WATCH: Scouts hosts investiture ceremony
During the ceremony, new members received scout badges.
The 4th Benoni Air Scout Group, under the Scouts South Africa East Rand District, recently held an investiture ceremony for three of their adult scout leaders.
The leaders are Warren Lovell, Devon Kessell and Anekin Webb.
An investiture ceremony is when a Scout joins the troop. During the ceremony, the new members received badges, and they also made affirmations as they committed themselves to the scout law and promise.
The ceremony was attended by numerous high-ranking officials in the Scouts South Africa Organisation.
Sharing insights about what Scouts are all about, Kelly Bernhardt, District Cub representative, said the organisation aims to contribute to the development of boys, girls by training them to become future leaders.
“Scouts unleash what they are good at through learning skills such as communication, teamwork, first aid, building fire, map work, hiking and more to achieve their full potentials as responsible citizens. There is no discrimination and non-denominational in scouts,” said Bernhardt.
Bernhardt said they teach the younger children (meerkats and cubs) basic skills such as how to ignite a candle properly so that when they proceed scouts, they can cook a three-course meal with the fire they made themselves.
According to Bernhardt, scouts are divided into groups, including meerkats for children aged five to seven years, while cubs is for children aged seven to 11 years. She shared scouts is for teenagers from the age of 11 to 18 years while rovers is for 18 to 35-year-olds.
District commissioner Mike Weeks added that scouts focus on developing members spiritually, socially and physically.
“The organisation equips members to be first-class citizens by following the code of ethics to potentially take the country forward,” said Weeks.
Weeks said various activities are undertaken by scouts.
“We have sea scouts, where they do water activities, such as sailing, canoeing and rowing. Air scouts partake in air activities, such as visiting the airport and engaging with other activities in line with aviation and aircraft. Land scouts partake in more physical activities, such as hikes and camps. Members also receive interest badges for drowns, swimming, running, book reading, self-defence, photography, artist, divers,” said Weeks.
While the 4th Benoni Air Scout Group is 105-years-old, having been established on March 17, 1917, one of its members recently received an award for her 60th-year involvement.
Speaking to the City Times, Dorothy Berry said her journey with scouts has been wonderful. Berry, who is originally from England, moved to Benoni in 1971.
The cubs meet every Friday from 17:30 to 19:00 and the scouts from 19:00 to 21:00 at the corner of Morris and Hilliard roads, Morehill.
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