UCC Rover Scouts, Where Physical Activity and Active Citizenship Come Together

Writes Jacques Kinane & Emma BarryWhen you think of sports clubs in UCC, Rover Scouts doesn’t tend to spring to mind. Instead, traditional team sports come to mind and Rovers sounds like a society that has somehow been misassigned. We would argue that physical activity is one of the most important aspects of Scouting. In order to work effectively on any of the active citizenship projects we undertake, we must have a strong sense of teamwork. What better way to build a team than to take them up the side of a mountain with tents and spend a weekend working together and socialising. The physical exertion combined with the removal of modern technology lead to a great atmosphere for team building and fun. Camping trips are also another great way of bringing people together and forming teams. The sense of discomfort sleeping in a tent on the cold hard floor is easily overcome by the social aspect of all being in it together. Looking at it from an outside view you would think we are all mad, but once you have been on one camping trip, you count down the days until the next.It is this sense of camaraderie that allows us to then come together to work on projects that uphold the traditional scout promise. “To serve my community, [and] to help other people” is a key aspect of our promise. UCC Rovers uphold this promise in a less traditional/formal way than a ‘normal’ scout troop. UCC Rovers has been especially active during the lockdown with the large Hike for Hope event. This event raised over €45,000 and involved over 45 different clubs and societies from 5 different third level institutions. With only a weeks’ notice before the event, it was a huge success which can be directly attributed to the strong team behind it. If the team were not confident in each other and understanding of the skillsets of it’s members we could not have pulled it off. All of this event took place during the study week and exam week at the end of Semester 2. Members had to balance their time between running a virtual campaign and ensuring they were prepared for the all important end of semester exams. Members ‘hiked’ the height of Mount Everest on their stairs and in their local areas in order to fundraise for Pieta House. This unique challenge under unique circumstances led to an amazing event that was accessible to all and beneficial to both our member’s mental health and those who make use of Pieta House’s services.All of our members get to work on projects that are both challenging and fulfilling whilst having fun throughout. This differentiates us from other clubs. Our aim is not to win competitions or to burn off excess energy, but to build character and make the world a better place one small step at a time. This means we can continue having fun and working together but also feel fulfilled and satisfied that we are making a difference. Oftentimes our work is done at a local level and can have a big impact on a smaller area. I feel the inspirational quote: “Helping one person might not change the world but it could change the world for one person.” suits Rovers best as it shows the overwhelming spirit of community gathering that is ever present in scouting. Members can work on areas that they have a keen interest in such as mental health as well as work with young people in our local communities.However, UCC Rovers is not all about charity events and citizenship style activities. We take part in a yearly intervarsity where we meet up with Rover groups from all over the country (and even some international groups) to compete in Scout skills. This can involve anything from cooking scones over a campfire to building a tower to get each member of the team 6 feet off the floor! This unique experience fosters friendships that will last a lifetime and memories that we will never forget.If you are interested in joining a club in UCC I would highly recommend UCC Rovers as an opportunity to make great friendships, keep active and give back to the community!