Scouting and Guiding in South Australia


Scouting in South Australia began in 1908.
In the early years of Scouting in South Australia, local Boy Scout patrols and troops formed independently and there were several separate central organisations including Boys' Brigade Scouts, Church Lads Brigade Scouts, Chums Scouts, British Boy Scouts, The Boy Scouts Association, Life-Saving Scouts of the Salvation Army and Methodist Boy Scouts.
Scouting in South Australia is now predominantly represented by Scouts Australia's South Australian Branch and the Girl Guides South Australia, a member organisation of Girl Guides Australia. There is representation by ethnic scout associations, some of which form the Ethnic Scouts and Guides of South Australia and, since 1984, representation by the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association.

Scouts Australia South Australian Branch

Scouts Australia's South Australian Branch has 11 districts - Adelaide Foothills, Beadell, Heysen, Hills to Coast, Karkana, Limestone Coast, Mawson, Ridley, Three Rivers and Torrens. There are also Lone Scouts for youth too far away from a regular meeting place.

Facilities

Since 3 April 2013, Scouts SA has been co-owner of the 8,000 seat Titanium Security Arena. It is the second largest indoor arena in Adelaide behind the State Government owned Adelaide Entertainment Centre which has a capacity of 12,000. It is also the 4th largest permanent indoor arena in Australia and the 7th largest overall.
The arena, which cost AU$16 million to build, opened in 1992 as the Clipsal Powerhouse and is the largest purpose built basketball stadium in Australia. Although its generally regarded as a multipurpose indoor venue hosting anything from sports such as basketball and Netball, to corporate functions and music concerts, its main function remains as a basketball arena. The arena even boasts a 370-seat restaurant named the Scouts Deck. The arena is the home to the Adelaide 36ers who play in the National Basketball League, and the Adelaide Lightning who play in the Women's National Basketball League as well as SA Church Basketball and Basketball SA. It is also the part-time home of the Adelaide Thunderbirds who play in the National Netball League.

Rovering

As of August 2020, there are 14 Rover Units in South Australia which run programs at the Unit and Branch level.

Girl Guides Australia

Girl Guides SA operates three accommodation sites in South Australia, GTS Dolphin beachfront accommodation in Port Adelaide, Douglas Scrub campsite near McLaren Flat, and Tuckerway Hostel.

Gang Shows and other theatrical experiences

There are a number of Gang Shows put on in South Australia. A Gang Show is a Scout variety show.