Scouts achieve highest award
The most difficult and the highest award a scout in South Africa can achieve is the Springbok award, which has recently been earned by three members of the 1st Eagles Scout Group.
Through hard work, discipline, and perseverance, the limits to what you can achieve become opportunities to grow.
Joining a Scouts South Africa troop is one highly effective way to learn all the skills you will need to become a confident, motivated, and skilled person. The hard work of three teenagers from the 1st Eagles Scout Group in Witpoortjie paid off when they achieved the highest award offered to Scouts on June 12 – the Springbok Award.
Johan van Wyk Jnr, Kyle Bevan and Amber-Jade Williams are all 18 years old. They worked extremely hard to achieve this award and before even being considered for it, each of them had three difficult tasks. They each needed to plan and host a hike of 30km or more where they clearly laid out their routes, menus, equipment, who they were taking with them, any allergies their team may have, and more. They also needed to do at least 40 hours of community service and a Pioneering Project where they either built an installation or did a wildlife course.
Johan is in matric at Krugersdorp High School and has been a Scout for eight years. To get his Springbok Award, he led a 37km hike at Rustig in Hekpoort, built an hourglass tower, and volunteered with the Kenmare Conservancy, removing alien and invasive plants (AIPs).
Kyle is currently in matric at King’s School West Rand and has been a Scout for 11 years. He led a four-day hike in the Drakensberg, hosted a Scouts Training Camp for underprivileged children, and completed a wildlife certificate in Mountaineering.
Amber matriculated in 2020 and led her hike at the Fanie Botha Hiking Trail. For her community service, she worked at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve assisting the Friends of Kloofendal (FroK) with the removal of AIPs. After being a Scout for seven years, Amber completed a Zoology Diploma as the last item on her checklist to her Springbok Award.
These young leaders explained their gratitude for joining Scouts, saying that it had taught them important leadership and survival skills, and helped them identify their career choices. By achieving their Springbok Awards, they have a hoard of opportunities on the horizon. Their confidence and people skills have improved, and they have all made lifelong friends. Plus, the award looks fantastic on university applications and CVs.
