KNYSNA NEWS - Three Knysna Cub Scouts have earned the highest honour available to Cub Scouts in South Africa, the prestigious Leaping Wolf Badge.
This marks the first time that Scouts South Africa has bestowed the award on members of the newly estab-lished Knysna 1st Cub Scouts.
Roan Potgieter, Jasmine Guess and Arya Pearson have completed the demanding Leaping Wolf Challenge and now rank among the top Cub Scouts in the country.
Often referred to as the "Junior Springbok" of the Scouts movement, the Leaping Wolf Award is the Cub equivalent of the Springbok Award, the highest honour for senior Scouts. It recognises exceptional dedication, initiative, leadership and character in Cubs, typically aged around 10.
To earn the award, each Cub must complete a comprehensive programme almost entirely through their own initiative before turning 11.
Requirements include completing a community service or environmental project, undertaking a personal development challenge, demon-strating outdoor and practical skills such as knotting, researching and presenting a Technology in Action project, exploring a global issue, and earning several senior Interest Badges, including First Aid.
All work is recorded in a detailed logbook and assessed by Scouts South Africa. "Because the challenge spans service, skills, leadership, global awareness and personal growth, very few Cubs nationwide complete the Leaping Wolf journey.
Having three Cubs from the same Pack achieve this award in the same period is therefore an extraordinary accomplishment," said Rudolph Potgieter, proud father of Roan.
"The achievement reflects the commitment of the Cubs, the strong support of their families, and the dedication of the leaders of the 1st Knysna Sea Scout Group. These young Scouts have demonstrated maturity and responsibility well beyond their years.
"As they prepare to move into the Scout Troop for youth aged 11 to 17, Knysna can take pride in these 'junior Springbok' of the Scouting world who truly live by the Cub Scout motto: Do Your Best."
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