| Next Family Camp: - | Friday 24th - Sunday 26th November 2023 | Lake Fyans Scout Camp - Grampians National Park |
After a wonderful Scouting year of fun, adventure, learning, badgework, achievement and friendship it was time to come together as a family and enjoy some 1st Ballan Family Fun. Arriving at Eumeralla Scout Camp in Anglesea everyone settled into their accommodation and our family camp for the weekend was established.
It was an active weekend where through the program everyone was challenged to engage and have fun. Parents challenged Children, Children challenged Parents, Joeys challenged Cubs, Cubs challenged Scouts, Scouts challenged Venturers and Venturers challenged ALL and everyone had a lot of fun as they all immersed themselves in the program and thoroughly enjoyed participating in all the activities and experiences offered.
While canoeing, surfing, climbing, swimming, crawling, flying, tunnelling, swinging and chocolate making all faces were full of smiles and determination resulting in a lot of laughter, fun, teamwork, success and friendship bringing everyone together for an exceptional Scouting weekend. This is our Family Camp ....
The Unit Council had spoken. They wanted a Family Camp & they wanted to do the High Ropes Course in the Otways. So why not do both.
After a brief search, it was discovered that there was a Scout Camp in the Otways ... Patanga Scout Camp. Once visited, booked and promoted, the families jumped onboard. Everyone was excited to explore the Otway Ranges.
Throughout the first day the youth thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to free play as they bounced over rocks, walked along logs and hid in the ferns while exploring the river & discovering Stevensons Falls. After enjoying Hopetoun Falls, dinner was picked up from The Beechy Pub and enjoyed amongst the Californian Redwoods before heading to Melba Gully where everyone had fun viewing the Glow Worms on a night walk.
Then on the final day everyone climbed & flew through the trees at Yeodene Trees Adventure High Ropes Course.
After an interesting Scouting Year where we learnt how to fully utilise time and make the best of any opportunity, it was time to have some family fun on bikes. So we travelled into the city where we set up camp at the Pines Scout Camp in Altona ... an ideal location for a family bike camp.
Throughout the camp we all thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to simply ride and explore some of Melbourne's city bike trails. Our first ride showcased determination and resilience among all the riders as the group fought a head wind all the way from Altona to Williamstown, and what did we enjoy when we finally arrived at Williamstown ... ice cream. With the wind at our backs everyone flew back to camp. In the afternoon the older riders kept going and explored the Altona Foreshore Trail.
The next morning, we rode out to Sanctuary Lakes along the Altona Foreshore Trail before returning to explore Scienceworks in the afternoon. A fun Family Camp had by all.
Scouting is wonderful fun and on a weekly basis the Joeys, Cubs & Scouts all learn and develop skills that will help them grow and develop - especially in the outdoors. Therefore, when they get the opportunity to go outside they all excel and thoroughly enjoy every opportunity to implement the skills they have learnt.
So after planning a family camp the Cubs were very keen to go and enjoy an adventurous, fun, challenging and inclusive week-end with their families. A weekend that would see them access two Victorian Scout Camps.
Driving through the rain the families arrived at Gilwell Park Scout Camp in the dark and supported each other to set up camp and get everything ready for the next day. After a quick night walk around the surrounding area the Cubs headed off to bed in preparation for a day full of adventure, challenge, laughter, friendship and fun.
Then next day started with the Cubs investing Shada into our Unit, resulting in the following question being asked ......
