Step aside Mars Rover, the ACT Cub Scouts are taking over. 

After being inspired by the landing of the Perseverance Mars Rover in Feburary 2021, the ACT Cub Scouts were challenged to collectively walk the distance equivalent to the circumference of Mars – 21,344km.

Going above and beyond the already massive feat, the Cub Scouts, their leaders, and families completed walking a total distance of 27,565km, almost 6,500km more than the original goal.

Tim Kirsopp, ACT Cub Scout Commissioner, said it’s an amazing achievement from the Canberran Cub Scouts as they’ve “persevered” through Covid-19 lockdowns for another year.

“Young people in Scouting, working together to meet the challenge, planned and undertook 344 separate activities, walking or cycling across all of the ACT’s nature parks, as well as Namadgi National Park,” Mr Kirsopp said.

“It looked like we weren’t going to complete the challenge when lockdown hit again in August, but as soon as lockdown lifted, Cub Scouts have pushed themselves to complete the distance. I am extremely proud of what they’ve achieved.”

The Scouts had pivoted to meeting online during the Covid-19 restrictions in the ACT this year.

Lockdown created a realm of ‘Scouting at Home’ challenges for local youth, and saw a variety of activities including backyard sleepouts, extravagant cooking demonstrations, and the building of fantastic contraptions.

The Mars Rover was named by a US Cub Scout, Alexander Mather, which was the inspiration behind the walking challenge.

After the past two years here on Earth, the ACT Cub Scout members were moved by the sentiments in Alexander’s winning essay; “However, we can persevere. We, not as a nation but as humans, will not give up.”

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