By Lawrence Machado
2nd Castle Hill Rover Scout Lachlan Chen found unexpected joy after stepping outside his comfort zone during his recent Baden-Powell Scout Award Adventurous Journey in Scotland.
Lachlan said he learnt more about himself, his capabilities and leadership during challenging times as he completed his Baden-Powell Scout Award. He was joined by three fellow Rover Scouts, hiking the East Highland Way, a 134km trek from Fort William to Aviemore.
Choosing Scotland because he wanted to challenge himself outside Australia, Lachlan said he had been captivated by the stunning landscape after his 2024 trip to Scotland.
“Throughout the whole experience, I was constantly pushing the limits of my comfort zone,” Lachlan said. “From planning a six-daylong hike on the other side of the world six months out to actually making those on-thespot risk assessments as medical emergencies unfolded.
“It is only afterwards, once the dust settles, that you realise how far you’ve come. From going on my first hike in Scouts, packing six pairs of shorts for a two-day walk, to successfully navigating over 90km of remote terrain in a foreign country, totally selfsufficient.”
Lachlan and his friends, Maylen Holdaway (2nd Castle Hill Rover Unit), Alicia Blanch (Hawkesbury River Rover Unit) and Jayden Thompson (Kings Langley Rover Unit) had to make quick decisions because Alicia suffered several bouts of heatstroke.
Lachlan said it was a very rewarding trip, specially after accidentally meeting members of the 21st and 82nd Craigalmond Scout Groups from Edinburgh.
