Cub Scouts Explore the World at Scouts NSW Cuboree 2023
Published Wed 04 Oct 2023
From rock climbing to robotics, almost 1600 Cub Scouts had a long weekend of fun and adventure at NSW Cuboree 2023.
The largest event for Cub Scouts aged 8-11 in NSW, this year’s Cuboree was the first since 2017, with the 2020 event cancelled due to bushfires.
Running from Friday 29 September to Tuesday 3 October at Cataract Activity Centre in Appin, south of Sydney, NSW Cuboree 2023’s theme was “Explore the World!” with all planned activities linked to this theme. The program included activities focused on ecosystems but allowed for plenty of opportunities for entertainment and downtime with friends.
There was action for all attendees, from iconic activities including the Challenge Valley obstacle course, rock climbing and flying fox, to drones, robotics and RC vehicles in STEM, plus discos and other performing arts.
The Ocean and Polar ecosystems were particularly popular across the weekend, with their water and ice-based activities cooling everyone down when temperatures peaked in the mid-30s.
Cuboree Chief Director Gabie Thompson said for the first time, Cub Scouts also attended an off-site experience, exploring the “Savannah” ecosystem with a visit to Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh.
“They spent three hours or so there, experiencing the wildlife park, having encounters with kangaroos and wallabies, and visiting the farmland nursery,” she said.
Participants rotated through all the activities over the course of the camp, creating a challenging, adventurous, inclusive and fun experience for all.
Scouts NSW welcomed Studio 10’s roving reporter Daniel Doody on site on Monday to experience all the fun of Cuboree. Doody started off his visit trying his hand at archery, before conquering his fear of heights on the 15m high flying fox.
Check out more of his adventure here and here.
Cub Scouts experienced a staple of any major Scouting event or Jamboree – Market Day – an opportunity to create their own stall to trade and sell items and meet other Cub Scouts at the start of the event.
3D-printed whistles were the big winner of the day, much to the chagrin of many adult members! Keyrings, friendship bracelets, painted tattoos and inflatable saxophones also made up some of the items available.
Cumberland and Hornsby Gang Shows – part of the performing arts arm of Scouts NSW – put on performances as part of the opening and closing ceremonies, including a range of items from their shows this year, as well as singing the Cuboree song Blast Off written specifically for the event.Mrs Thompson said it was important to give Cub Scouts the experience of a large-scale Scouting event.
“The growth and experience they have from attending a large-scale event like this is different to what comes from day-to-day Scouting,” she said.
“The Cub Scouts from this event may be the ones that go to the Australian Jamboree or a World Jamboree, and Cuboree will help make them excited for their future Scouting opportunities.”
Older Scouts and Venturer Scouts had the opportunity to develop leadership and mentoring skills in support roles at Cuboree. More than 320 Junior Service Leaders, comprised of Scouts and Venturer Scouts, supported the Cub Scouts with an additional 790 Leaders, Adult Helpers, Rover Scouts and Fellowship Members on site to assist.
For many participants, Cuboree was the first opportunity to meet and make friends with Cub Scouts from outside their own Region. Cub Scout Units from as far as Broken Hill – where 24 people made the 1144km trek to the event – joined Cub Scouts from other regional and metropolitan centres in NSW.
During Cuboree, a pop-up warehouse was the hub for food distribution over the five days. At the end of the camp, to limit food wastage, everything left in the warehouse that had not been used was proudly donated to Foodbank, which is Australia’s largest food relief organisation.
Cuboree also saw a new anti-bullying program presented for the first time to an audience. Developed by Scouts NSW’s Youth Protection Team in response to the increasing number of children experiencing bullying within their communities, the program included workshops to help youth members recognise the five areas of bullying – physical, verbal, relational, group and cyber.
The program included a partnership with best-selling author Susanne Gervay, whose first two books in the I Am Jack series, which are highly regarded books about bullying, were distributed to Cub Scouts during the event.
“Our Cub Scouts attended anti-bullying workshops to raise awareness of bullying behaviours, who to go to if they are being bullied and how to support a friend who is being bullied,” Scouts NSW Executive Manager Youth Protection and Issues Management Renee Jensen said.
Scouts NSW Chief Commissioner Lloyd Nurthen said: “Cuboree provided an opportunity for Cub Scouts and Leaders to explore new ideas, meet new people and, most of all, have fun and memorable experiences.”
Sign-up, volunteer and join today: scoutsnsw.com.au/join-scouts
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