Seven Xenolith Explorer Scouts have achieved six Queen’s Scout Awards and seven Explorer Belts.
The Queen’s Scout Award is the highest possible accolade to be achieved in Scouts and the Explorer Belt is a challenge of a lifetime – a 10-day expedition that brings them a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life.
The group includes 20-year-olds Evie Frost, Leah Albion, Robert Albion and Megan Bartlett, 19-year-olds Alexandra Nicklin and Francis Smith-Ward who have achieved their Queen Scout Award and Explorer Belts, and 19-year-old Lucy Jolly who gained her Explorer Belt.
They all started in the Xenolith Explorer Scout Unit in 2015 and have worked their way through the Explorer Scout Award Scheme, ultimately achieving these awards as members of the Xenolith Scout Network.
During their time in the unit, some of their camps included Re-energise events at Ennerdale, an International Jamboree at Auchengillan, Naaldenveld Scout campsite in Holland, Winter Camps at Hawkhirst, and MerseyMoot at Tawd Vale.
Other adventures include climbing four peaks in a week; the highest mountains in Scotland, England Wales and Northern Ireland and most recently camping at Zellhof in Austria as the base for the Explorer Belt.
Between them, these seven Explorer Scouts have done hundreds of hours of service with a variety of organisations including the Rotary Club of Ulverston, Ulverston in Bloom, the Factory Shop Garden, Service Weekends at Great Tower Scout Activity Centre, volunteering as Young Leaders at local Scout and Cub Scout meetings, acting as instructors in performing arts and orienteering, as well as working on a school renovation project in Kenya.
During their four years in Explorers they have achieved over 60 activity awards including Climber, Creative Arts, Emergency Aid, Fundraising, Musician, Navigation, Performing Arts, Pioneer, Survival among others, recognising a diverse set of skills and talents.
As part of Xenolith’s Unit structure, they have a Rotary Interact Club, of which the Explorers are members; giving them an insight into the workings of Rotary International through the Rotary Club of Ulverston as well as involvement in joint community projects.
Bryan Caine, Xenolith Explorer Scout Leader said: “What a journey, what experiences they have shared, what skills they have learnt, what knowledge they have gained through being a Xenolith Explorer Scout!
“These guys have devoted lots of time and energy into gaining these awards and should be very proud of their achievements.”
