A young Katanning cub scout earned a new badge of honour this month for his achievements and commitment to Scouts.
Nine-year-old Quade Potter received the grey wolf award — the highest achievement on offer for cub Scouts.
Quade has now joined a growing list of Katanning members awarded for their Scouts achievements, with the grey wolf award marking an important milestone in his years-long journey as a cub and later a full scout.
Scouts gathered with their families and friends at Police Pools Nature Reserve on June 10 to honour Quade’s achievement with a special ceremony, presenting him with his badge and certificate and adding his name to the club’s honour board.
To achieve the grey wolf award, a cub scout has to achieve all three milestone badge levels, which requires participation in more than 60 activities and leadership roles in at least 16 of them.
They must reach level three in camping, bushwalking and bushcraft, and achieve in other outdoor adventure skills areas, which for Quade, meant achieving his level two alpine and aquatics badges, and level one in boating, paddling, vertical and cycling.
Quade’s adventures as a cub scout have included three overnight hikes on the Bibbulmun Track, 20 nights of camping in places including Kulin, Denmark and Perth, and planning and leading an adventurous journey with five of his peers in Dryandra National Park.
The grey wolf award also requires cub scouts to earn a minimum of six special interest area badges in topics of their choice.
Quade chose to earn badges for sailing, archery, knitting for the Red Cross trauma teddies program, baking, bird-watching and playing the piano.
Quade said he was proud to receive the milestone award, and listed this year’s Scouts OneCamp, a Statewide camp for all ages of Scouts across WA to come together, meet their peers from different regions and tackle new challenges and activities, as one of his favourite activities this year.
This year’s camp was held at the Swan Valley Adventure Centre, with around 2000 Scouts attending from across WA.
“I loved going to OneCamp this year, and doing lots of activities and making new friends”, Quade said.
“That was my favourite camp.
“I’m really excited to earn the grey wolf award, as not many cubs get it.
“It was hard work but I learned lots and am very proud that I now have the badge.”
The grey wolf award marks a significant milestone for young cubs, recognising their early achievements and readiness to become a fully fledged scout.
