Courtney is a proud scout

POLOKWANE – The Scout movement is a worldwide youth movement with the aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so they may play constructive roles in society.

Courtney Smith, a 17-year-old Pepps Polokwane College learner, is a scout and is currently one of the highest ranking scouts in the province.

“I started with scouting when I was nine and went to a meeting with a friend. I immediately loved it and still love every second of it,” he says.

At first he was a pathfinder and then an adventurer. He then became a first-class and later an explorer. The next rank is Springbok, but before he becomes that, he needs to do certain things like building structures and camping away from the scout meeting place for not less than 30 nights as a scout.

A scout also needs to de-monstrate his organisational and leadership skills by planning, organising and conducting a camp for at least two patrols of at least two nights. He also needs to identify a need in the community, plan a solution and lead a patrol in meeting the need.

Courtney has not done all of these things yet, but he says he is well on his way.

“Scouting is wonderful. The other day I had to give a presentation, where I told my listeners about what scouting has thought me. I learned life skills, leadership skills, safety, awareness of my surroundings, survival, respect, first aid, tolerance, trust and made lots of friends.”

Courtney says he met some of his best friends in the Scouts.

“I am very proud of my son. All three my children are scouts,” says Courtney’s mother, Lea-Anne Cole. The Scouts’ fees are kept low so that children can pay it out of their pocket money. They meet outside school hours and anyone is welcome to join.

Anyone interested in becoming a scout can contact Lee-Ann Cole at 082 799 3501.