys, Cubs, Scouts and Venturers. They meet at the Scout Hall, which has been in continuous use since 1923 – on Monday and Tuesday nights.

1st Leichhardt Troop at Cataract Scout Park 2017 — 1st Leichhardt Group at Cataract Scout Park 2017

As at November 2020 the Group comprised of almost 80 youth members including

Joeys aged 6-7 years who meet on Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 pm

Cubs aged 8 to 11 years who meet on Tuesdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm

Scouts aged 10 1/2 to 15 who meet on Mondays from 7 pm to 9 pm

Venturers aged 14 1/2 to 18 who meet on Tuesdays from 7 pm to 9 pm

Youth members are drawn from residents of Leichhardt and surrounding suburbs including Lilyfield, Annandale and Glebe.

Nearby Scout Groups, which sometimes interact with 1^st Leichhardt, include 1^st Haberfield, 1^st Balmain and Drummoyne.

All youth sections are run by volunteers, mainly scouting parents.

Why scouting?

It’s fun! It’s challenging!

Scouting helps children and young adults reach their full potential. Teamwork, leadership, planning communication, initiative, self-motivation and commitment are just some of the attributes which flow from involvement in scouting.

Every year 1^st Leichhardt Scouts and Venturers can join Australian contingents travelling to scout jamborees all over the world. Since 2015, youth members have travelled to the World Jamboree in Japan and national jamborees in Finland, Norway and Mongolia.

In 2019 a sizeable 1^st Leichhardt group will join the Australian contingent to the World Jamboree in the United States.

A special fundraising program co-ordinated by 1^st Haberfield assists youth members to pay their way on these memorable trips overseas. Many new friends are made, as well as networks that can last well into future careers.

Activities

Cubs: Cub scouts learn new skills while spending time camping and learning bushcraft and collecting special badges to demonstrate new skills and achievements. These include rock climbing, abseiling, camping, bushwalking, and billy-karting. Yes, tying knots and using a map and compass are part of it.

Scouts: Girls and boys become members of a Scout Patrol within the Group. Together decisions are made, goals are set and everyone works together as a team. This is where valuable life skills including confidence, resilience, leadership and responsibility emerge. Activities ramp up to building rope bridges and flying foxes, canoeing, rock climbing or toasting marshmallows with a bunch of friends as well as hiking up to 30km over two days. Basic first aid and fire lighting with two sticks are on the list of skills to acquire on a multilevel award scheme that constantly pushes girls and boys to achieve their personal best. More useful knots to be learned in this stage, too.

Venturers: No experience is necessary to join our Venturer Scouts, a self-run program of fun and indoor and outdoor activities guided by adults. Outdoor activities, writing, performing and community service initiatives are part of the adventure. Leadership and management course are available that can help in both careers and personal lives. Some Venturers will work towards achieving the ultimate goal – the Queen’s Scout Award. It’s also worth bonus points in the Higher School Certificate! This is a highly-regarded award around the world – the equivalent of the Eagle Scout in the United States and the Queen’s Scout in the United Kingdom. View our 1^st Leichhardt Queen’s Scout Awardees on our honour roll.

Cost

Annual fees for Cubs, Scouts and Venturers are set by Scouts Australia. They cover insurance and administration costs.

Additional costs are charged for weekend camp trips and other low-cost outings. The club fundraises to purchase tents and camping equipment. Uniforms, usually a shirt and scarf joined with a woggle, are worn to each scout meeting and activity. They are available online at the Scout Shop.

Active Kids Rebate Program

The NSW Government set up a scheme in 2018 under which parents, guardians and carers of school children can apply for a $100 voucher to use towards sport and fitness costs each calendar year.

Scouts Australia (NSW) is an accredited provider under the NSW Government Active Kids Rebate Program.

Here are some common FAQs for parents and carers.

Apply for a voucher here.

Child Protection

Following case studies at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse involving scouting in Australia, a new National Child Protection Policy was launched in late 2016. It was accredited by independent, non-for-profit child organisation, ChildWise, which will continue to ensure the branch framework remains at best practice levels. Read the Scouts Australia child protection summary here. The full policy is available on the Scouts Australia website here.