“The future of scouting has to be outdoors”

7 minutes
Jill Pitcher Farrell is the first woman in Scouting Ireland to have been elected Chief Scout. Her journey within scouting began at the age of 10, evolving into a passionate commitment as she transitioned from Scout to Rover Scout and later as an adult volunteer. At just 23, she took on the role of leader, becoming the voluntary head of Scouting Ireland.
 
Graduating with First Class Honours in Environmental Science from Trinity College Dublin, Jill attributes her love for nature to her formative years in Scouting Ireland. In an interview with the Irish Times, she reflected on how scouting ignited her passion for the environment. She further solidified her commitment to environmental causes during her tenure as a Development Officer at Ballyhoura Development CLG, where she actively supports sustainable community initiatives.
Jill smiles.
Can you share a bit about your journey within scouting, from being a member to eventually leading within the organisation?
Scouting has been a big part of my life since the moment I started at age ten as a Cub Scout in 5th Port Dollymount Sea Scouts in Dublin, Ireland. When I was in Scout and Ventures, I’d spend every weekend down at the Scout Den or on a camp. We’d have regular meetings on Thursday nights and often had something on a Monday or Tuesday, and I would go down and do anything that I could find.
 
When I turned 18, I continued as a Rover Scout but also became a Scouter for the Scout and Venture Section and later the section leader or, as we call it, the Skipper. I regularly took part in events with other groups, was a Youth Representative and on the county team, and was a staff member at a variety of events.
 
I’m also lucky to have had the opportunity to attend international events such as World Scout Jamboree 2015, Roverway European Route 2016 and World Scout Moot 2017 Iceland.
 
Scouting Ireland’s structures changed hugely in 2018. At the time, I thought this could be an incredible opportunity to have a young person at the forefront, so when the opportunity came around in 2021, and there was an election for Chief Scout, I sort of thought, if not me now, then who when? Now I’m serving as the Chief Scout and supporting a variety of teams, such as our National Youth Representatives and Provincial Commissioners, but I also have the incredible opportunity to represent Scouting Ireland and all of our young people and volunteers.
A woman in a boat and a second boat sailing in the front.
Can you share a particularly meaningful or memorable experience you’ve had during your time in scouting?
One of my most memorable moments was when I was 16 and completed my Chief Scout Award. I had to organise an overnight expedition, and we chose to walk part of the Kerry Way. The weather was a lot wetter than we had expected. We ended up having to cross a river as the bridge had been flooded and also deal with many of the team’s gear getting wet, an injured ankle, and the sun setting while we were still on the hills, but it was still incredibly fun, and I learnt an incredible amount. It was such a challenge at the time as we had to figure out how to overcome the issues; at 16, it was such an exciting thing to be doing. I remember distinctly that one of the girls wasn’t wearing a proper raincoat, and we had to wrap her up in a bivi and tape it to her so that she wouldn’t get soaked.
 
Regarding leadership positions, one of the most memorable and meaningful experiences has to be being a part of the Irish Contingent Management team for the World Scout Jamboree in Korea last year. This was definitely a challenge and tested my decision-making, personal fitness and communication skills. Still, it was also incredible, and it was amazing to see how the Irish contingent, in particular, adapted and overcame a variety of challenges.
 
As a leader within the scouting community, how do you strive to inspire and mentor younger members?
I suppose I just do my best with this, I encourage them to apply to roles, but I also try to support them in roles and check in with them as regularly as possible if they’re part of my team. I’m also encouraging more mentoring within Scouting Ireland and actively recruiting younger people to various teams. I think representation matters a huge amount, so I attend as many events as possible, speak with young people, and tell them about my journey in the hope it might help or inspire them.
Jil speaks with Scouts around a campfire.
What do you think sets scouting apart from other youth organisations in terms of its impact on personal development?
Scouting is also inherently value-based as becoming a Scout means making a promise to uphold the Scout Law and live by a set of values which are about so much more than yourself. I think in the world we live in now, we are facing so many challenges and are often up against individuals who only want the best for themselves and not for others. Still, Scouts teaches young people to want the best for everyone and for their whole community. It truly teaches young people the values and the skills to create a better world.
 
Also, from personal experience, young people don’t necessarily realise at the time how much they’re learning because it’s designed to be fun and adventurous. Because of the Scout Method, it teaches so much. When I started going to college, I suddenly realised Scouts had taught me so many skills. The fact that from the age of 13, I was in meetings planning what we were going to do in Scouts, meant that by the time I went to college, I already knew how to run a meeting, how to identify and distribute tasks, and what the outcomes would be. I quickly realised that there are a lot of 18 and 19-year-olds who have no idea how to do this. Aside from the outdoor skills, what has stood out to me the most is the organisational skills, time management, leadership and teamwork skills you pick up from Scouts.
 
How do you envision the future of scouting, particularly in terms of its impact on the next generations?
I think the future of scouting has to be outdoors as much as possible. I think that young people need to get outside and offline, and they need to see nature and the world around them to want to and to be able to play a role in protecting it. Protecting the planet is the best way to positively impact future generations; scouting can be central to this.
 
Looking ahead, what do you hope to achieve or contribute to the scouting movement in the coming years?
In the short term, I’m focused on creating as smooth a handover as possible for the next Chief Scout in Ireland, which will take place later in the year, and to ensure that they continue some of the work I have taken on regarding Youth Empowerment. I’ve also recently joined a new local group as I moved to another city, so I’m excited to support them as the local group is the bread and butter of scouting. After that, I’m not entirely sure what is in store, but I suspect it will likely have to do with Youth Empowerment or maybe International.
 
Lastly, what advice would you give to other young women who aspire to take on leadership roles within scouting or similar organisations?
Go for it and believe in yourself; you are far more capable and competent than you know. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for and to take help; there are probably a lot more people out there who want to support and empower you than you realise.