Six Red Deer teenagers were honoured in Edmonton Friday night for their dedication to Scouts Canada.
Colin Davenport, 15, Patrick Meinders, 14, and Malcolm Law, 15, were presented with the Chief Scout Award and Jocelyn Mosset, 17, Brayden Pack, 18, and Hunter Van Hecke, 17, were presented with the Queen’s Venturer Award at the annual Northern Lights Council Youth Award ceremony.
Davenport has spent a lot of hours working towards this achievement. He said he is grateful to get the award.
”It means a lot to me. It’s a lot of hard work and it can help you later on in life when it comes to finding a job,” said Davenport.
The Chief Scout Award is the highest award that can be achieved at the Scout level in Scouts Canada.
Some of the requirements include earning 10 challenge badges, at least one in each of the seven categories including athletics, outdoors, home and family, personal development, science and technology, culture and society, and environment, according to Scouts Canada.
They must have standard first aid training and complete 30 hours of community service.
The Queen’s Venturer Award is the highest proficiency award for youth members in Scouts Canada and is presented to Venturers who have acquired competence and skills that will be of considerable use to themselves, their company and their community.
Davenport said he’s met a lot of great people in his time as a Scout and has learned some useful skills.
“I’ve learned how to tie knots, how to build survival shelters and how to start fires. I got my first aid, I’ve learned about light-weight back packing, leadership and environmental issues,” said Davenport.
“Over the years I’ve made some great relationships with the leaders.”
The Honourable Lois E. Mitchell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, and Terry Grant, Scouts Canada’s Chief Scout and former star of OLN’s Mantracker, were on hand to present the Scouts with the awards.
jonathan.guignard@www.reddeeradvocate.com