Caleb Gibson, a Scout from White Horse Scout Troop, has completed an impressive pioneering project at Randburg Tennis Club, building a 22m tall model of the Eiffel Tower as part of his first class advancement.

Pioneering is one of the classic skills of Scouting, teaching young people how to lash poles together to build large structures using rope and timber rather than nails or screws. For his project, Caleb chose to build a grand static display, rather than something purely functional, settling on a scaled model of the famous Paris landmark.

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White Horse is one of the last remaining all-boys Scout troops in the country. Two co-ed troops also operate within the same larger group, meeting on different days of the week, giving young people in the area a choice of how they would like to experience Scouting.

Caleb said the idea for the tower came to him about a month before the build took place. He first approached his Scouter to check whether the plan was realistic, and to get the project approved. Once he had the go-ahead, he spent time testing the design, building three or four smaller versions at one-tenth scale using dowel sticks to work out how the structure would hold together. With the design settled, Caleb then had to bring the rest of his team on board.
He found a patrol member who was keen to take part, before arranging all the equipment needed for the build and completing a Scout’s permit, a safety requirement for larger projects of this kind. Only once all of this was in place could the actual building begin.

The main structure went up over two days, with the patrol arriving at 06:00 in the morning to get started. Caleb led a team of seven Scouts on the build, drawing on the patrol system that forms the backbone of Scouting, where small teams work together under a chosen leader. “Scouts work in patrols. It’s all about teamwork,” Caleb said.

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Caleb wears two stripes on his uniform, showing his rank as a patrol leader. He admitted the early start was not easy, particularly with the cold morning air, but said his patrol showed great commitment from the very beginning. “They were all willing to help, and I’m super grateful for this, because not everybody enjoys giving up their morning to pack a trailer, especially when it’s quite nippy outside.

“They had great vibes, and everybody was willing to learn. I really want to pass on my skills before I turn eighteen and have to leave Scouts, so I wanted to make sure everybody was advancing and enjoying their time. I think we had a blast.”

As the build progressed over the two days, the team played music and worked together closely, turning what could have been a tiring task into an enjoyable, shared experience.

Once the tower was finally finished, Caleb said the feeling was hard to put into words. “It was rather euphoric, because it’s been a lot of work, and a lot of time, but seeing it all come together was a great experience. I really enjoyed the time with my patrol and everyone I was with. It was just a good time bonding. We played some music, and we just built and enjoyed the time. It was really fun.”

Caleb was quick to credit his whole team for the success of the project, saying the tower would not have been possible without the effort of every patrol member. “I wouldn’t be able to do this project without everybody on my team.” The patrol members who worked on the build were Caleb Gibson, Ayden Du Plessis, Mathew Black, Kiaan Gibson, Tyrone Black, Mason Simeonides, and Divian Griffiths.

Readers who would like to find their nearest troop can visit the Scouts Gauteng website for more information.

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