This Merrylands’ primary school student was among youngsters this masthead met on International Women’s Day celebration last March 8.
Kaysanne might be so young to articulate the broader significance of celebrating IWD with Scouts NSW and her mum, but she could confidently speak why scouting was her top choice for an after school and holiday activity.
“I love having Mum do Scouts with me. She is always there helping my leaders and doing activities with me,” Kaysanne said.
“I also love making new friends, you can learn what boys like to do and what girls like and I can have friends that are both boys and girls.
“I also get to do lots of activities with the Venturer Scouts with Mum. She is very enthusiastic. I like the activities that are run, such as hiking, which is fun, and I’ve been caving too.”
Since joining the Joey troop in the Parramatta area, Adele said, her daughter has grown into “a caring and adventurous girl” who also learnt how to properly knot ropes with her little hands when they are out camping and setting up a tent.
“It’s not simply learning how to tie a knot like people think. This is a skill that’s helpful for construction when they help build things in the future,” Adele said.
Scouting is focused on youngsters being taught skills they can use at every stage in life they are in, Adele said, because “every aspect they learn develops them as a person who can go and be anything, which is awesome.”
For example, Adele said she is raising Kaysanne “doing not just glamorous things girls usually do but also to get hands on through Scouting.”
“Participating in a range of outdoor adventure activities, including hiking, caving, canyoning, abseiling, whitewater rafting, and controlled capsizing and more really involve getting your hands dirty and experiencing nature in its truest form,” Adele said.
Adele was turning 14 when she joined her older brothers in Scouting NSW in 2000, enrolled in the Venturers’ troop for boys and girls in the 14 to 17 age group.
Her experience as a girl scout led her forging lasting friendships with other females “who got me” which was important to have older women role models to look up to.
Kaysanne will soon be moving up to the Cubs troop for ages eight to 11 discovering other ways of learning and having fun away from computer and schoolwork and onto real life outdoor adventures with her peers.
The Rovers are the oldest members from ages 18 to 25 before they are chosen to become scout leaders.
Scouts NSW is recruiting more young people, as young as five and up to age 25 and currently enrolled at schools, to join the various age groups and take part in a variety of outdoor activities and jamborees.
For more details on how to join, visit https://nsw.scouts.com.au/about/about-us/.
