Research confirms that Scouting programs give young Australians critical advantages in life, according to the new Scouts Australia Resilience report: “The Scouting Effect”.
Young people participating in Scouts demonstrated higher levels of resilience, self-confidence, mental wellbeing and the emotional capacity to cope with difficult times such as the recent bushfire crisis or COVID-19 isolation.
The survey by Resilient Youth Australia (in conjunction with the University of SA) compared the responses of young people aged 8-18 who attend Scouts with those who do not.
Compared with other young people of the same age, Scouts across Australia:
- Are more optimistic about their future
- Hold more positive values
- Enjoy greater life satisfaction
- Feel healthier – physically and mentally
- Have better life satisfaction
- Read more
- Have more fun at school
- Are more likely to help other people, and help out at school
- Contribute more to their local community
- And much, much more.
Rod Byrnes, Chief Commissioner of Scouts Victoria, says the life-changing benefits of Scouting are no surprise, but it is good to have the data to prove it.
“Scouting’s active, outdoor programs and the social aspects of working in small teams contribute to continued positive mental health, even decades later in adulthood,” Mr Byrnes said.
“Another interesting finding of the Scouting Effect was that the longer young people remain in Scouts, the more resilient they become.”
Director of Resilient Youth Australia, Dr Andrew Wicking, said that true success in life is about resilience and wellbeing.
“Our work with more than 350,000 young Australians indicates that youth thrive when they feel Connected Protected Respected TM (CPR),” Dr Wicking said.
Scouting has been active online from the end of Term 1, returning to Scout halls from the start of Term 3. Membership of Scouts Victoria is free until March 31 2021.
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
