M5 pupil Elliot Brooke recently achieved his Gold Chief Scout Award - the highest award for his age group! In this blog, he tells us more about his Scouting journey and why he enjoys it so much:
"I joined Scouts in September 2017. I belong to the 1st Martham Scouts (Craig’s own). I have enjoyed the practical activities available in Scouts such as sailing, kayaking, fishing and axe throwing to name a few. I enjoy the camps as they give me an opportunity to sometimes meet people from other Scout groups, I especially enjoy the campfires. In Scouts I have got to know other young people that live in my village and enjoy helping the newer members. I have been able to learn archery and air rifle/pistol shooting, which I would have never had the opportunity to do if I wasn’t a Scout. One of my first activities as a Scout I remember clearly, as I had the chance to have a scuba diving lesson which was very fun.
Working towards my ‘Chief Scout’s Gold Award’ involved working for nine challenge badges that had to be completed in conjunction with other Scouts at the unit. You have to achieve a minimum of six activity badges as well and I achieved fifty-four badges. I enjoyed them all, especially the D.I.Y badge as I helped build a summer house, musician badge as I achieved my grade four piano, and grade three flute. I am proud to have achieved my ‘Chief Scout’s Gold Award’ as completing everything during lockdown was difficult. My favourite badge was the expedition badge, which involved going on a socially distanced hike, studying the windmills and wildlife of the broads.
I will always be grateful to Scouts and for the opportunities offered to me during lockdown, we had weekly challenges to complete, from a zoom cook-athon to camping overnight in the garden. All of these fun challenges went towards the ‘Scout in the House’ lockdown badge.
My fondest memory of Scouts was planning a camp for six other children who participated in a range of activities from sailing to fishing. I have had so much fun, learnt so much, made new friends and had such a brilliant time that I would recommend Scouts to everyone. I have now started my young leader training and will become a Scout Leader when I turn eighteen. I plan to stay in Scouts so I can share with others the wonderful and interesting things I have learnt through my time in Scouts."