Young Scouts in South Somerset are celebrating after winning a major challenge.
South Petherton’s novice Scout team clinched the Fox Trophy Novice Award, a tough two-night expedition covering 17 miles.
The route demands self-sufficiency in navigation, teamwork, and campcraft.
The Scouts carried all their gear, cooked meals, and navigated between checkpoints using only maps.
A spokesperson for the South Petherton group said: "This is no stroll around the Rec.
"The Fox Trophy is a full-on, two-night, 17-mile navigation expedition where Scouts carry their kit, cook their meals, keep each other going and navigate through checkpoints using nothing but their maps, their wits and their teamwork.
"It’s the kind of weekend where you learn what you’re made of – and discover that you’re capable of far more than you thought."
The young team, who last year completed only a six-mile Cub day hike, took on the challenge with determination.
They performed strongly throughout the weekend and impressed judges with their logbook.
A spokesperson added: "They listened, they learned, they supported each other, and they kept going even when the hills felt steeper and the rucksacks heavier.
"They didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend – and what clinched the win was their logbook, scoring an incredible 13 out of 15 points.
"They paid attention to the briefing, understood what mattered, and told the story of their adventure with honesty, humour and heart.
"That’s real Scouting spirit."
The group says this victory highlights the value of scouting and the need for more adult volunteers to support its growth.
The spokesperson said: "Our Scout troop has been full for a long time.
"Young people are waiting for places, and from September we’ll have to move to an alternate week programme just to make sure everyone gets some access to Scouting.
"We have the building.
"We have the equipment.
"We have the young people.
"We even have the training ready.
"What we don’t yet have are enough adults to reopen our second Scout troop."
Volunteering can be flexible and does not require a weekly commitment or prior experience.
No experience or special skills are required.
Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to get in touch with the group.
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