5 Reasons to volunteer at a Scout or Guide centre

So you were a Scout or Guide when you were younger, and university has made you homesick for camping, toasting marshmallows, and the cameraderie of walking around when it's cold outside, but you're all cold so it's fine. Or maybe you were never active in the organization as a kid, but you want to get out of your comfort zone and put something creative and adventurous on your CV. Here are 5 reasons that signing up to volunteer at a Scout or Guide Centre for a season might be the opportunity for you!

1. It's an awesome opportunity to travel and learn about other cultures. There are Scout and Guide Centres on nearly every continent, except for Antarctica. Even if you only travel to the EU or another part of the UK, you are sure to learn a lot about the culture of the place you are living. When I stayed in Switzerland for three months at Our Chalet (a Guiding World Centre), I learned about both the cultures and Guiding experiences of my fellow volunteers, while also experiencing the way of life in the Swiss Alps.
2. You can gain many life skills for university and beyond. Before volunteering, I knew nearly nothing about cooking or keeping a room clean. After volunteering, I am not perfect at these things but I can confidently hoover, clean bathrooms, and cook good homemade meals for myself and my friends. Additionally, I have gained a newfound appreciation for adorable Swiss baby goats.
3. Many different job positions are available. Do you have a passion for marketing, outdoor education, or leading a team? Many centres have roles available for marketing or progamming interns, as well as heads of staff, which provide valuable experience that can be helpful when applying for higher-level positions in other companies or organizations.
4. You can work with kids, without having to be a full-time babysitter. Being a camp counselor is great, but it can be exhausting to be in charge of the safety of so many kids, even if you enjoy working with kids. Since most minors visit Scout or Guide Centres with their troops/units during school holidays, volunteers will lead activities and share their passion for the outdoors when they are scheduled to work directly with groups--without being responsible for all of the logistics, first aid, and conflict resolution that a troop/unit leader deals with during their group's stay. The Scouts and Guides who visit genuinely enjoy and appreciate the experience, which makes all of the harder parts--like cooking alpine macaroni for over a hundred people and mopping floors--totally worth it.
5. You will meet so many new people! Not only am I still in touch with my co-volunteers, but it was very rewarding to spend time with the many adult Scouts and Guides who visited during my season--including some who returned after visiting as kids! As a lifelong US Girl Scout, working together with others to build teamwork and friendship reaffirmed the importance of the mission of Scouting and Guiding in my life--to foster global connections and work towards a better world.

Feature Image Credit: Wikimedia.com