‘Can you tie all the knots?’ is probably the most commonly asked question, when someone finds out that you’re involved in Scouts.
For Amber Bodrick, Jonathan Pienaar, Nadia Ludwig and Olefentse Sekgothe, this was one of the first questions posed when they visited the YFM studio, to be interviewed live on the Smash and Grab breakfast show.
The children, all members of the 1st Bryanston Scout Group, experienced firsthand what radio broadcasting is all about, after being invited to participate along with resident DJ Smash Afrika and Chelsea Summer from the station.
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The children spoke about what they enjoyed about being involved in scouting. For Ludwig and Sekgothe, both in the Cub Pack, it was the opportunity to earn special interest badges. Jonathan, a member of the Scout Troop, mentioned the weekend camps and hikes.
Asked about what she had learned from Scouts that other children may have missed out on by not being members, Bodrick spoke about leadership and time management. “When you have things that fill up your weekend and you have school during the week, you learn how to work with time well.” She also mentioned learning leadership skills and how to work with other people in completing a project or task.
While scouting is fun for children and provides many different experiences, it also has a more serious educational purpose. The Scout movement is concerned with the development of young people and has a proud history of equipping the youth to be concerned about their future and the future of our world.
Scouting plays its part in teaching skills to make the best use of talent and opportunity, to understand the needs of others and the need to work together. It also develops a concern for our environment and the conservation of scarce resources; it provides young people with opportunities to participate in programmes, activities and projects that contribute to their growth as active citizens.
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Through these initiatives, young people become agents of positive change who inspire others to take action.
Membership is open to both boys and girls, either as part of the Cub programme (seven- to 10-year-olds) and then later through the Scout programme (11- to 18-year-olds). As one of the largest youth movements in the world, scouting is active in 224 countries and territories.
Details: www.scouts.org.za; or contact the 1st Bryanston Group directly on 082 562 1324.
