Gilwell Scouting Hall hosts biggest ever Meerkat Mob Day
Meerkats is a junior Scouts programme for 5 and 6 year olds that serves as a feeder to the Cubs
Surrounded by role models, young children now have an introductory pathway to Scouts’ excellence.
The historic Gilwell Scouting Centre hosted a proverbial zoo when the crafty animals descended. The first-ever Meerkat Mob Day was hosted on June 10 and celebrated the achievements of young initiates and reaffirmed their foundations as they look forward to future challenges. The Meerkats are a relatively new addition to the Scouts family and are the most junior division, serving as a feeder of the Cubs programme.
The day started with words of thanks and motivation from troop leader Rochelle Booysens before the little ones belted out their signature song, ‘Meerkats stand tall’. Thereafter, certificates were given to the Gold Star recipients who had displayed characteristic Scouts brilliance in achieving an assortment of interest badges. The remainder of the day was spent moving between the various activities set up by Scouts clubs that were a combination of casual fun and educational challenges.’
Meerkats is for children aged 5 and 6 and was started as a way to slowly integrate the pre-schoolers into the culture of Scouts.
“We get them before they can even write their own name. We have them from the beginning and that gives us a special opportunity to lay the groundwork,” said Shirley Southworth, who is known as Granny Meerkat for her pivotal involvement in creating the junior group.
Each Meerkat programme across the world has a different name relative to their surroundings and with meerkats being indigenous to southern Africa, the name stuck. As for the ‘Mob Day’ title, this comes from the collective noun for meerkats. The event was the biggest ever Meerkat event in South Africa proving the lifeblood of Scouts is secure and the vision of Lord Baden-Powell endures.
