The year’s overall highlight for the group was undoubtedly the awarding of the Chief Scouts Award (and Bronze Gaisce award) to two of our Scouts, Sarah and Mary Lizz. The Chief Scout Award is the highest award which a scout in any section can earn. The Chief Scouts Award is available to scouts in all sections, with the award pitched to the capabilities of each age group. Irrespective of age, earning the Chief Scouts Award requires that the scout advances their scouting skills to a high level for their age, and undertakes a series of challenges which are intended to stretch their abilities and demonstrate what they have learned. From the age of 14 and up, achieving the Chief Scouts Award is accompanied by the award of the Gaisce, or President’s Award (which Scouts are entitled to attempt a full year earlier than through schools or other bodies).

To achieve their Chief Scout Award, Sarah and Mary Lizz had to advance to stage 4 in two adventure skills and to stage 6 in one (a very advanced level , as well as complete 4 Special Interest badges and undertake a walking expedition covering 35km over two consecutive days. The girls chose to progress Hill Walking to Stage 6, which they achieved during the autumn with a rigorous night-navigation assessment in the Wicklow Mountains by a qualified Mountain Leader.

Sarah and Mary Lizz have both now progressed to our Venture Scout Section, and are looking forward to completing the Chief Scouts Award (with Silver Gaisce) at that level too!

Well done!