Scouts NSW 2025 Summer Adventure School

Who can attend: Scouts (Fourteen years and above), Venturers, Rovers, Adult Helpers and Leaders.

Prerequisites

• You must be over 14 years of age
• You must be a financial member of Scouts.
• During registration you must upload a current log-book of your outdoors experience. There is a downloadable template for your use on this registration. If your having trouble with the log-book or need advice Please contact us. We're here to help. 

The Activities the Summer Adventure School will be offering include your choice of a three-day major activity and a number of day activities.

Major activities to choose from (Choose One): 

• Bushwalking Journey (in Budawangs Wilderness Area)
• Mountain Biking (South Coast locations to be confirmed)
• Whitewater kayaking or canoeing expedition (likely on the Snowy River)
• Vertical Activities including rock climbing, abseiling, rigging and rescue skills (In the Nowra Area)
• An Open Water Scuba Course or Specialist Scuba Course (Subject to additional cost – see below)

Minor activities: 

The minor activities will include participation in a day bushwalk / navigation activity, abseiling, flat-water paddling, bushcraft - pioneering, beach activities, and to be confirmed but likely bushcraft – survival.

Transport (How to get there): Bengalee is an easy drive from Sydney (Just near Nowra). Travel to and from this camp will be a participant’s responsibility. Car-pooling will be encouraged and where necessary facilitated for those coming from similar areas. Pickup and drop off is offered for those seeking to catch the train to and/or from Nowra.

Accommodation 

Accommodation will be in tents for the entire period. Participants will need to bring their own tent or ask your Scout Group to borrow one. Outside of activity timings participants will be able to chill out and relax at Bengalee Scout Camp, play some games.

• Major activities will be in your own hike tents.
• You can bring a single tent for everything, or you can choose to bring a 2nd tent to leave at Camp while you’re out adventuring in your hike tent.
• Everything must still fit into your luggage bags.
• Tents may be shared within the patrols. Normal Scouts NSW camping rules apply: No sharing of tests between males and females, or by adults and youth. That means that Rovers can’t share with Venturers or Scouts.

For your parents and carers

Activities will be challenging and fun including some of the below conditions

• River crossings
• Overnight camps in a wilderness setting
• Bushwalking and navigation
• Swimming 
• Vertical activities

What is included:

• Transport to and from all activities during the camp.
• All food, including rations for your 3 day journey.
• All activity and safety equipment: Bikes, Helmets, Canoes, Paddles, etc (excluding your own basic hiking and camping kit)
• Access to activity Guides and VET Assessors.

Important note:
Most of these activities are conducted in the natural environment and are therefore dictated by river levels, weather and climate fluctuations and human interactions. The Activity Leaders reserves the right to modify activities and the overall program as necessary to ensure the safety of participants and comply with our own environmental and safety protocols.

Great opportunities for:

• OAS Progressions
• VET qualification - Cert II and evidence towards higher qualifications
• SIA opportunities
• Duke of Edinburgh opportunities
• Self development
• And a really good time.
• Leaders, Its a great chance to develop skills and knowledge, while building evidence towards qualifications.

VET Accredited Qualifications

This Summer Adventure School provides a unique opportunity for youth and adults for personal growth, skills and knowledge develop and collection of evidence for formal recognition of your skills towards achievement of both OAS progressions and qualifications accomplishment in Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation and both Safe and Trained Participant. Note: A Cert II from TAFE is valued at ~$3k – This is free for Scouts Australia members through the Scouts Australia Institute for Training (SAIT)!

With the support of our dedicated Guides and Assessors on-site, you can have your OAS, SIA, Duke of Edinburgh, and VET qualifications reviewed and assessed.

For our youth members, Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation qualifications can also count as units towards your HSC for up to 5 years in the future, offering a valuable advantage in your educational journey. To learn more about these qualifications and their significance, please visit the following links:

• Scouts Australia: Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation: Link
• Scouts Australia: VET in Schools - Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation Guide: Link

We encourage you to explore the opportunities and benefits that these qualifications can bring to your Scouting experience and beyond.

Things we would like from you (Optional, but highly recommended)

• Scout Central E Learning relevant to your activity (Follow this link to E-Learning  Scouts Training)
• Complete the Cert II - Outdoor Recreation – Core (Check)
• Abseiling Level 1 
• Bushwalking Level 1
• Canoeing / Kayaking Level 1
• For Scuba, there will be on-line training from an external provider, on line knowledge assessment to be completed and dive medical currency, for completion prior to the school (none completion will result in inability to do scuba activities).

Help Needed!

Junior Activity Leaders (JAL)

The best of both worlds for our experienced youth members. Help to plan and design your favourite activity, and have fun participating with your friends at the same time!

JAL roles are available to Youth Members who meet the following requirements:

• Venturers and Rovers
• Hold Trained Participant qualification in at least one of the Major Adventurous Activities being offered.
• Hold Cert II Outdoor Recreation
• Progressing in evidence collection towards Cert III Outdoor Leadership
• Want to help plan, lead & participate in activities on the camp, supported by a qualified Guide.

Activity Leaders

We are also in need of Activity Leaders to assist in the running of activities. A minimum of Trained Participant qualification is required in activities you seek to support.

• Guides, Assistant Guides or Trained Participant in the Major Adventurous Activities you are supporting.
• Have a Cert III Outdoor Leadership or working towards this qualification.
• Want to help plan and lead the major activity you are supporting.

Event Support (Adults)

We are actively seeking dedicated individuals to take on various Event Support roles at the Summer Adventure. By contributing to these roles, you can become an integral part of this incredible experience.

• Kitchen Staff x4
  Just as an army marches on its stomach, Scouts too thrive on nourishing meals. If you have even basic culinary skills and a desire to keep everyone energised and well-fed, please consider joining our kitchen team.
• Support Leaders x2
  Support Leaders help create a welcoming and supportive camp environment.
• Welfare Leaders x2
  Welfare plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being and safety of all participants. If you have a caring and empathetic nature, we welcome you to join us in this role. 
• Media/Photography x 2
  Do you have a talent for capturing the beauty of the outdoors and the excitement of camp activities? We're looking for people to help document the camp and create lasting memories for everyone.

Important note about JSL, Event Support and Activity Leader Roles:
These are working roles, not participant roles. By taking on one of these roles, you can actively contribute to the success of the Summer Adventure School and help make it a memorable experience for all. If you're interested in any of these positions, please reach out to us for more details and to express your willingness to participate. Your support is invaluable, and we look forward to welcoming you to our dedicated team!

These roles are limited in numbers. To ensure fair consideration and proper allocation of positions, please note the following:

• An application for JSL, Event Support and Activity Leader roles does not guarantee a placement.
• JSL, Event Support and Activity Leader roles will be selected from the available applications.
• If these roles are already filled, applicants will be offered alternative options, where an opportunity is available.

Expectations

Things we expect from participants:

• Your Log Book. No Log Book, No registration.
• Expect this to be an achievement-based camp. You can come away with some excellent qualifications, BUT…
• You must bring a good attitude and desire to learn.

Pricing Structures

Financial Assistance

The Dick & Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund (LTAF) has been designed to support individuals and Patrols adventurous activities that develop leadership skills and demonstrate responsible risk-taking, including Outdoor Adventurous journeys, Training courses for Outdoor Adventure Skills and International expeditions.
The LTAF grant is open to all youth members from all sections and Branches in Australia.

The Alpine Summer School has been considered by the LTAF Committee a course which meets the Terms of Reference of the Grant.

We encourage any youth members in need to apply to the LTAF for consideration.

Please refer all LTAF enquiries to the link below:
https://scouts.com.au/blog/2023/10/06/leadership-through-adventure-fund-round-3-grants-now-open/