ANZA Scouts go wild in Pulau Ubin

With adventure and exploration at the heart of ANZA Scouts, our 11–15 year olds completed the season with a two-night camp at Pulau Ubin. True to our core of “Youth Leading; Adults Supporting,” this capped two terms of developing outdoor tenacity and camping skills.

As pre-stay prep, the Scouts explored Ubin by bike to evaluate available campsites, then discussed and filmed their advice on what makes a great stay. They also debated what each Patrol should bring individually and collectively to the camp, did a test hike with their loaded backpacks, and packed their camp boxes with what was needed for shelter, cooking, and entertainment. Talk about “Always Be Prepared”!

Pulau Ubin is a challenging camping environment as cooking is only allowed at designated firepits, using wood or charcoal, and there’s no drinkable water. Wisely, the Scouts elected to stay at a campsite with showers.

Arriving just before dusk on Friday night, each Patrol quickly put up their tents before dark. Collaboration in loading and unloading the boat and van transport, and prior practice in setting up tents paid off and they were all settled before dark. For some, the relative silence of Ubin was a new experience, though it was disturbed by the sounds and the lights of the flights into Changi Airport.

Preparing for a night under the stars

Jokes & stories

Camp breakfasts were super special. Although coffee came first, the breakfast cooked over the coals was another opportunity to learn by doing. The Scouts prepared toast and scrambled eggs, then discussed the day ahead. The discussion to get a consensus was a valuable learning experience, and only needed minor mentoring to weigh the options.

They decided to have a morning at the campsite, enhancing their tents with annexes for Patrol fun, followed by a longer hike in the afternoon to Ubin village for a drink and energy-boosting ice cream. The afternoon surprise was an otter scurrying through the campsite. Dinner was once again cooked over the open coals: traditional Aussie sausages with bread, caramelised onions, and roasted potatoes. The evening wrapped up with marshmallows toasted on the fire, jokes, and stories.

The Scouts exemplary teamwork shone through again on Sunday morning as they cooked the final breakfast and got the gear down to the docks. Loading and unloading everything on the swaying bumboat was pretty tough, but also provided some comedy moments – a human chain works every time!

Sadly, this will be the last activity for ANZA Scouts until new Scout Leaders emerge, but the memories of our Pulau Ubin trip providing friendship, personal challenges, and sheer fun will remain.

Left: On the bumboat to adventure! Right: A pit-stop on Pulau Ubin

Got a need to lead?

ANZA Scouts enter 2026 without Age Section Leaders, pausing operations until new volunteers step up. Seasoned Scout Leader, Toph Brown shares his reflections.

Throughout my adult life, I’ve volunteered in various roles. Hands down, being a Scout Leader has been the most fulfilling. Here’s why:

• It’s pure fun. Scouts dive into various activities and leaders do too. We keep everyone safe while ensuring they’re included and having a blast. Great leaders stay engaged and join in
• It’s authentic. Kids see through fakes. Feedback is instant and honest, keeping you sharp. The best way to connect is to be genuine. Scouts mirror that openness, sharing their feelings and enthusiasms
• It’s challenging. I was a Cub and Scout in my youth, thirty years before my daughter joined ANZA Scouts. When I started leading, just one experienced leader mentored us. Scouts Australia’s online training filled the gaps. I still regularly revise materials as they have application beyond the narrow needs of being a Scout Leader

What you don’t need to lead:

• Prior scout or guide experience. It does make it easier to understand the symbolic framework that makes Scouts different from a youth group, but this is easy to learn
• Outdoor expertise. Bear Grylls inspires many, yet our diverse programme spans community and creative pursuits too
• Weekly availability. At our peak, ANZA Scouts had four Leaders in the Scout age section alone.  Two were required to be present at any given meeting, leaving lots of time for other work and family commitments

I’ll cherish these memories and eagerly mentor the next generation of leaders. Will you be one of them? If you’re interested in getting involved in ANZA Scouts in any capacity, contact us at anza.org.sg/activities/scouts/join