Scouts venture into four-day hikes

NINETEEN Ballarat Venturer Scouts have taken on challenging four-day adventures as part of the Queen’s Scout Awards process.

Ballarat District Venturer Scout leader Kirstyn Hall said each group of young people planned, prepared, and coordinated their own journeys over three months, with leadership from one or two local youth members, and adult mentorship.

“Each journey has involved hiking 50-plus kilometres over four days, including three nights, and required each team of teenagers to pack and carry everything they needed; tents, sleeping bags, food, water, clothing, and wet weather gear,” she said.

“They were required to navigate their way using maps and compasses. None of the teams were accompanied by adults, although adults were of cause fully aware of their routes and emergency contingency plans, and provided transport to each location.

“An Adventurous Journey is a requirement of the Venturer peak award and is an opportunity for youth members to get out, explore wide and put in place the skills they have learnt and practiced during their Scouting journey so far.

“Our local young people fanned out across the state to connect with nature and the outdoors, learning by doing, enjoying the comradery of their team, and applying leadership skills.”

The young people leading the hikes were all year 11 and 12 students.

Mount Clear College’s Oscar Hines led the Bogong High Plains trek, Ballarat Grammar’s Archer Hall and Loreto College’s Bridie Newman led the Lower Glenelg National Park hike, and Clarendon College’s Katrina Prior Damascus College’s Zoe Newman led the Grampians Peaks Trail journey.

“The hike was a challenging one with a couple of days involving steep inclines, but we were rewarded with gorgeous views from the top of mountains and even got to camp on a cliff face,” said Zoe. “We supported each other and ensured everyone stayed safe through the difficult terrain.

“As a group we took the opportunity to summit Mount Gar/Mount Difficult and a clear day meant we could see all of Lake Wartook and beyond.”

The Queen’s Scout Award is the highest achievement a Venturer Scout can reach.