Scouting Around - Issue 28 - May 2018

Scouting for Food Launches for 3rd Year Calendar of Events June 2 — NLC Training (Chaguanas) 2 — Cub Scout Leaders Meeting

The largest youth organisation in Trinidad and Tobago, ScoutsTT, is once again “Scouting for Food”. Its third annual national food drive launched on United Way’s National Day of Caring on May 20, 2018, when members of the 1st Naparima College Sea Scout Group collected food at JTA Supermarket, C3 Centre before delivering the donations to The Hope Centre in San Fernando.

Donations of dry goods and toiletries can be made at the bins located at JTA, Xtra Foods and Massy Stores supermarkets, where scouts in uniform will be present on weekends to promote the drive and assist with the collection of donations. The food collected will be distributed to families identified by scout groups in their districts across the country and to homes by the national office.

5 — World Environment Day 9 — Wood Badge Training (HQ) 15 — Eid Ul Fitr 19 — Labour Day 22-24 — National Youth Forum 23 — National Totem Pole Finals 30 — National Leaders’ Indaba

headquarters@scouts.tt 1(868) 624-7271 www.scouts.tt

Produced through the kind support of

Scout receives donation from customer

Corporate T&T is also urged to get involved with this initiative by setting up collection bins at their work places. To learn more about Scouting for Food including how to get involved, contact Scout Headquarters at 624-7271 or check the Facebook event page “Scouting for Food 2018”.

Scouting for Food is aligned to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number two: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.” As SDGs are now a part of the Scout Program internationally, and incorporated into our local program, a major goal of the project is to get our young people to understand the problem and how they can be part of the solution.

The project started two years ago after recognising that more than twenty percent of the country’s population lives below the poverty line and eight to eleven percent are undernourished. Scouting for Food aims to educate the public of this issue among so many and engender a commitment to community, volunteerism and helping each other.

Offloading collections at Hope Centre

Virtual Youth Parliament By: Reuben Cruickshank, NYNCT National Affairs and Advocacy Committee The Virtual Youth Parliament, conjured by the ScoutsTT National Youth Network Coordination Team (NYNCT), is an online forum which takes place on WhatsApp on Monday nights from 8:00-9:00pm.

Its purpose is to discuss the issues that are currently plaguing our country and, most importantly, affect our youth. These discussions, moderated by a member of the NYNCT, attempt to derive realistic resolutions through intellectual debate.

The first sitting of the parliament was chaired by Reuben Cruickshank on the 21st of May 2018, during which the topic of debate was "Youth in Crime: Causes and Solutions". This topic was contextualized using a relevant news article quoting Professor Rhoda Reddock.

The participants got off to a flying start with sociological theories on crime being mentioned as well as how religion and other social institutions such as the family and education are all factors that have a part to play. Proposed solutions to this problem included: improved student-teacher relationships; media emphasis on positive youth accomplishments; promotion of unconventional jobs and youth insertion in crime policy development.

The second session, chaired by Damian Clarke, discussed the incident where a young Muslim woman, who had been assigned to a state assisted denominational institution as part of the OJT programme, was barred entry as their policy (they stated) did not allow hijabs on their compound.

The session sparked conversations about religious freedoms and anti-discriminatory notions.

All the members engaged in a healthy debate and reasoned out that the problem stems from micro-aggressions on an interpersonal scale.

Furthermore, the parliament believed that the laws that govern such institutions

building a sense of responsibility and THE NEW belonging.

SCOUT METHOD The team system (or “patrol� system as it is

4: Team System

The next element of the Scout Method in focus is Team System: The use of small teams as a way to participate in collaborative learning, with the aim of developing effective team work, inter-personal skills, leadership as well as

often called) is the basic organisational structure of the local unit, which is composed of small teams of young people supported by the adult.

Each small team, normally comprising 6 - 8 young people, operates as a team providing their own leadership. Within each team and in ways appropriate to their capacities, the young people organise their life as a group, share responsibilities, and decide upon, organise, carry out and evaluate their activities. A representational system ensures that the young people also participate in the decision-making processes of the unit in consultation and partnership with the adults.

should be revised so this incident may not be repeated.

These sessions showed that this initiative is a simple and effective way to gather the opinions of young people on local, regional and international issues. Currently, the Parliament consists of 34 members with a vision of expanding these numbers over time. The NYNCT intends to continue these sessions with current and interesting topics with the hopes of deriving resolutions that can be communicated to relevant, actionoriented stakeholders.

The team system, based on young people’s natural tendencies to form small groups, channels the substantial influence that peers have on each other in a constructive direction. It enables young people to develop their personal and collective capacities through pooling and building on their individual skills, talents and experience and through the development of a mutually supportive team spirit where problems are solved collectively. It provides Scouts with opportunities for leadership and support and to learn about the uniqueness of each individual, thus helping them to appreciate diversity. It also enables them to develop constructive relationships with other young people and adults and to learn to live according to a democratic form of selfgovernment.

Special thanks go out to the Youth Leadership Training Team of Kirt Jaikaran, Dylan Heeralal and Sachin Seejattan together with volunteers from 1st ASJA and the Penal Adventurers Scout Group under the able Team Lead for Youth Leadership Training, Mohini Seejattan, who delivered an excellent programme.

Cub Scouts Wowed at 2nd Science Camp The stillness of the night at Scout Headquarters in St. Ann’s was broken by the “oohs” and “ahs” of delighted Cub Scouts observing the stars through telescopes, many of them for the first time.

It was the Saturday night of the Science Camp held on May 26-27 and members of the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy were introducing the Cubs to the night sky and showcasing Jupiter, Venus and the Moon.

On Sunday morning they revised the material provided and completed their assessments with about fifty percent managing to earn their Astronomer proficiency badges.

The Cubs spent the day on Saturday and the afternoon on Sunday working their way through the bases, doing various experiments and experiencing some of the wonders of science. They learnt about growing crystals, how to create a basic electrical circuit and how to make a compass. They had to find a way to show how plants take water through their stems and learnt how vinegar reacts with various items. They enjoyed every minute of it.

This was the second Cub Scouts Science Camp hosted by ScoutsTT, rounding up the Science and Technology Week. A total of seventy-nine Cubs participated, making it a resounding success.

The Leaders who assisted at the event worked as a cohesive unit to ensure that the Cubs had an educational, enjoyable and enlightening weekend and there was a strong sense of camaraderie and team spirit.

We must acknowledge the efforts of Camille Mohammed, who ensured that meals were well prepared and were on time; Errol Lewis who provided security services; Lynette Gillette, who was instrumental in coordinating the activities; and last but not least the Assistant Headquarters Commissioner for Cub Scouts, Prematie Seejattan, who managed the Camp.

This event has grown to become one of the highly anticipated events on the Cub Scout calendar and plans are being made to have it executed in more than one location next year so that more cubs can take part.

Unlock a New World at WSJ 24

The theme for the 24th World Scout Jamboree is “Unlock a New World” and was developed by the youth bid team, also known as the Dream Team. This theme speaks to the new adventures, cultures, and friendships that will be shared by Scouts from around the world during the 12-day event (Jul 22-Aug 2, 2019) in North America, a continent often referenced as a “New World.”

As Scouts from around the world embark on their adventure to North America, they may encounter obstacles that seem to be locked with no solution. However, during their time at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, Scouts will seek answers and solutions to international

questions and problems. Together, they will search for ways to unlock a new world, even if it means forging their own keys.

Discovery of the New World will be met with open arms as Scouts step out of their comfort zones and into the mixing bowl that is North American culture. Guests will leave with a wider view of the world, a deeper understanding of North America, and a renewed commitment to Scouting as a whole. When Scouts join together to Unlock a New World, they give themselves the chance to start over as members of the global community and to work together for mutual gains that improve everyone’s situation.

Naparima Scout District Presents Green Building Design for its New Headquarters

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efficient to minimising usage and recycling where possible Low wattage and efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs as well as solar panels for heating water and to supplement the T&TEC supply to the building.

The Headquarters will be built within the boundaries of the Palmiste National Park, which is a major tourist attraction in Trinidad. It is considered the Botanical Garden of the South.

The scouts of Naparima Scout District have considered the Palmiste Pasture their home since its inception in 1963. After many attempts to acquire a parcel of land to build their Headquarters, in 1992, Mr. Charles Brash, Manager of the then Palmiste Estate, donated a piece of land in the Pasture for the construction of the building.

Not long after, the government acquired the Pasture and renamed it Palmiste Park, forcing the Naparima District Scout Council (NDSC) to enter renegotiations with government officials. After twenty years, Cabinet gave the approval for the NDSC to lease the land to build the headquarters. This lease was signed on September 13, 2012.

After discussions with key stakeholders it was decided that the district will redo the initially approved design to have a more environmentally friendly building. The NDSC applied and received funding from the

Green Fund Executing Unit to assist with the redesigning of a “Green Building”.

On Saturday, 5th May, 2018 an event was held at Debe Secondary School to present the design to stakeholders. The main features of the building include: • Use of local and regional types of timber including bamboo, which will be obtained from certified Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sources.

• Optimal sizing and location of windows and doors to allow for more effective use of natural daylight and ventilation through the building, reducing the need for artificial light and mechanical ventilation.

• Green walls/hanging gardens on the sides of the building with the potential for greatest solar gain that act as shading devices and create a microclimate adjacent to the building.

• Low flow/flush water fixtures and fittings will be energy and water

Scouting Around with 1st Notre Dame Under the leadership of GSL Terrance Charles, the 1st Notre Dame Sea Scouts have been very busy having fun recently, doing sea scouting and physical fitness activities amongst many others. See them here taking part in a church parade and at a fire-lighting skills activity.

The Park is presently used for recreation, sporting activities, camps, environmental training, religious and other community activities. Its neighbouring communities are Palmiste, Hermitage Village, Esperance Village, Phillipine, Rambert Village and Duncan Village, which has an estimated population of 10,000 persons.

Apart from scouting activities, the building will be available for others to use for seminars, workshops, exhibitions and networking.

The Rooftop of the building will have a solid floor, and will be used for Astronomy and Bird watching.

The focus of the Naparima District is to have a Scouts Centre of Excellence for Nature and the Environments “SCENES” building at its finished stage. This building will be an Education Centre that reflects green technologies with corresponding physical and relevant infrastructure. It will be Environment Friendly Green Building that will be a model for Trinidad and Tobago and an eco-tourist attraction.