Meerkats help our parks

This being our first year as a Den, the Scouter team was caught off guard by various calls to participate in national events when we had already planned a full programme. Next year we’ll know better! The National Challenge for Sustainable Development Goals proved extremely interesting, though, and the Den set to it willingly.

The first Challenge was Decent Work and Economic Growth. Our ADSs having made biscuits in advance, on 16 October we had a biscuit decorating event and the older Meerkats made posters. All the biscuits were displayed and parents came to buy at the end of the meeting. We made R345 which was donated to Friends of The Arderne Gardens, a place that the Meerkats visit often. We received this thank you from Joy Woodward, Secretary of the Friends:

“What a lovely surprise to receive this donation from the 1^st Claremont Scouts. It is especially great to know that the scouts worked so hard to make this happen.

Sincerely many thanks to each and every one for their efforts and for their enthusiasm and support of our great garden.  It is especially good to know that young people have a love of nature and the environment.”

Moving on to Sustainable Communities, on 30 October we met at Paradise Park in Newlands. This is a main thoroughfare for people walking through the area and also a place for families to relax and enjoy the green space. Anton, who is in charge of the Friends of Paradise Park, told us about the trees and the river that flows through the park. The Meerkats did a litter clean up, both on the river banks and along the paths. We then helped to plant clivias in some of the flower beds under the trees where there were bare patches.

“I loved my time at the park, helping to make the space more beautiful. I particularly enjoyed playing in the treehouses, picking up litter, finding butterflies and looking at the beautiful trees.” (Sarah, aged 6).