Wild Swiss adventure comes to a close for Rover Scouts

As the European summer season comes to a close, one Rover Scout is reflecting on the unforgettable adventure she has been on.

Grace Cummins has been working as a summer short-term staff member (Pinky) at Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) in Switzerland, along with two other NSW Rover Scouts – Ruby Mavor and Zoe Cowen.

Read Ruby’s story    Read Zoe’s story

The trio arrived at KISC on 2 June with their time wrapping up last Sunday, 1 September.

Grace, from 1st Figtree Rover Unit, is one of six climbing guides at KISC, with Zoe also a climbing guide and Ruby in activities.

“I’ve been running rock climbing courses, hike and climb courses, abseiling and the occasional challenge activity – crate stacking, Jacob’s ladder and zip wire,” she said. “I quickly learned the term ‘flying fox’ is a very Australian way of saying zip wire and no one understood what I was saying when referring to the flying fox!

“One of the coolest moments on the climbing course was lead climbing up Indie Rock to rig the ropes – the sun was out, the view was gorgeous and at the bottom of the rock, my group I was guiding was singing songs in their language! Just magical!

“I also went multi-pitch rock climbing (requiring more than one rope to complete the climb) for the first time recently on my day off and about 140m up the climb, a bird of prey flew right past us – incredible experience!”

Grace started as a Joey Scout at six at 1st Keiraville Scout Group, with her parents starting up the Joey Unit so she could go, as she was jealous of her sister, Meg, who was in Cub Scouts. She progressed through the sections before joining 1st Figtree Rover Unit, but came full circle, returning to 1st Keiraville as a Joey Scout Leader.

She loves all parts of Scouts, from meeting people, to making friends and having international opportunities.

“I think it makes you so much more employable being a Scout,” she said. “I did my peak awards in every section and hopefully will get my Baden-Powell Scout Award as well.

“Being a Scout, you learn so many skills – you learn leadership and communication skills and working as a team really with all the Patrol stuff that we do. It just really sets you up for the future as an adult.”

Grace was inspired to apply to be a Pinky after her sister Meg went last year as the only Australian. Seeing her videos and photos of hiking in the Swiss Alps, Grace felt that KISC was the next challenge, the next thing she wanted to see and do.

“I was lucky enough to have some insider knowledge, but honestly it’s so much more than I was expecting,” she said. “Having the opportunity to be outside among the Swiss Alps every day is like nothing I’ve ever experienced! It’s incredibly rewarding to see how proud a kid is when they achieve their climbing goal and the experience of being with like-minded Scouts, all driven to improve the world, is unmatched.

“To say that I’ve made international friends here doesn’t even begin to describe the relationships I’ve made with the incredible people here at KISC! A lot of these people are now family, and I wake up every morning excited because I get to live and work alongside them.”

One of the main things Grace wanted to do while at KISC was to see the Edelweiss flower in person and have a Sound of Music moment. She said it was her favourite flower and blooms in the Swiss Alps during the summer.

“I found Edelweiss at the top of a mountain called Gällihore, where I did a sunrise hike one morning,” she said. “I was so excited to finally find them!” 

KISC is the only permanent mini jamboree in the world – the international home for Scouts and Guides. So there was no better place to be on 1 August, which is not only World Scout Day but also Swiss National Day.

Grace said it was the biggest day at KISC, involving lots of pre-work and every staff member working the day. As part of the festivities, the Pinkies performed a play – William Tell – with Grace cast as the titular character.

“William Tell is a celebrated folk hero in Switzerland,” she said. “According to legend, he defies a tyrannical government official by refusing to bow. As punishment, he is ordered to shoot an apple off his son’s head with a crossbow. He succeeds, later escapes imprisonment and ultimately defeats his oppressor.

“It was a comedic play with dramatic fight scenes, chases and one liners with a twist of Scout humour threaded throughout.

“The Swiss Alps is notorious for its temperamental weather, so on the day of the play we were performing in the pelting rain with thunder and lightning just to add to the show! Nevertheless, the show must go on and many laughs were had! We took our bows drenched from head to toe with smiles from ear to ear.”

When her time is up at KISC, Grace is going to take the opportunity to travel around Europe before returning to work as a registered nurse. She said she went into nursing because of first aid nights at Scouts, but her main passion is volunteering, particularly working with animals.

“My favourite volunteering is helping raise Australian wildlife, like kangaroos, wombats and wallabies, until they can be released,” she said. “I also volunteer with a vet at Possumwood Wildlife Hospital (in Bungendore) and we do lifesaving surgeries on these amazing, beautiful animals that otherwise wouldn’t have a chance.

“I’ve done a bit of volunteer work in Nepal in a vet clinic with dogs and cats, street animals – that was really cool. I did some in South Africa as well, working with antelopes and we worked on hyenas, like taking snares off them. Just saving the little animals of the world.

“My main goal for nursing would be to volunteer for mercy ships. People travel for miles just to come to these ships in these locations along the African coast. I love the idea of doing volunteer work and helping people.”

In her final days, Grace reflected on some of the best moments of her adventure in Switzerland and the things she will miss.

She said everything had been exciting and she loved doing activities with her fellow Pinkies.

“I was the MC for an international campfire with Erik from Sweden,” she said. “I led over 1000 people in a song and dance called ‘Up Chicky Chicky’ which I learned when I was a Joey Scout at 1st Keiraville. I led the crowd in different claps for groups after they performed, like the ‘seal of approval’, the ‘big clap’, a ‘round of applause’, the ‘thunder/rain claps’. My favourite is the noise machine! We can turn up the volume of the audience with a raise of our hands!

“With the season coming to an end, I’m going to miss working with the incredible and like-minded people that surround me here. I’ll miss being outside among the mountains every day! Even though I’ve been here three months, I still have to pinch myself when I go outside and see the phenomenal views.”