Waratah 2025 - The Woodland Warden

 GWS Waratah

Activity Overview

GWS Waratah is back!

Waratah is the annual GWS Region Venturer Camp, held in mid-November of each year. Its aim is to provide participants with a large multi-faceted problem that requires Venturer Scouts to use a wide variety of Scouting Skills to solve. It is also a chance for participants to socialise in a unique and fun-filled environment

Who can participate

This event is a GWS Venturer event that is open to all members of the Venturer Scout Section between the ages of 14 and 18. Scouts over the age of 13.5 are also welcome to attend as part of a team of Venturers (No more than 2 Scouts to any one patrol). Venturer Scouts over the age of 18 are welcome to attend as participants provided that there are 2 Venturers over the age of 18 in the patrol.

Membership Requirements

All members must remain financial and registered within ScoutHUB from the time applications close until the end of the event. 

All service and line leaders over the age of 18 must be cleared by Scouts Australia NSW to work with children and young people prior to the start of the camp. This includes any adult helpers and support staff who must have submitted an A2 form and been accepted by the group prior to the event closing date.

Feeling Safe at Waratah

Everyone in Scouts, youth and adults alike have the right to feel safe and be protected from abuse. No-one is allowed to threaten you, hurt you, or touch you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or afraid.

A Scout is respectful, and this applies to all interactions between all participants, youth and adults at Waratah.

You do not have to deal with abuse on your own. If you feel unsafe, threatened, or you see/hear something that causes you concern, please speak to a Leader or Rover on an activity. Your concerns will be taken seriously. The information you provide will be shared with people who can support and protect you.

If you don’t know what to do – speak to someone at Waratah HQ.

If, for any reason, you do not feel the concerns of this nature which you raised at Waratah have been satisfactorily dealt with, please report your concerns directly to the Child Protection Team at the NSW State Office on 02 9735 9000 or via ChildProtection@nsw.scouts.com.au or your parents.

Payment & Refund Policy

All applications with a status of Submitted, Received or Accepted as of the closing date is considered as attending and must be paid for.  No refunds will be offered for withdrawn applications after the closing date unless there are exceptional circumstances that will be considered by the Region Commissioner (Venturers).

Event Cancellation Policy

While we are confident that we can and will deliver our event, we are subject to the restrictions placed on us by outside influences. In the event of having to cancel Waratah , we will refund all payments to participants, except for a $5 administration fee to cover costs incurred in planning the event.

Please do not attend Waratah 2025:

• If you are unwell, or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 we ask that you stay home, self-isolate and get tested. For more information on COVID-19 and testing, please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/symptoms-and-testing. Our refund policy allows that any person who stays home and provides medical evidence (Including a COVID-19 test) will receive a refund for this event.
• If you have visited a COVID-19 hotspot as identified by the NSW Government within the 14 days prior to this event. Information on COVID-19 Hotspots, both within NSW and Interstate can be found at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
• If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or otherwise and have been directed to Quarantine or Self-Isolate by the NSW Government or a Medical or Healthcare Professional.