Scouts swarm on Pittsworth

MORE than 2000 scouts, Venturer scouts and leaders will converge on Pittsworth for Operation Nighthawk 2017.

Scout Association of Australia Queensland Branch Darling Downs Region assistant region commissioner administration Barry Keleher said Operation Nighthawk had continued to experience growth and popularity by providing an adventurous and challenging activity for many years.

“Despite the generally cold environment for this time of the year, the young people continue to return each year to face a new challenge and improve their leadership skills,” he said.

Organisers said there were 160 scout and 80 Venturer scout teams that had entered the event, to be held tomorrow and Sunday.

Scouts aged 10 to 15 years participate on one course and Venturer scouts aged 14-and-a-half to 18 years participate on the other course.

During the event participants take part in activity bases and each team is scored on how well they complete the activity.

Activities include initiative, leadership, first aid, construction, mapping and compass and observation.

Operation Nighthawk is one of the largest scouting activities in Queensland and Australia apart from a scout jamboree.

About 2200 scouts, venturer scouts and leaders will be attending the 36th event, which originally began in 1982 for a small group of scouts from the Rangeville Scout Group at Picnic Point in Toowoomba.

Communications support will be provided by Defence Force units from Borneo Barracks, Cabarlah and the Queensland Ambulance Service and Queensland Police also assist at the activities.