Scouting Around - Issue 13 - Jan 2017

By: Farah Khan

Upcoming Activities January 28-29 — Commissioner Training @National HQ 31 — Deadline for National Membership Registration for 2017

On Saturday 16th December, 2016, ScoutsTT hosted Cub Scouts from all over the country for a Promise Party to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Cub Scouting. The event was held at Scout Headquarters in St. Ann’s with exciting activities and entertaining games for the over 100 cub scouts who attended.

Boys and girls were able to take part in Laser Tag games, mount the inflatable climbing

wall, view the Jungle Book movie and play entertaining games such as ring toss, bean bag toss, and small goal football.

Later that evening, the POS District hosted their crèche opening ceremony and campfire on the same grounds. It was a memorable and fun-filled day for all to start the Christmas Vacation.

February 4 — NLC Training @Scout HQ 4 — Cub Scout Leaders Meeting (Morvant/Laventille) Mad dash for candy as the piñata burst open

11-19 — National Scout Week 11 — Carnival Extravaganza @National HQ 12 — Media Launch: Investment in Character Campaign Taking aim at the archery activity

PHOTOS of the Month Send your photos to program@scouts.tt to be highlighted here!

Campfire’s burning, draw nearer

Photos by David Welch Produced through the kind support of

Photo finish! Two cub scouts race up the inflatable climbing wall

Armed and ready for Laser Tag

Greetings from the NSC Roger Berkeley

December 2015 with the purpose of showing off the exciting things that we do in scouting.

In the past 12 issues, we have been able to showcase a wide array of activities and communicate program updates to our members and interested stakeholders.

Happy New Year fellow Scouters!

Although this may not be the first time you are hearing from me for the year, this is our first Scouting Around issue 2017 and I take this opportunity to send my best wishes to everyone for a successful year.

This newsletter started in

Outside is the New Inside By: Nival Singh Camping for me is everything; the cooperation of the patrols, unit, cubs and leaders living in the outdoors using the natural surroundings to contribute to physical, mental, spiritual and social growth of a scout is a remarkable event that you have to experience to fully understand.

We are continuously trying to make our program more reflective of our vibrant membership. This year we look forward to more groups being involved in the many things we have planned and I encourage to send photos and articles to program@scouts.tt to be highlighted.

that seeks to ensure that our commissioner staff are given modern tools, skills and competencies to become the leaders of a modern, dynamic and 21st century movement.

The entire year is filled with exciting activities and ideas, as outlined in our Activity Plan, that we hope energizes our members to…

This month we celebrated our 105th Anniversary and hosted a Cub Scouts Camp Out and we end with Commissioner Training, which is new a national program of training

My group, Penal Adventurers made it an event for all sections. The group’s young leaders developed a camp program aimed towards evaluating cubs, scouts and venture scouts in the following topics: punctuality; rucksack packing before and after camp; cooperation; cleanliness; tentage; history of BP’s life; recital of law; national pledge and anthem; and knot tying.

After we returned to camp and ate, we made the rounds again, this time stopping to visit the Magnificent Seven historic buildings and the monument at Memorial Park. This was a first time for many who learned a lot. Then we met up with the Cubs at the zoo. It was my first visit in four years.

We were also trained by our Cub Scout Leader, Mohini on how to tie the Fleur De Lis knot, compassing, delivering messages and we took part in other fun games.

ScoutsTT invited Cub Scouts to experience camping in tents at The Cub Scout Camp Out at Scout Headquarters on Saturday 14th – Sun 15th January, 2017. This created an opportunity to develop outdoor camping skills which can be later applied and furthered at the Scout level.

On Sunday morning Scouts, Venture Scouts and Leaders made breakfast for the camp, then went for a jog around Queens Park Savannah. Cubs visited the Zoo and had to get as much info as possible on an animal of their choice, and name 6 other animals found in the zoo. The gold arrow cubs collected natural objects which they mounted on paper and labelled.

Sadly, the Camp Out came to an end at 3:00pm. It was very fun! We learned a lot, refreshed some skills, but most importantly we camped as a scouting family. I am anxiously awaiting the next camp, which I hope is soon.

Keep Calm and CAMP ON!

Scouting Around the World

The 4th Interamerican Leadership Training By: Damian Clarke Strengthening the Interamerican region by building lifelong friendships while developing leadership skills and gaining a global perspective is what the 4th Interamerican Leadership Training (ILT4) was all about. I had the privilege of being a participant and representing ScoutsTT with Mohini Seejattan (Participant) and Siddeeq Shakoor (Team Advisor). This experience indeed embodied the vision of “Creating a Better World” by equipping youths from 30 different NSOs with the tools to make positive changes on a local, regional and global scale.

This “Disney” themed course kick started on the 28th of December, 2016 at the beautiful Campo Escuela San Jorge Muxbal, Guatemala and came to a bittersweet end on the 2nd of January, 2017. The Disney theme appeared a bit unconventional at first; the team advisors and organizers actually portray Disney characters!

Nevertheless, it proved to be the most funfilled yet effective way of educating us about project planning, team development,

communication, the better world framework, messengers of peace (MOP) and how to achieve social impact.

For the purpose of understanding team dynamics, the participants were divided into teams, such that each team had 8 individuals from 8 different countries.

Mohini was placed on the yellow team while I was placed on the pink team. My team was guided by the enthusiastic and fun loving Carina Westford, from Guyana and consisted of participants from Brazil, Jamaica, Curacao, Canada, Nicaragua, Uruguay and Guatemala. Each day, a new team leader was selected to fill the role of the leadership position. We all started off as complete strangers but in that short period of time we created bonds that would last for an eternity. We even had a saying: “Ohana means family and family is ILT.” In the midst of all the learning, there were moments where the entire camp would erupt into song and dance. The fun didn’t stop there, it continued on local day and international night. We were carried to “IRTRA Mundo Petapa,” an amusement park in Guatemala City. Each team had to complete a series of tasks that involved playing games, going on rides and interacting with the public. Not only did the teams have fun, but they learnt a lot about teamwork, became even closer as a team and some participants even overcame some of their personal fears!

International night, New Year’s Eve, gave participants a chance to display their countries’ culture while counting down the hours to 2017. The conference room was filled with various foods and trinkets from the different countries and everyone was dressed up in their local wear. The night ended with fireworks, laughter and partying. It was truly a spectacular way to end the year and bring in a new.

One of the main objectives of the ILT was to equip scouts with the skills and abilities to develop MOP projects (as teams and individually) which are aimed at achieving positive impacts at the community level and eventually on a regional and global scale.

Throughout the course we were given examples of past projects and were guided on how to create our own and subsequently implement it. Coincidentally, Mohini’s team and mine came up with similar projects with a focus on providing potable water for vulnerable communities. We decided that collaboration would be a great way to spread the impact, so look out for that project along with many others in the upcoming year!

If there is one thing from this experience that will continuously motivate me to make a positive impact within my local and global community, it is something we learnt in the session about achieving social impact: “On average, we meet 1017 people in your lifetime and impact 37 of them.”

As chairman of the National Youth Council of ScoutsTT, I intend to implement several MOP projects, institutionalize this style of leadership education within this NSO and continue “Creating a Better World.”

ScoutsTT Celebrates 105th Anniversary January 4th, 2017 marked the 105th anniversary for ScoutsTT, the largest youth organisation in Trinidad and Tobago, which was incorporated under the Royal Charter granted by the British Crown on the same day in 1912.

Scouting was founded by Lord Baden Powell with the overarching goal of developing the character of young people. It reached our shores in 1912 with the first scout troop being formed at Queen's Royal College.

During the past 105 years, ScoutsTT has built a tradition of producing productive citizens by teaching the values of integrity, fitness, personal

responsibility, self-reliance and duty.

They continue to create leaders of tomorrow through a non-formal, values-based program that offers young people from 7 to 19 years old, fun and challenging activities, unique experiences, everyday adventure and the chance to help others so that they can make a positive impact in communities.

“The message that Scouting conveys has been consistent and steadfast throughout the years. There is no ambiguity or confusion about the qualities, values and ideals that Scouting stands for and imparts into the youth of our communities. These

values and ideals are resistant to the fickle winds of politics, fads and trendy notions that are constantly directed at our youth from a variety of sources.” said Roger Berkeley, National Scout Commissioner.

Our movement will continue to advance the cause of peace and, through its programs, seek to create citizens of character. As we celebrate this milestone we commend the values of scouting to our fellow citizens, the business community and Government. This country's youth is in dire need of programs such as those which are offered by ScoutsTT. Boys and girls, many of whom will be the parents of tomorrow, will be men and women of honor, dignity, respect, integrity, leadership, moral strength and be committed to the service of their community and country.

STRATEGIC PLAN

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Towards a New Scouting Adventure

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH AND YOUTH INVOLVEMENT

Youth involvement in decision-making is priority number one in the World Strategy for Scouting adopted by the 36th World Scout Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece and confirmed by the 37th World Scout Conference held in Tunisia in 2005.

This strategic priority aims at revitalising this fundamental element of our Movement, which is crucial to its attractiveness and its ability to achieve its mission. Youth involvement is a process that ensures youth have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. It creates volunteer opportunities for youth to be a part of the changes and decisions being made in their communities. It is an absolute requirement for increasing youth participation and

revitalising our programme. Maintaining the relevance of scouting to our community requires bridging our traditional values with current and future needs of our target audiences.

Our vision is that every eligible youth has an opportunity to be involved in a Quality Scouting Experience This priority area is premised on two basic pillars:  That the influence of young people on the direction of the movement is drastically increased.  That every eligible youth has an opportunity to be involved in a quality Scouting experience.