About Us

Air Scouts Canberra is an active group with a full program of activities which aim to include our special interest in aviation and space. As an example, where other scouting packs would visit a fire station, at Air Scouts we would visit the fire station at the airport.

During the summer months we make the most of daylight savings and warm weather and hold most activities, including week night meetings, outdoors in the park beside the Scout Hall.

There are a few activities that are inherently included in our pack program, such as games, campfire cooking, camping, craft and badge work. When we are involved in activities such as canoeing, rock climbing and caving, adventurous activities leaders who have been trained and qualified in these activities will run the program.

Each section meets on a different day of the week:

  • Joeys are admitted as 6 years and can stay up to their 8th birthday. The Joey section is currently closed and looking for new leaders.
  • Cubs are admitted as 7.5 years and can stay up to their 11th birthday. We meet at 6:30-8:00pm on Monday.
  • Scouts are admitted as 10.5 years and can stay up to their 15th birthday. We meet at 6:00-8:00pm on Tuesday.
  • Venturers are admitted as 14.5 years and can stay up to their 18th birthday. We meet at 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday.

For more information and inquiries contact the Section Leader listed on the Contact Us page.

30th March 1931, Riverside / Barton - BP at the 2nd Canberra Scout Hall.

History

Air Scouts Canberra was created in 2003 when the Latrobe Scout Group was renamed to Air Scouts Canberra.

The story of Air Scouts Canberra starts with the 2nd Canberra Scout Group that began meetings on 17 Dec 1925 at Duntroon. The troop scarf was purple with a half inch gold trim and is basis of today's Air Scouts scarf

In 1931, Scouting founder - Robert Baden-Powell (BP) visited the 2nd Canberra Hall at corner National Circuit and Blackall St, Riverside (now Barton). It had been opened the previous year by Governor General Lord Stonehaven.

Meanwhile, 5th Canberra Scout Group had begun meetings on 28 July 1926. 5th Canberra was to become 1st Yarralumla in 1965.

In 1978, 2nd Canberra joined with 1st Yarralumla to become Latrobe Park Scout Group with current hall as its base.


BP's Walking Stick

Air Scouts is the custodian of one of BP’s Walking Sticks. It was donated to 2nd Canberra Scout Group by Dacre Smyth in 1963, the year the hall was opened by Governor General Lord de Lisle.

Dacre H Smyth AO (1923–2008) was an Australian a naval officer who participated in the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Coral Sea. He joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1940, retiring as a commodore in 1978. He was the son of the distinguished British General Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth VC, KCB. Dacre Smyth's deed of donation of the BP Walking stick note reads:

“This carved walking stick was originally presented to the founder of the Boy Scout Movement and the World Chief Scout, Lord Robert Stephen Smyth Baden Powell by Scouts from the Solomon Islands where it was made.

In January 1935, BP gave it to his cousin, General Sir Neville Smyth VC who left it on his death in 1940 to his son who was (then) Captain Dacre Smyth, Royal Australian Navy and Group Scout Master for 2nd Canberra Scout Group. Captain Smyth presented it to 2nd Canberra (now Air Scouts Canberra) in December 1963. If the 2nd Canberra Scout Group (1st Deakin Group) ever closes, the stick is to be transferred to the Canberra area headquarters (now the ACT Branch). Signed Dacre H. Smyth"