Ben Hendry
A Moray youngster is celebrating the rewards of his active lifestyle after completing the rare feat of achieving every merit badge possible as a Beaver and Cub scout.
Nico Giscombe, who lives in Forres, has embarked on a series of exciting ventures while striving to earn an impressive 58 distinctions.
The ten-year-old’s litany of challenges included mastering horse riding and visiting RAF Lossiemouth to learn about its aircraft.
The youngster got involved with the group as a Beaver with the second Elgin outfit when he was six and lived in the town.
His proud mum, Kristin Edward, declared he was inspired to take up the junior form of scouting after watching his older brother Leon participate in the group.
And he soon became determined to amass every badge he could after hearing about a girl who set that lofty standard while attached to the Hopeman Cub Scouts.
Ms Edward added: “Nico is a sporty child, he is a keen footballer and loves the trampoline.
“When he saw that somebody local had achieved all the badges, that sparked something in him and made him want to do it too.
“Some of them were a lot of work, and he has learned so much by doing it.”
The youngster gained all 20 activity badges available to Beaver scouts, before notching up 38 as a Cub scout.
Nico became a member of the First Forres Cubs when he and his family moved there two years ago, and, this week, had the final two badges stitched onto his jersey.
Ms Edward believes the achievement is the first of its kind in Moray, due to changes in the system which only recently made it possible for the scouts to achieve a tally of 38.
The Pilmuir Primary School pupil is now preparing for a scout parade through Elgin on Saturday, September 3.
