There's something about getting stuck into your local community that just feels right. Maybe it's the sense of belonging, the chance to meet people you'd otherwise just nod at in Tesco, or just that warm feeling you get after helping out.

Either way, volunteering your time can be more rewarding than you'd think—especially when it involves helping out a local scout troop.

Now, if you're picturing a scene from Dad's Army, complete with chaotic campfires and kids tying questionable knots, you're not far off. But in reality, Scouts and Guides offer kids so much—teamwork, survival skills, and the ability to turn a few sticks and a roll of string into something vaguely resembling a shelter.

And for parents? It's a front-row seat to their adventures, plus the chance to get stuck in yourself.

A Cub Scout's Full-Circle Moment

I was a Cub myself, albeit briefly—just six months before money got too tight at home for me to keep going. But in that short time, I got my fair share of adventure. One camp still stands out to this day.

The storms were so bad that half the tents were flooded, the other half had vanished into the night, and we all ended up crashing on the floor of the troop hall in a giant, damp, slightly traumatised heap.

It wasn't the picture-perfect camping experience, but I loved it.

That's probably why I'm so determined that my own kids don't miss out on the experience. Four of my five are in various stages of Scouts and Girl Guides, and every week I get to hear their latest escapades—whether it's learning fire-starting techniques (terrifying), knot-tying (which still somehow looks like a tangled shoelace), or just running around in the woods.

Of course, Scouts isn't all about wild adventures—sometimes, it's about the less glamorous side of things too.

Every troop meeting, camp, or fundraiser needs a bit of elbow grease to keep things running.

Whether it's sweeping out the hall after a session, stacking chairs, or making sure the place doesn't look like a bomb site after a campout, someone's got to do it. If you've ever had to hire an industrial vacuum cleaner after a particularly messy event, you'll know exactly what I mean.

The Great Water Balloon War of 2024

Free time is a rare commodity in our house, but last summer, my wife and I decided to go all out for one of the last troop activities of the school year.

The kids were having a simple water balloon fight on the field garden—using sponges and empty fairy liquid bottles as makeshift weapons—so we did what any sane parents would do: filled up two 100-litre bins with water balloons (my brain didn't do the math on just how heavy they'd be.. but I did it).

Did we regret it? Maybe a little.

The kids had the time of their lives, launching balloons with military precision while I got absolutely soaked. The clean-up was somewhat less fun.

Picking up 30 water balloon fragments from my garden is a pain... try picking up 1000+ tiny bits of plastic from a battlefield instead.

But weeks and months later, the kids are still bringing it up, so I'd say it was worth it.

Helping Out Where You Can

For me, lending a hand isn't always about grand gestures—it's about the little things.

I'm always around to help tidy up the hall after meetings, stacking chairs and sweeping floors while the kids learn that pitching in is just part of life. We donate to the fundraisers and the Christmas just gone, they held a massive food drive which we were happy to take part in.

It's a small way to show them that volunteering doesn't have to mean dedicating every spare minute; sometimes, it's just about doing what you can.

And if that means another summer of water balloon warfare, well… so be it.