Jake joined 1st Edgemead Air Cubs & Scouts in December 2011, when he was 7. He has absolutely loved every moment and has learned so much in his time as a cub. He starts scouts tomorrow evening, so that when he turns 11 in May, he can be invested the following week. I feel quite sad that we are reaching the end of this part of the journey. It seems to have gone all too quickly. Look how little Jake was when he started...
Where did those chubby cheeks go to?
This was Jake being invested as a cub. His big front teeth were still busy growing...
Look how tiny he looks in his uniform that now seems to fit him a little too snugly and look how nervous he looks...
Once Jake became a cub, he began working on badges. There's a whole list of them that you can check out here if you like. We began with easier badges, like gardening (when we were putting in our new garden)...
Homecraft, which saw Jake washing by hand (and enjoying it)...
Ironing...
and washing windows...
He's done things like photography...
made masks...
Gone fishing and caught something...
And learned how to 'catch and release'...
He's made sweets...
That were delicious...
Jake's made balloon cars, water mills and windmills...
He's learned about geology...
He's made a collection of money (note the one hundred trillion Zimbabwian dollar note)...
He had to learn how to paddle a canoe...
Jake has learned about the importance of clean water and how to make a simple water filter...
He's done lots of experiments, like this one to see how plants give of water...
And seen them working... Jake loves doing experiments...
We've learned about waste and the environment...
Buried things in the garden to see how long they take to decompose...
Jake's built tents (with Marius' help) and slept on the stoep in them with Michael and Cameron...
Nutters...
Jake's taken part in planting projects, visited our local retirement village and spent time with the elderly, he's gone on camps and taken part in campfire evenings, he's gone hiking and all the way, he's learned new things...
He's built rubber band propeller boats and model ships...
He's made collections of seeds, leaves and shells for his nature craft badge...
He's made toys, with some woodwork help...
A recipe book stand, a notice board, a notepad holder and a book shelf...
He's woven a little basket (with my help)...
He's learned a lot about making safe fires...
This boy still loves fire so much. He cannot leave it alone...
Jake has just completed his leaping wolf badge - this is the highest achievement that he could get in cubs. This is him with his knotting board... 
And so, I'm very proud to share it here with you all... Jake has finally completed all 56 interest badges!! With just 1 month to spare - phew! His sleeves are full on both sides and he is very, very proud of himself. As part of his leaping wolf badge, he had to complete a personal challenge. Since Jake began cubs, it has been his mission to earn every badge and so it was apt to use that as his personal challenge and thus complete his leaping wolf badge too...
Full sleeves and a proud grin for mom...
I am totally blown away looking back on some of the photos, mostly by how much Jake has grown up and matured in the 3 1/2 years that he's been doing cubs...
SERIOUSLY??? Where did that baby face go?
Like you've all heard me say 1000 times before, I am very proud of Jake and I'm proud of what he's taken from being a cub. He's learned so much and it's been so great for him to experience some of what we had when we were kids and free to run and play. Some of the badges were easy peasy and quite exciting to earn, others were really, really tough for him, but he's done them and he can be as proud of himself as I am!
Sending love,
Sue XXX
3 comments:
Heaps and heaps to be proud of! I love that they can do some badges on their own A has just done the toughest Voortrekker badge for the up to grade 6 stage - a very tough fitness one that a lot of girls never do and I am so very proud of her. These type of youth societies build a lot of strength and character. Best of luck with the Scouts big boy
Very very well deserved! Congrats mommy and well done Jake!!
Ps: I miss the chubby baby cheeks
Hey Cat - Jake has done most of the work on his own, a little guidance here and there and plenty of corrections along the way. I've had to help with ideas, so I guess a joint effort. I didn't know that A was a Voortrekker - it's such fun! Hope it keeps going well for you!
Funso - I just want to eat him alive! Too cute for words!
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