For my first class service project, we volunteered at Obs Pasta Kitchen from 9 July to 13 August. I chose Obs Pasta Kitchen because of their focus on community building and the importance they place on preserving the dignity of the guests.
During our time there, we helped with serving food and drinks, washing dishes and talking with the guests. Since we were there for 6 weeks, we were able to form proper relationships with some of the people who regularly eat there. We were able to meet a whole lot of different people that we would never otherwise have met. Overall, I really enjoyed organising and running this activity since we were able to see the difference we could make.
Lilia wrote “this was a truly eye opening experience for me. I got to talk to many of the people who come to collect a meal there and realised how one can take things like eating 3 meals a day and having a safe place to sleep for granted.
I was also impressed by the dedication of the people who volunteer there and was happy to see us scouts can help too.”
On Sunday 17 August 2025, Plaisir Wine Estate outside Stellenbosch hosted this year’s orienteering event. A record-breaking number of teams to entered, with 93 junior and senior teams competing. Out of those 93 teams, we had 5 junior teams, 1 senior team and an additional 3 adult / Rover teams entering from 6th Rondebosch Troop.
At the start of the competition you are given a map with different positions on it. You then have to go to that position in real life and scan an EMIT (which looks like a USB stick, but acts like a bar code) that you are given at the start of the competition. Each different position has a different point value. For example, a position that is close to you will have a point value of 10, but the furthest position on the map is worth 60 points.
Personal Experience
I thought that the whole competition was an awesome experience especially because it was held at such a beautiful wine estate. I really enjoyed tackling very different challenges with my school friend Ethan.
As soon as we got our maps we immediately set out on our 75 minute journey that really tested our physical abilities and mental capacities. We decided to head up the steep Stellenbosch hill to maximize the amount of points that we got per position. We got a little bit lost during the competition, but after a few minutes (and running into a spiky rose bush) we were back on track.
In the end we ended up scoring 120 points, which was enough for us to make it into the top five! It was really cool trying to find the little orange boxes, in which we could scan our EMITs and get our hard-earned points.
Overall there was just an amazing vibe and environment before, during and after the competition, but the best part was being enemies during the competition but as soon as the closing ceremony was finished we were all friends again. I also learned many useful skills, like how to use an EMIT and how to get over different obstacles (like really spiky thorn bushes). I really look forward to the next orienteering event so that I can rectify all the mistakes that I made last time.
A big thanks to Plaisir Wine Estate for the beautiful venue, to the Chief Judge – Thomas Ashworth, the judging team and all of the people who helped to organise the competition. Another big thanks to PENOC for setting up the route and for supplying the EMITs and for doing all of the scoring.
A group of 11 senior scouts from 6th Rondebosch came together under the leadership of scouters to test themselves against the mighty Vlakenberg in the pitch dark. Walking from Price Drive to Constantia Nek.
I was really excited and looking forward to the hike but did have a few worries with the thought of hurting myself in the dark but the scouters reassured us of our safety and throughout the hike made us feel secure.
We set out at 6:30 pm just as the sun was starting to set in the sky. Sadly, we missed the sunset as the clouds descended over the mountain.
It started with an easy flat path which gradually turned into an uphill climb. A slight detour in the dark led to a bit of bundu bashing but soon we were back on track.
By the time we reached the top of the mountain the sky was dark. I will most definitely be buying a much brighter and better torch as it was quite tricky to see the path but we all worked together and stayed together to reach the goal. Which is an important value that scouts teaches us. Team work is dream work.
At the top the scouters treated us to a very delicious mug of hot chocolate as we watched the twinkling lights of the city below. Coming down it was not as steep but a gentle downhill walk ending with wooden steps.
A few minor scraps but we all triumphed and got back down in the end reaching the parking lot at 9:15 pm laughing and shouting as we jumped into the warmth of the awaiting vehicles.
If you get the opportunity it is an adventure I would definitely recommend to other scouts.
Winter camp was a lovely 3 day camp from the 20th to the 22nd of June. Our patrol completed many fun and exciting activities. As a patrol, we had to set up and sleep in our own tents. We also had to make our own dinner which tested our tenacity and teamwork. We got judged on various activities throughout the camp. The camp was at Hawequas and we were really lucky that Kuba, the Warden, let us camp there. He also guided us on the rope course and directed our service project. So we were all very thankful to him.
When we were in the car going to Hawequas I was really excited. When we got there we unpacked the trailer and set up our campsite. I then made dinner for my patrol which was delicious. We then went and played this really fun survival game. Then I went to bed. The next morning we did P.T. which was tough. The rest of the day we did a bunch of fun activities. At around about mid day we went to the pool at Hawaquas to do the Polar Plunge which is done every year to represent the start for when the days start to get longer and the nights shorter (Winter Solstice). With the help of the Rover Crew we built this absolutely massive table called a quadpod table, which we later ate our dinner at. When it started getting dark we all sat around a huge campfire and sang songs. The dinner that night was scrumptious like usual. I went to bed with a full tummy hoping for a nice day. The next day after another gruellling PT session we collected up cut down alien vegetation and collected rocks from the river. Unfortunately it then started raining which made packing up the campsite a mission. The rest of the drive back whizzed by.
This camp was really fun and exciting and was very well run. It made many different and exciting memories. I enjoyed every bit from the food to the Polar Plunge, from the unpacking in sunshine to the packing in the rain. I learnt how to do a tripod lashing and how to hoist up large pioneering poles. I also got to know my new patrol members really well.
Scouting is all about having fun and learning to work together and this is what we did on this camp. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did and learnt a lot of new and exciting skills. I also hope to attend many other camps just as fun as this one but different in their own little unique ways.
The climbing scoutcraft badge was organised by the Troop for junior scouts aged 12 and up, it was held on the 23rd and 25th of May. The Friday, the 23rd, focused on the theory of the badge, like how to belay, how to abseil, the climbing calls and a basic understanding of the different equipment needed when climbing. Then on Sunday, the 25th, we all meet at the hall and drove to Higgovale Quarry,where we did five different climbs, route identification and a 15 meter abseil.
Personal experience
While being the oldest of the eight scouts on the badge was a bit daunting, it ended up being a lot of fun. At first it was a bit scary, because you are 15 meters above the ground and are trusting another person who has also only just learnt how to belay to keep you safe, but when you are at the top the sense of achievement is overwhelming. The abseil was a lot of fun, there was a lot of nervous excitement from everyone as we climbed up to do it.
Final words
It was an amazing experience and you could really tell everyone enjoyed, adults included.
I think it is safe to say that I highly recommend that all scouts do the climbing badge. I would just like to say a big thank you to all the adults involved in making this badge happen and to all the parents who supported their children in taking part. Everyone who participated did also receive the badge.
Scouts from the 6th Rondebosch Troop recently came together to make an impact at Lagoon Beach, Milnerton, through a dedicated clean-up effort led by the Cobras Patrol. This service project, held on 24th November 2024, reflects the troop’s ongoing commitment to environmental conservation and community service.
From 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, six members of the Cobras Patrol worked tirelessly to clear the shoreline of litter. Their efforts resulted in the collection of 11 full bags of waste, significantly improving the beach’s condition and ensuring its natural beauty could shine once more.
This project was a shining example of the teamwork and determination that define the 6th Rondebosch Scouts. The Cobras Patrol, one of the troop’s dynamic patrols, led the charge, but their efforts represent the spirit of the entire troop: taking responsibility for the world around them and leading by example.
Through initiatives like these, the 6th Rondebosch Scouts continue to live by the values of Scouting, showing that even small groups can have a lasting, positive impact. Lagoon Beach is cleaner today thanks to their dedication—and this is just the beginning of their environmental efforts.
Follow the 6th Rondebosch Scouts for more stories of service, leadership, and adventure!
Western Cape’s famed rafting competition Kontiki came with a band of fun, growth, friendship, lessons and many more exciting features. The competition consisted of two teams per troop. A raft team that spent 24hours on a raft constructed. Their main objective was to complete STA’s (spare time activities) ranging from arts and crafts to cooking delicious meals that would be judged. The 2nd team is non-other than the fringe team. That competed in several sport games such as volleyball, slip-n-slide tug of war, knee boarding and catapult building.
Personal experience
Being part of the fringe team as a Patrol Leader for majority junior scouts definitely had its challenges. However, it allowed me to sprout in a leadership environment. It was a pleasure to teach younger scouting skills, that I myself had been taught throughout my time being in scouts. It was my first Kontiki where I got to understand the ways and working of planning, taking care of younger scouts and execute the task of making sure they had fun while learning. I got to know the scouts on a personal level. I learnt about their aspirations and eagerness to achieve their goals in scouts. Their willingness to participate and experience gave me the motivation to lead them through with confidence and determination to do our best and make our troop proud. I had to be aware that whilst my patrol was eager they weren’t capable of fulfilling extensive task such as the dreadful STA’s. Sitting up till 3am with my brother completing a crafted campfire made me appreciate the work that my patrol put in, during the rest of the day e.g. my brother and another scout volunteered to do knee boarding in the freezing weather at past 6pm just to make sure we got points.
Overall experience
The competition was a phenomenal experience that teaches patrols how to work together as a team and reap the benefits of their efforts. The aftermath of Kontiki was something to treasure. Those exhausted scouts with beaming faces after getting the news that they came second made every hour count. Coming home from the competition where they filled their parent’s ears with tall tales of the event whilst having memories to take back with them. Watching them interact with each other after spending so much time together learning about each other’s differences and personalities.
The last words
Kontiki was truly an amazing event. Of course we won’t all experience the same things but the general objectives always stay the same. Be a good scout, do your best, be aware of others, engage with you patrol but most importantly have fun. For anyone looking for a weekend pact with excitement and adventure, I recommend this thrilling competition.
In May the rovers set off on an expedition across Cape Town. The goal of the expedition was to take part in new and exciting activities as much as possible.
The expedition started at Appleton Campsite on Signal Hill and set off down the mountain via the MyCiti bus to see Cape Town Castle. Due to unscheduled early closing we were unable to get into the castle, so settled for exploring the grounds instead.
Once we arrived back at the campsite, we set about making dinner and preparing for a night hike. The weather made hiking Lion’s Head too risky, so we walked to the lookout on Signal Hill and admired the view of the City instead.
On Saturday, we headed down the mountain to the train station and caught a train to the Sea Scout Base in Lakeside. Unfortunately, the train only took us as far as Retreat, so we had to activate Plan B and use the car we had there for emergencies to get us to the base.
Despite light winds we enjoyed a relaxing day of sailing. The 2st Plumstead scouts joined us on the water to get their sailing hours for Helmsman, which made for a fun scouting day. We ended the day with lots of food and toasted marshmallows and spent the night in the Plumstead boathouse.
On Sunday we met our cave leader and hiked up into the Silvermine area in search of some caves. The hike was beautiful and we had the perfect amount of cloud cover to make for pleasant walking.
We reached the cave and after a brief safety talk proceeded to get completely stuck in the cave entrance. Only half the rovers managed to get into the cave system. Despite this we still got to explore a little and managed to see the 1st Cavern. It was a spectacular sight and definitely motivated a few the rovers to try caving again, just maybe in a cave with a larger entrance.
Overall, the expedition was a lot of fun. All the setbacks highlighted the importance of good planning and sticking to the scout motto of “Be Prepared”. Despite this, all the rovers who attended gave positive feedback and enjoyed the experience.
“It was a really fun expedition. Although there wasn’t much wind, it was nice to get on the water with the crew. The hike on Sunday was lovely, and although extremely narrow, the part of the cave we did see was fascinating. Would definitely go again for the caving and the abundance of food.” – Steven Medcalf
“Overall it was a great weekend. Really enjoyed the sailing, it was something new for me. Don’t think there are many things that can be improved on apart from getting stuck I guess a cave. Was a really fun weekend though!” – Kyle Mills
“The expedition was well planned out with everything pretty much running to schedule. Really enjoyed the sailing on the second day however I don’t think caving was for me, but it was still enjoyable. Am especially Impressed with the planning of backup transport in case the public transport failed, which it did. Overall, I really enjoyed it.” – Matthew Van Der Walt
2021 has been a great year for the rover crew. We invested several new members over the year and ran some exciting activities. We went hiking on Table Mountain and camping at Appleton Campsite. We tried our hand at flying skills by making and racing homemade kites in the park and we all flexed our cooking skills at a potjiekos competition, where we enjoyed some delicious food and got creative with instant pudding and whipped cream.
We organised and ran some great service projects this year. At the beginning of the year we helped out at SANCCOB, assisting them with 3000 baby cormorants they rescued. The Rovers held our second Hawequas service project. This time, we spent the weekend clearing invasive species from the grounds. The project was very popular and we look forward to running it again next year. Recently the rovers volunteered at the Santa Shoe Box Project and were joined by the scouts and cubs from 6th Rondebosch and 2nd Rondebosch Scout Groups in donating boxes.
We are very proud of all our rovers who have been working on their advancement bars and rover awards, and we look forward to the crew growing even stronger next year. The crew is looking forward to our final few activities of the year which include an exciting expedition through the Vogelgat Nature Reserve and Hermanus Lagoon area, a rover skills camp with rovers from around the region and a holiday cookie decorating social.
This year our scouting experience was less effected by Covid-19 and we took full advantage of the relaxed lockdown rules to have some awesome adventures and add value to the community through our service projects.
We are super proud to announce that in 2021 both Robyn Rainier-Pope and Vivienne Banks earned their Springbok badge.
Competitions
The highlight of our year was to win the Gordon Shield camping competition. The last time we won was in 1957, a 64 year wait. Well done to the team – Vivienne, Spero, Seth, Sofie and Xavier.
We also came 3rd in the Raynor Trophy which is an overnight hiking competition for senior scouts and were 5th in the Upton Shield, a hiking competition for junior scouts.
Activities
This year our senior scouts completed their snorkelling interest badge with intotheblue diving school at Oudekraal. What a great day.
Our other adventures included:
Our four-day year end Troop camp at Glencairn Rotary Youth Camp
Vivienne’s Springbok camp at Hawequas
Paintballing with Cape Town Paintball in Melkbos
An overnight hike to Table Mountain Hut, we hiked up Woody Ravine and down Nursery Ravine
A trip to Vredenheim Farm for the scoutcraft observation badge
Numerous patrol hikes
Community Service
This year we supported a number of patrol community service projects including:
Jeneveve’s project to paint a wall at Batavia School and plant a garden
Erica’s project to clean up a garden on Water Street and to plant Spekboom
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