Making waves in Sydney Harbour clean up
Published Mon 08 Sep 2025
This is Part 2 in a series of updates on the Earth Tribe Project Patrol. Did you miss Part 1? Read it here
Sydney North Region’s Earth Tribe Project Patrol is making great progress in their mission to build a water surface cleaning robot.
This project, which forms part of the global Scouts for SDGs initiative, brings together nine Scouts from different Groups and eight non-Scouts from North Sydney Boys High School to tackle pollution in Sydney Harbour. As well as cleaning up the harbour, the project’s purpose is to allow members to learn new skills and work as a team.
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In Sydney North Region, a special 12-month Earth Tribe Project Patrol has already turned their attention to the problem of pollution, including plastic pollution, in Sydney Harbour. As part of the global Scouts for SDGs initiative, Cammeray Scout Group has brought together enthusiastic Cub Scouts, Scouts and Venturer Scouts to put their mind to solving the problem.
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What is Earth Tribe? Earth Tribe is one of four initiatives from the World Organization of the Scout Movement and has a focus on environmental challenges for Scouts with an interest in climate change but no idea where to start. One aspect is the Plastic Tide Turners Challenge – where Scouts learn about the impacts of plastic and how to help turn the tide on this issue in their communities. Completing the challenge will see Scouts earn their Plastic Tide Turners Challenge Badge. |
Earth Tribe Project Patrol Scout Leader Oliver Roths said the group visited the NSW Maritime Services depot earlier this year.
“They spoke with environmental officers about how bad the pollution is in the harbour,” he said.
“The team got to check out the patrol boats and learn about the 24-hour operation that pulls out heaps of rubbish every day. It was eye-opening to see the amount of waste, including bikes, small boats, and other junk that’s harming marine life and our environment.
“In a top move, Greg Butchart from Butchart Marine Services donated a commercial Jellyfish Bot to the project. The young people pulled it apart to study things like its size, sensors, materials and the waste intake. Currently, they’re using that knowledge to build their own concept robot called ‘Scout 1’. It’s a to-scale model that lets them sort out engineering challenges.
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“Over the next few months, robot design and features will be perfected. We’re hoping to have a proof-of-concept robot in the water in early 2026. A special thank you goes out to Butchart Marine Services for donating the JellyfishBot to our Project Patrol, which has given youth an enormous advantage in being able to reverse engineer elements from the JellyfishBot.”
Learn more about WOSM’s Earth Tribe Initiative
Over the last few weeks, sub-Patrols have been established for Research, Communication, Project Management, Materials, Builders, Strategy and Coding. All sub-Patrols have been hands-on with planning, researching and building. The Communication Patrol has been developing marketing material and mini videos also. Patrol members have also learned to work with PVC pipes, cut materials safely, handle fibreglass composites and much more. They have also picked up general engineering ideas during planning and construction.
Oliver said the Patrol members had the opportunity to do things they would not usually experience at school or home.
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“From a Scouting view, this Patrol helps young people take part in the in the World Scouting Impact Innovators Challenge,” he said.
“They’ve just enrolled and are working towards the Sustainable Development Goals they have selected – SDGs 06 Clean Water and Sanitation; 13 Climate Action; 14 Life Below Water; and 17 Partnerships for the Goals). This means they’re making a real difference for the environment and showing their work to the Lower North Shore community through their projects.”
