CAPE TOWN– Five Muizenberg scouts have made history for their scout group after each member clinched the coveted Springbok Scout badge award on Friday 8 August.
This milestone is a first for the 1st Muizenberg Sea Scout group who previously celebrated three Springbok scouts last year.
The Springbok badge is seen as the highest award in the scouting advancement system and represents exceptional dedication, perseverance and leadership.
This year, the five scouts who scooped the prestigious badge are: Dominic Nicholas, Stephen Bosch, Nathan Bosch, Jack Turck and Chloé Arendse, confirmed Troop Scouter, David Bosch.
Bosch is a former scout at the 1st Muizenberg Sea Scout group and is also the father of Stephen and Nathan.
“Since 1969, this troop has produced 38 Springbok Scouts. Typically we produce between zero and two scouts a year. A record of three Springboks in one year was set in 1995, and again 29 years later in 2024, when that record was matched. This year is historic: we celebrate five Springbok Scouts being awarded in one year. We have come through a golden era, culminating in this unprecedented achievement in the life of 1st Muizenberg Sea Scouts. All five of them supported each other through the process,” he says.
Dominic says he has been in scouting since he was seven years old.
He attends Peterbridge College, which is a tutoring centre based out of Westlake, and enjoys hiking, camping, sailing and swimming.
In the hopes of achieving his Springbok badge Dominic cleaned and maintained 15 veteran grave sites at Dido Valley Cemetery in April this year.
Dominic says his grandfather’s love for history was the inspiration that sparked his desire to tackle the renovation of Dido Valley Cemetery.
“To me, the Springbok badge means beating the odds, placing yourself in the two percent of scouts and having a very stressful (but fun) time. Learning how to plan and make documents properly and in a detailed manner was the biggest challenge I faced when going for my Springbok as that area was not my strong suit,” he explains.
Arendse attends Norman Henshilwood High School and says she also enjoys hiking and camping.
“My friend Sarah at the time invited me to scouts and I grew a love for it. I decided last minute that I wanted to do my Springbok because it would look good on my CV when I apply for jobs and I wanted to accomplish something that I never I thought I would see myself doing. The exciting part about achieving my Springbok is that I could help other people who needed it and made new friends along the way,” she said.
Turck’s advice for scouts looking to conquer their Springbok badge one day.
“To anyone working toward this award: understand why you want it. Once your motivation is clear, the path becomes far more manageable.”
Stephen says he hopes to study how to make prosthetics in the future while Nathan hopes to stay involved in Scouting after high school.
