The Springfield Lakes Scout Group has temporarily paused two of its primary youth programs due to a shortage of adult volunteers, and will resume operations once sufficient volunteers are available to ensure safe supervision.
The group operates five youth sections: Joey Scouts (ages 5–8), Cub Scouts (8–11), Scouts (11–14), Venturer Scouts (15–18) and Rover Scouts (18–25). Each section must meet strict youth-to-leader supervision ratios under national Scouting requirements.
At present, the Cub Scout and Scout sections are paused because the group does not currently have enough trained adult leaders to meet those supervision requirements. These sections will resume once additional adult volunteers come forward.
A Community Program Under Pressure
While interest from local families remains high, the lack of adult supervision has created a gap that the group can no longer fill. National safety rules require a specific number of adults to be present for every child involved. Because these ratios cannot be met, the sections for children aged eight to fourteen have stopped running.
This means many young people in the area are missing out on the chance to build life skills and friendships through outdoor activities.
Leadership Gaps Stall Local Activities
The situation worsened recently when two key leaders had to step away from their roles. One leader left for personal reasons while another is managing a medical condition. Without these individuals, the group cannot legally run camping trips or basic outdoor lessons.
Brendan Kross, the Group Leader, explained that the organisation relies entirely on the presence of adults to function. He noted that even though many children want to join, the program must stop if there are not enough mentors to guide them.
The Search for a Permanent Home
Operational struggles are made harder by the fact that the group does not have its own building. For the past four years, they have moved between different hired spaces like the local YMCA. Mr Kross mentioned that having a permanent spot to meet would help the group grow and feel more stable. He believes a dedicated space would make it easier to recruit new volunteers and keep the program running smoothly for the long term.
An Urgent Call for Local Support
The group is now looking for residents who can give some of their time to help lead the youth. They are also asking local businesses if they can help find a permanent meeting location. Mr Kross stated that the current leaders are working very hard, but they cannot manage the entire workload alone. The future of the program now depends on whether enough people in the neighbourhood step forward to help.
Published Date 05-January-2026
