Emily led a 4-day hike in the Cederberg for her Springbok Expedtion. The group met at the hall and were transported to Kleinvlei. On the first day they hiked for about 6km with 536m of …
Welcome back to the Goshawks Bush. Term 2 has been quiet so far, being a busier term on the school side we have had fewer patrol activities. The patrol has been bonding over the last …
On the 16-17th of May, myself, Oliver V, Oliver R, and Saskia embarked on an adventure through the mountain ranges surrounding Montagu. The hike was a physically challenging route. The route on day 1 was …
Thank you to everyone who came to support our Quiz Night on 20 June! We filled the hall and had a lot of fun answering some challenging questions. We’ll share the amount raised soon, which …
Laura Owens is our latest Springbok Scout! She received her award at a celebration at our hall in May, attended by family, friends and members of the group. She is now our 43rd Springbok Scout …
Our family recently went on holiday to Abingdon, Oxfordshire in England to visit family. As we would be there for a month we decided to make contact with the local Scouting group. The Scouting structure is slightly different in the UK with Squirrels age 4-5, Beavers age 6-8, Cubs 8-10.5 and Scouts 10.5-14 so we joined the Squirrels.
Our contact with Scouting UK began early in the trip when we discovered on our flight that our air hostess was a leader of a Beaver colony!
John was welcomed to the 11th Abingdon Squirrel’s Drey and attended their meetings for all four weeks of our trip. At the first meeting he presented the group leader Jack with the 1st Claremont scarf, Scouts South Africa keyrings for the leaders and Fizzers for all the Squirrels. The children were very interested in his uniform, and most especially his hat (hats are not part of the Squirrel uniform). Activities included designing and making boats and floating them on the stream, having a fun fair and having a sports day. In his last week at Squirrels he was presented with the necker (what they call their scarf), did his Squirrel’s promise and was made an honorary Squirrel.
We were also fortunate to be in Abingdon when they had a big Scouting recruitment event in the town. The Scouting leaders presented John with a Scouting UK necker. It was good to be reminded that at 1st Claremont we are part of a global Scouting family.
Kirsty and John
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/meerkats-and-squirrels/
We arrived at Laura’s house at around 9:00 – apart from Simon, he was still asleep – and started what would become a very very very productive day.
We started off chill. A few advancement tasks here and there and then we made tea and it was like everyone was asleep and now after tea is was like BOOM wakkie wakkie! Then we started cooking. I went from 51% to 80% in the span of one hour. Then we made these lovely cappuccino muffins that Ov couldn’t bake.
In the end it was fun and we really got productive. Jocelyn Berry
Avila’s Community Service
On the 7th of June, Avila ran her discoverer community service, which was collecting and then throwing away rubbish at the park next to zandvlei. It was very cold and rainy throughout the day. There was a race to see which team of two could collect more rubbish, but in the end, one of the bags broke so we had to put the broken bag in the other one. We took several brakes at Avila’s house where we got to have tea, rusks and eat whatever snacks we brought while warming up by the heater after getting soaked. We had terrible luck because it was poring whenever we were working but whenever we took a break the rain would stop. In the end, we managed to collect 2 bags of rubbish and despite it being wet and cold, it was still a fun experience helping the community and the environment.
From the Patrol noticeboards
Please scan me…Scouts do memesWhen a PL loses their voiceCamp meal invitations
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/patrol-activities/
On the 4th of May, twelve junior scouts from 1st Claremont embarked on an exhilarating hike to Hawequas. The troop, known for their strong performance in Upton, was eager to maintain their reputation. After a period of consecutive first-place finishes, they had narrowly missed the top spot the previous year, and came 2nd.
The day began with a gathering of the patrol leaders, who received their instructions. The scouts were tasked with collecting several pieces of paper and an egg, which they were to protect throughout the hike. While the task seemed straightforward, it proved challenging for some. Before the patrols could even begin, Axel’s egg met an unfortunate end.
As the hike commenced, with everyone now in possession of an intact egg, the scouts set off. It started with a riddle, you could only continue once you had the answer. Team A, or as I like to say, the A team, was at the front and while probably in the front 5 teams, Seth wanted to be first. I had to remind him that it wasn’t a race, and we were making good time, but of course that was not a good enough excuse. With loads of challenging bases, Upton stretched the scouts knowledge and was fun and adventurous. Luckily our map skills and geography were good, because we didn’t go on the wrong path like other patrols and ended up finishing twenty minutes before anyone else.
It seemed the scouters misjudged the juniors’ hiking abilities though, as they had to extend some base times and rush everyone off the mountain so we could end in time . The closing parade was filled with anticipation as the results were announced. Our troop performed exceptionally well, with the A team securing 2nd place (just one point shy of first!), the B team achieving 21st, and the C team finishing 43rd out of 63 teams! I wholeheartedly recommend Upton to all future junior scouts and wish I could relive the experience. It was truly amazing.
Saskia Berry
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/upton-shield-2025/
As part of the Bug Hunter badge, our Meerkats made worm farms. They were fascinated by the talk given by Rikki (Karen Hewson) and then set about storing the wriggling animals in padding. Playing Beetle was all part of the fun. Ella gave an excellent talk on her favourite bug – the Ladybug. Thanks to all the parents who co-ordinated and helped with these meetings.
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/meerkats-as-bug-hunters/
My Discoverer Hike was more of a patrol adventure up the West Coast. We met at my house in the morning and set off to the !Khwa ttu Nature Reserve near Yzerfontein. We were dropped there and explored the San Heritage Museum. The museum was super interactive and interesting, and I’m really glad we could recognize the history of the area we were exploring. We then set off on the actual hike, which I think we all had a lot of fun with. On the way home, we stopped at Blouberg for a swim and an ice-cream underneath a perfect clear sky.
Oliver Ringrose says: “The Bateleur Patrol set out on a patrol hike in the !Khwa ttu Nature Reserve exploring its trails and landscapes. We stopped at the museum, which was awesome and had lots of interactive parts. Along the way, we saw springbok and other varying types of wildlife. This was an awesome time to be remembered.”
Matthew Darcy Evans says: “The day started off fairly cold, but thankfully we got to look around inside the museum before we set off, which was very interesting. It did take us a while to find the correct route to take, but eventually we found it. It then proceeded to warm up quite quickly. We saw some cool animals along the route, like a tortoise, as well as some ostriches. On the way back, we stopped at the beach where some of us swam, and we had ice cream. It was a great hike, and I think everyone enjoyed it.”
Harry Deering says: “It was very fun to go on your hike, the view was really nice, and the walk itself was really fun because we didn’t need to rush it that much, and we were talking a lot, which was nice, so there wasn’t silence.The museum was quite interesting, with all the things that were there and the video that we watched. The buttons made sounds, and when you hovered your hand above the table, it made a sound.”
Overall a very fun day with some great memories!
Julia Webb
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/julias-discoverer-hike/
Being on raft was an amazing experience. It was sooo fun, we were the first raft out (there seemed to be some misunderstandings as to where we had to be 😅) and so we got to watch all the other rafts coming out onto the vlei, while we watched, Oliver played music (meme music – sticking to our theme memeworks). It was raining and our raft decided it wanted to grace us with the presence of rain inside the raft so we had to make a plan to fix the leak. There were lots of fun STAs for us to complete (Saskia made an awesome stop motion video/movie) and there were some mind boggling ones too.
The night was one of my favourite parts of being on raft. We had to take night shifts and watch to make sure our raft wasn’t sinking and also try our best not to fall asleep. My shifts involved us attempting to play uno on the floorboards outside (we borrowed it from another raft who sent it over via canoe but we decided not to play it cuz it hadn’t been opened) and then we played 20 questions and took many photos 📸. The next day there was the canoe race which Oliver and MK took part in 👏👏 and did very well. The rest of us (Julia, Avila, Saskia and me) watched from the raft, we couldn’t really see them but it was fun watching. Eventually it was time for us to come back to land and disassemble the raft (so sad 😢, everyone worked really hard to build it).
Juliet D’arcy-Evans
Raft construction“Meme Works”Scan it. We dare you.
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/kon-tiki-raft-building-2025/
In the second term, several parents got involved in our adult leader team in the Meerkat Den, Cub Pack and Scout Troop. Being an adult leader as a parent or grandparent is a fantastic way to be involved in your child’s activities and to help build the community at 1st Claremont.
Njabulo Ndlovu – Meerkat Leader
My journey to becoming a Meerkat leader was inspired by my son, Khaya, as he wanted to spend more quality time together through meaningful activities. Although there’s no history of Scouting in our family and I had no prior experience working with the Meerkat age group, I bring valuable experience from my past as a voluntary youth worker.
At Beth Uriel, a home for young men, I helped connect youth with the outdoors through various activities. I also continue to volunteer as an online mentor for young people through the Infinity Family initiative. My involvement is driven by a genuine passion for community building and youth engagement, and a commitment to raising active.I am proud to be part of the 1st Claremont Scout Group and am excited to support the young Meerkats in the den and to learn from them along the way.
Njabulo and KhayaOliver, Karen and Fraser
Hewson family – Cub and Scout Leaders
This term, Karen Hewson joined our Cub team and Oliver Hewson joined our Scout team, so their whole household are now officially involved as adult leaders.
I am Riki Tiki Tavi, one of the newest Assistant Pack Scouters. My son, Oliver, and husband, Fraser, are both Assistant Troop Scouters. Oliver joined as a Cub 11 years ago and Fraser, along with Ian Webb, runs the Senior Cub Camp.
Last year when I volunteered at the Senior Cub Camp in October I met so many amazing Cub Leaders and Scout Assistants. The Scout Program offers just as much opportunity to learn and grow for adults as it does for the kids. The Adult Training courses are jam-packed with useful knowledge and all the volunteers are amazing.
The best part is I can have more fun with my family now that we are all part of the Scouting community.
Nick “Fox” with MeerkatsGalvao Hall family
Nick Hall – Scout Leader
The Galvao Hall family are veteran Scouts and they were there on Friday 13 June for Isabel’s investiture as a Cub at 1st Claremont, where she was previously a Meerkat. Mom Bruna (Hathi) is a Cub leader, Dad Nick (Fox) has just moved from the Meerkat Den to return to our Scout Troop, aunt Becca (Galago) is a Meerkat leader, big sister Micaela is a Cub, and granny Jane is a proud supporter! Also remembering grandpa Andrew Hall who was very active in Scouting in Gauteng and Nationally.
I am Nick “Fox” Hall, I did my scouting as a child in at 9th Benoni, up in Gauteng where I got my Springbok Scout and formed part of the SA contingent to Thailand for the World Scout Jamboree in 2002. When I moved to Cape Town to study I joined 1st Claremont as an ATS in 2008, I became Troop Scouter in 2010. I continued to TS until 2015 when my first child was born. I rejoined 1st Claremont in 2019 as the Den Scouter to start the Meerkat Den, where I became Assistant Den Scouter in 2021. My first Meerkat is now in Scouts and many more will be comin through in the coming years, and a bunch of my former scouts from my time as TS are now also adult leaders. I’m looking forward to rejoining the Scout Troop as ATS!
My wife Bruna is an APS with the cubs (Hathi), my sister Becca is ADS (Galago) with the Meerkats, and my two daughters, Isabel and Micaela are not both in Cubs.
Jaco Ferreira and Brent Johnson – Cub leaders
Two more parents joined our Cub leader team earlier, but we have not featured them before now. Jaco was previously a Meerkat leader and has moved to the Cub Pack along with his son Terran. Brent has also joined the Cub Pack team, transferring from 3rd Pinelands along with his children Declan and Abigail.
Terran and JacoDeclan, Brent and Abigail
Sebastian Hammond – Boksburg Scouter
My name is Sebastian Hammond, I am 19 years old, and currently a first-year student studying marine biology and ocean and atmosphere sciences at UCT. I have been a part of the Scouting movement since I was about 8 years old. I joined 1st Boksburg as a cub, and then moved to 2nd Boksburg in Scouts, where I had remained for the entirety of my Scouting career. I attended the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in South Korea and had the time of my life. In my time as a Scout, I achieved my first-class advancement just before aging out, and I attended 65th Gilten PLTU. I love the way Scouts creates a sense of family and belonging, and gifts you with skills that are not taught at school. I have always loved learning new things as well as teaching skills and imparting survival, leadership, and scouting knowledge that I have been lucky enough to learn.
I come from Boksburg, on the East Rand of Gauteng, where I stayed with my younger brother, mom, and dad. I love hiking, and anything to do with the outdoors (and animals, any and all kinds). I have a Level 3 first aid qualification, and I have always had a love of helping others, I was the head of the first aid committee at my school and attended most games and tournaments as the first aider in charge. I also love reading. I read many kinds of books, from horror and true crime to romance, fiction, and at times, non-fiction. I also love writing, usually horror and the darker genres. (So yes, I am and always have been a bit of a nerd).
Jonathan Webb received his 20 Year Service award, and Susan Gammon received her 10 Year Service award. The 1st Claremont fundraising team received a Commendation. Daniel le Jeune and Fraser Hewson received the Certificate of Merit, and Jonathan Webb received the Medal of Merit. Elton le Roux (who began as a leader at 1st Claremont before moving to 4th Claremont) received his 5 Year Service award and a Commendation.
1st Claremont leaders with Chief Scout’s Commissioner Gary Pienaar at the Western Cape Awards Ceremony
An appeal to get involved
1st Claremont is only as strong as its leadership, all of whom come from our own community. We would love you to get involved. If you would like to take on a role in the group, please speak to your unit leader (Judith Bishop, Lucy du Toit or Simon Bean) or to our Scout Group Leader (Ian Webb). We are particularly in need of additional Meerkat leaders to support Judith and Njabulo – ideally we need a team of four or more adults in the Meerkat Den.
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/smoke-signals/focus-on-families-and-new-adult-leaders/
On a chilly day in the month of May, over 30 Liesbeek Meerkats gathered to go on a hike with a difference. Geo-caching is not part of our ambit, but Fox from 1st Claremont explained it so well that everyone was excited. As we strolled along, we sang a song, until we came an appointed spot. There were no buzzing bees or sycamore trees, but the Meerkats did have to climb and clamber to find three geo-caching canisters.
The Meerkats had been told to bring treasures as small as a marble. Some brought marbles. We did not know that marbles were still around. Then a treasure was careful placed in the canister, one was removed, and the name of the Group carefully written down.
The wind didn’t blow and there wasn’t any snow and we all came out of the woods feeling like we lived in a land of milk and honey with our beloved Big Rock Candy Mountain next to us. It was a lovely day. Thank you to Nick Hall and all the other Meerkat leaders.
Judith Bishop Den Scouter
Permanent link to this article: https://1stclaremont.org.za/1stclaremont-scouts/meerkats/liesbeek-meerkats-go-geo-caching/
