FOR many Cub Scouts achieving a handful of activity badges is an achievement to be proud of.

But Oscar Gibson, from Woodstock, went one step further and collected all 37.

The 10-year-old, of 33rd Oxford Kidlington Jacala Cub Scouts, was given the last badge, for disability awareness, on Thursday night by Chief Commissioner of England Tim Kidd.

The Woodstock Primary School student said: “It was really special. My favourite badge was probably the athletics badge because we got to do lots of runs like the 100 metres.”

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There are 37 activity badges available to Cub Scouts, awarded for a range of activities including animal carer, equestrian, global conservation and physical recreation.

Despite only joining in September 2012, Oscar has also completed a further seven challenge badges, including the Chief Scout’s Silver Award, the highest award available to Cub Scouts.

His Scout leader, Becca Thomas, said: “When Oscar first joined he was very enthusiastic. I was awarding some badges and told him it looks like you will be completing them all, slightly joking.

“The next day I had an email from Oscar’s father saying that I had thrown down the gauntlet.

“I have been running very active Cub packs for more than 10 years and this is the first Cub I have personally known to achieve this. It is even more impressive as four new badges were announced in June.”

Oscar’s dad, Bob, said: “Oscar was really dedicated; he was going to go for it so worked out how he was going to get there.

“Three or four badges took him out of his comfort zone. He was never interested in horses but it made him want to do it and took him to an area where he learnt new skills. He now also has his red belt at karate and he has continued on with this. It has made him try lots of new things, so it is brilliant from that point of view.”

  • Oscar's badges: Air Activities, Animal Carer, Artist, Astronomer, Athletics, Athletics Plus, Backwoods, Cooking, Book Reader, Camper, Chef, Collector, Communicator, Cyclist, DIY, Disability Awareness, Entertainer, Equestrian, Fire Safety, Global Conservation, Hobbies, Home Help, Home Safety, Local Knowledge, Map Reader, Martial Arts, My Faith, Naturalist, Navigator, Personal Safety, Physical Recreation, Pioneer, Road Safety, Scientist, Skater, Sports Enthusiast, Water Activities, World Faiths

Oscar’s older brother, Zak, 14, is a young leader with the Kidlington Scout Group and helped to work out how each badge could be achieved.

Many of the activity badges are completed with the pack but some need to be completed outside, with various requirements for each.

Alec Stanworth, deputy county commissioner, said: “Oscar’s extraordinary achievement shows the ambition and drive that the young people of today have.

“From working on his martial arts badge to gaining his equestrian badge, Oscar has enjoyed all that scouting has to offer, and is already preparing for his next challenge as he moves from Cubs to Scouts.

“As one of 8,000 Scouts across Oxfordshire, we hope that Oscar’s story will encourage even more young people and adult volunteers to join the adventure!”

Oscar is now gearing up to move up to the Scouts at Christmas.

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