Chief Scout's Award for Kilcullen scouts

Joe Robinson making a speech and the six chief scout award holders: Conor Reade, Paddy O’ Brien, James Delahunty, Donna Carpenter, Lauren Breen and Hanna Begley standing to the side.

On Friday the 25th of April, the Kilcullen Scouts received the Chief Scout’s Award, writes Donna Carpenter. The six recipients of the Chief Scout’s Award were James, Conor, Paddy, Lauren, Donna and Hanna who were presented the award by Dave Shaloo, a representative from Scouting Ireland in Kilcullen Town Hall.

Our preparation for this award began a year ago, working on skills such as lifesaving, kayaking, football, piano, karate, rugby and then completing an environmental and residential project. We then went on two expeditions, a hike and then we kayaked along the canal in Monasterevin.

On the night of the awards we were all a little nervous receiving the award and having to make a speech, while others were more prepared with speeches typed out Lauren! However we soon discovered there was nothing to worry about and we all had fun on stage.

After the ceremony, we mingled with all our guests and had some oreo cake which was to die for and sometime during the night we went out and got chips (yum). We also had a couple of awkward encounters with the Rugby team from France who we had completed our residential project with, trying to figure out who was French and who was Irish. We enjoyed ourselves on the night and we cannot wait to start the next stage of the Chief Scout’s Award when we all turn 16! (More work)

Scout selfie with Sarah Behan Cahill, Ailbhe O Sullivan, Lauren Breen, Conor Reade and Donna Carpenter.

We all really enjoyed taking part in the Chief Scout’s award but we could not have done it without our mentor Mary Fricker, our scout leaders John, Loretta and Richard, Phillip our swimming instructor, Jock Kelly from the Kilcullen canoe club and all our other various mentors and teachers, thank you all for the help that you have given us over the past year.