Mother-daughter duo love sharing their Scouting adventures

“It’s nice for girls to not be raised doing just the glamorous things, but to get dirty.”

For Adele Lockman and her daughter Kaysanne, 8, Scouts is a connection that brings them closer together; an opportunity to build a stronger relationship through mutual experiences.

The pair shared their story as part of Scouts NSW’s celebrations of 50 years of female youth members (1973-2023). Females were allowed to join Scouts for the first time as Venturer Scouts and Rover Scouts in 1973, before the introduction of female Cub Scouts and Scouts in 1988. When the Joey Scout section started in 1990, all were welcome.

Adele joined Scouts as a 13-year-old, thanks to her brother.

  
“My brother joined because a friend had a Bring a Friend night at Scouts and invited him,” she said.

“I used to go with my dad to pick him up and was interested in the activities. The Leader came out one night and said ‘you know she can join in too?’ So, the next week I was there, and I’ve stayed ever since.”

With her father Micheal a previous Joey Scout Leader and Adele a Venturer Scout Leader, State Commissioner – Arts and Literature and Assistant Production Director for Cumberland Gang Show, Kaysanne was visiting Scout meetings and events from a young age, before joining as a Joey Scout at five.

“I love having Mum do Scouts with me,” she said.

“She is always there helping my Leaders and doing activities with me. I also get to do lots of activities with the Venturer Scouts with Mum. She is very enthusiastic and makes it fun. I just love it.”

Welcoming Kaysanne into Scouting has made Adele appreciate the program from a new perspective. While her attention has been predominantly focused on the older age groups as a Venturer Scout Leader, since Kaysanne has joined Adele has attended almost all her Joey Scout – and now Cub Scout – events.

She said it has boosted the enjoyment she already had being involved.

  
“I am seeing how she is growing and developing into a caring and adventurous girl through it all,” she said.

“Scouting provides the opportunity to develop our relationship as mother and daughter as we interact away from screens and the busyness of everyday life and explore the world around us together.

“Kaysanne has also been coming along with me to rehearsals at Cumberland Gang Show since she was born and next year, she is old enough to join the cast. After eight years watching and dancing alongside me whilst I teach the cast, she finally has the chance to be part of it. She can’t wait to be part of the Gang and I am so excited to see her develop and grow being part of it.”

Gang Show is the performing arts side of Scouting, allowing youth members to explore their dramatic and musical sides, putting on performances and providing entertainment for major Scouting events.

  
Kaysanne said she loves being in Scouts.

“I like the activities that are run, it’s really fun,” she said.

“I love making new friends. You can learn what boys like and what girls like and have friends that are both boys and girls.

“I get to go hiking, which is fun, and I’ve been caving.”

Adele said she loves seeing the holisticness of Scouting – it’s not just knot tying like people think. “It’s a skill that’s helpful for construction when they build, which turns into a flying fox, which is an activity, which becomes a camp and an opportunity to perform at camp. Everything all flows in together.

“It’s learning skills for life – every aspect develops them as a person who can go and be anything, which is awesome.”