Jason conquers Italy for scouting gold

A MILLTOWN-based scout leader returned victorious to Kerry after successfully completing a 200km walk across Italy for his Rover Scout Explorer Belt Challenge, one of the most prestigious awards in all of Scouting Ireland.

Ardfert’s Jason Kelly (23), has spent the last two weeks traversing over 200km across the northern part of Italy, surviving the sweltering heat and interviewing a number of local people on their culture, history and pastimes.

Jason, a leader with the 3rd Kerry Milltown Scout Group for the past year, is only the fifth Kerry scout to win the coveted belt and admits that the whole challenge was much more than he had anticipated: “The heat was a huge, huge factor; it was into the mid-30’s almost every day. It meant we needed to be on the road for 6am at the latest and we’d try to get everything done before it got too hot,” Jason said.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be finished, it hasn’t quiet sunk in yet really but I’m sure that in the next few days the enormity of it all will hit me,” he continued.

“Honestly, what really struck me over there was the kindness of complete strangers.

“I mean giving us showers, dinners, breakfasts, and even putting us up in a hotel. It’s was just really humbling to see such kindness in today’s world with all the bad things that are happening,” he said.

The Explorer Belt challenge, second only to the Chief Scout Award in terms of prestige within Scouting Ireland, is a yearly challenge for all Irish Rover Scouts aged between 18 and 25 years.

Ardfert’s Jason Kelly in Spettine Italy, holding his coveted Explorer Belt after completing the prestigious Rover Scout challenge.