Welcome to this 1st edition of Hume: Leading the Way
Scouting provides young people with a journey that can span around 12 years, from their first experiences as a Joey Scout through to the independence and leadership of Rover Scouts.
Along the way, young people learn by doing, take on increasing responsibility, develop practical skills, work with others and eventually lead activities and projects themselves.
This newsletter shares some of the things happening across Hume Region that make that journey possible.
Nepean District – Revival
Hume Region has recently revived the Nepean District leadership team to support our frontline leaders in providing exciting and fun-filled events and activities to youth within the Sydney South-West high-priority growth area.
Led by John Hallett (District Commissioner), supported by Mathew Hunt (Quartermaster) and Vanessa Hill (Public Relations), and with over 50 years of Scouting experience amongst them, the Nepean District leaders are well-placed to support the growth and development of our newest leaders as they embark on their own Scouting leadership journey. Please reach out to them and introduce yourself (if they haven't already reached out to you):
- Helen Brinck – Joeys
- Stacie Hunt – Cubs
- Ian Franke – Scouts
- Adam Cragg – Venturers
- Nick Carroll – Rovers
Although we're only just over halfway through the year, 2026 has already seen Nepean District's commitment to the community resulting in our participation in several community events and activities, including:
- Australia Day celebrations,
- Cleaning up our local parklands and waterways as part of Clean-up Australia Day,
- Giving thanks and paying our respects to our servicemen and women at the ANZAC Day dawn and day services and march, including the making and laying of wreaths,
- Attending and running promotional activities at the Camden Show in March and Belgenny Farm in May and August, and
- Tree planting as part of National Tree Day (known as Arbour Day, back in the last millennium when I was a boy!).
It's wonderful to see our youth engaging with the community, giving them a sense of their place in our community, helping them give to others and contribute to improving our community, and promoting Scouting, its values and opportunities all at the same time!
Always active and out and about, our youth and leaders have been busy attending bushwalks, canoe trips, camps, bike rides, rock-climbs, swimming, sailing, a trip to Warragamba Dam, Cub and Scout personal development courses, a first-aid course and even an amateur radio weekend! Our Rovers have attended a Moot, the Venturers a Dragon Skin and Scouts, State Rally!
Through new experiences, shared laughter, and unforgettable moments, these events and activities have provided our youth with the confidence to try new things, explore new places, and build new friendships. Guided by the values of Scouting, they learned the importance of teamwork, resilience, leadership, and helping others. Along the way, they created lasting memories, strengthened their Scouting spirit, and showed what can be achieved through courage, kindness, and adventure.
None of these adventures and experiences would have been possible without a team of dedicated, energetic and creative volunteer leaders from across the District who conscientiously support our youth in the development of their outdoor, interpersonal, and leadership skills, spirit of adventure, discovery of new interests, and personal growth and resilience. As always, I extend my profound thanks to them (and their families) for the commitment, time and efforts in ensuring the best Scouting opportunities as possible are provided to our youth.
Thanks, also, goes to the Hume Region Activities Team, Hume Region Fellowship and Hume Region leadership team for their efforts and ongoing support, without which our youth, District and Region would be very much the poorer.
Community participation → new experiences → confidence → responsibility → leadership.
Nepean District demonstrates how Scouting's leadership journey happens through experience rather than simply being taught. From a Joey Scout helping at a community activity through to older youth planning adventures, undertaking personal development and supporting others, each experience provides another opportunity to grow.
Southern Highlands District
Located in the most Southern reaches of the Hume Region, Southern Highlands District comprises 1st Bargo, 1st Mittagong & 1st Moss Vale Scout groups.
The District has a strong connection to the communities it serves and continues to provide top-level scouting activities that enhance the skills and capabilities of youth and adults through adventurous activities, community connection activities, and a strong focus on leadership.
A strong leadership team in each group ensures that the program offered meets the needs of the youth and the families supporting Scouting in our district. Annual camping, including our Founders Day Camp each year, brings everyone together and strengthens the fellowship of Scouting.
1st St Andrews Takes First in Hume at State Rally 2026
Stories where Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturer Scouts and Rover Scouts have taken responsibility for their own activities.
Congratulations to the 1st St Andrews Scout patrol, which achieved First in Region for Hume at the 2026 NSW State Rally.
At the biggest NSW State Rally held to date, patrols from across the state spent the weekend tackling a range of activity bases and challenges. Rather than simply completing activities, patrols were assessed on their practical skills, enthusiasm, teamwork and, importantly, their ability to work together and demonstrate leadership.
Ariana, Daniel, Jackson, Jess, Ramoy and Ted represented 1st St Andrews with an outstanding result, bringing home the State Rally 2026 – 1st in Region award.
Congratulations also go to Waru and Spider for supporting the Scouts throughout the event and helping provide the opportunity for the patrol to put their skills into practice.
With First in Hume secured, perhaps the challenge for 2027 is already clear — First in State!
State Rally is a strong example of what the 12-year Scouting leadership journey is designed to achieve. Young people are placed in situations where they need to make decisions, communicate, solve problems and rely on one another rather than simply following instructions from adults.
The result is important, but the leadership demonstrated to achieve it is the real success.
Scouting gives young people opportunities to develop skills they may not encounter elsewhere
Meet the people behind Hume Region Scouting
Hume Region Camp & Hall Bookings Are Now Online
Hume Region Scouts has now moved to a fully online booking system for Region camps and halls, providing one central place to find venues, check their details and submit bookings.
The new Hume Scout Bookings system currently brings together venues including Berrima Scout Camp, Glenfield Scout Activity Centre (GSAC), Warrabunda Scout Camp, Hobsons Hut at GSAC, Campbelltown Hall and Catherine Fields Scout Hall, with venue information and booking options available directly through the system.
One place for all bookings
From now on, all bookings for participating Hume Region camps and halls are to be submitted through the online booking system.
This provides a consistent process for Groups, Units and other users while giving the Region a central record of booking requests. Rather than relying on emails, messages and different booking processes for individual properties, the system provides a single starting point.
Users can select the venue they are interested in and commence their booking online. Venue information, including location, venue type, and available capacity, is also presented through the site.
Supporting our volunteers
The system is also about making the administration behind our Scout properties easier to manage. Moving bookings into one process reduces the amount of information that needs to be manually transferred between people and helps provide a clearer, more traceable booking process.
Most importantly, improving the administration behind our camps and halls allows our volunteers to spend more time supporting Scouting activities and opportunities for young people.
Ready to make a booking?
Whether planning a Group camp, Region activity, training weekend, meeting or another event, start with the Hume Region online booking system:
Hume Region Scouts – Camp & Hall Bookings
bookings.humescouts.com →Please bookmark the site — all future bookings for participating Hume Region camps and halls should be submitted through the online booking system.
Humeoree 2026 – Celebrating 80 Years of Hume Region!
This September, Scouts from across Hume Region will come together at Glenfield Scout Camp for a very special Humeoree celebrating 80 years of Hume Region.
Running from Friday 18 September at 5:00 pm until Sunday 20 September 2026 at 3:00 pm, Humeoree is an all-sections weekend bringing Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Venturer Scouts, Rovers and Leaders together for adventure, friendship and plenty of fun.
The weekend program will include sock wrestling, crate stacking, a ninja track, shield craft, a heritage scavenger hunt and paddle pop boomerang building and throwing. Rovers will also operate a Nerf War base, along with evening entertainment including a Disco and Campfire.
Youth will participate in activities as patrols, providing plenty of opportunities to work together, meet Scouts from other Groups and experience activities from across the Region.
Two-night youth registration is $40, including activities, camping, an event badge and Humeoree wristband. A one-night option for Joey Scouts is $30, while Leaders and Rovers camping for the weekend are also $30.
The weekend will conclude with the 80th Anniversary closing ceremony at 2:30 pm on Sunday, followed by parent pick-up at 3:00 pm.
This is more than another Region camp — it is an opportunity to celebrate 80 years of Scouting in Hume Region while looking forward to the next generation of young people who will continue its story.
Hume: Leading the Way belongs to everyone across the Region
Groups, Units, youth members, adult volunteers, Region teams and Fellowship members are encouraged to contribute. You don't need to write a polished article.
Simply send us:
- What happened
- Where and when it happened
- Who was involved
- What the youth members achieved or learnt
- 2–4 good photographs
- Around 150–400 words — or just the information, and we can turn it into an article
Most importantly, tell us the story behind the activity.
hume.region@nsw.scouts.com.au