After a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, the scout movement is returning to Mayfield.
It is thanks to parents who wanted to give boys and girls the opportunity of after-school adventures.
They started Keas, which is the youngest group in scouting, catering for five to seven-year-olds.
Three of the parents have become leaders. They are Sarah Cudmore, Mel Sloane and Tash Hird.
Cudmore said the group had been a success since it began this term. The old Mayfield Scout den had been cranked back into life. There were 13 Keas and more to join.
A recent trip included learning about firefighting and first aid at the Mayfield Fire Station.
‘‘We have a great bunch of wee kids. You can see the changes of confidence growing, it’s great to see,’’ she said.
Cudmore said her commitment to the scout movement began when she herself joined as a child.
She had got to do all manner of activities she would never have got to try otherwise.
They included rock climbing, abseiling, kayaking, camping trips, and meeting people from all over the world at Jamboree.
‘‘It’s getting outside your comfort zone a little bit and having an adventure,’’ Cudmore said.
Cudmore said she was also proud to be following in the footsteps of her late mother Anne Taylor, who had been a well-known Mayfield Scout leader.
Potential future steps would be establishing a Cubs group, for eight to ten-year-olds, and a Scouts group, for 11-years and older.
Mayfield Scout Group secretary Alison Fleming said the new Keas group was ‘‘great news’’ for Mayfield and the Mania-o-roto (Ashburton) District of Scouting.
“All we need are some keen parents, and enthusiastic children to get back up and running,” Fleming said.
Mania-o-roto Zone leader Dave Strong hoped it was the beginning of big things for Mayfield.
“Hopefully we will be able to offer Cubs and Scouts groups to these youngsters, and to recruit parents or grandparents as group leaders.”
