Scouting Around - Issue 9 - Aug 2016

“See things from the boy’s point of view” - Robert Baden Powell

Youth Decide Their Scouting Future at #NYFTT16

New Leader Certification (NLC) Training Schedule 2016-2017

Aug 26-28 — Chief Commissioners’

Shastri Poorai (MTM)

New Leader Certification resumes in September. All sessions will be held at Scout Headquarters in St. Ann’s on the first Saturday of the month, with the exception of Basic Outdoor Skills and Basic First Aid.

Sep 5 — School reopens

Registered youth members of the Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago from all twenty two scout districts were invited to the 1st National Youth Forum at Scout Headquarters, St. Ann’s on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August 2016 to voice their opinions on issues affecting Scouting and to provide solutions and methods on forward movement for Scouting in Trinidad and Tobago.

participated in some fun morning activities with none other than Siddeeq Shakoor before we were welcomed by National Scout Commissioner, Roger Berkeley.

On arrival of the representatives at 5 pm on Friday, the first order of business was to get registered. After registration, The National Youth Commissioner, Mr. Allan Gittens, welcomed all participants and explained the agenda for the weekend. This was followed by some exciting ice breakers done by Siddeeq Shakoor.

Afternoon sessions included three Think Tanks, which split up the groups to discuss Youth Advocacy, Communication and Public Image, and Program Redesign.

Then it was down to the serious discussions on the agenda: Scouting in Trinidad and Tobago, Barriers to Youth in Scouting, Youth Involvement Policy and Introduction to the New and Improved Youth Council Concept.

The newly elected executive of the National Youth Council is as follows:  Chairman - Damian Clarke  Vice Chairman - Mohini Seejattan  Programme - Patrick Welch  Training - Siddeeq Shakoor  Advocacy - Jeremy Macintyre  Communication - Acquille Simmons Scrumptious dinner was served, followed by the presentation of the certificates to the participants by ScoutsTT’s Executive Commissioner Mr. Courtney Bruce and Mrs. Prematie Seejattan, GSL of Penal Adventurers Scout Group.

Seven groups were represented at NYFTT16.

The 25 participants came from Penal Adventurers Scout Group, 6th Trinidad Sea Scouts, 1st Naparima College Sea Scouts, 3rd A.S.J.A College Sea Scouts, 1st Goodwood High School Air Scouts (Tobago), 1st Mayaro Sea Scouts and Sons of the Pioneers Scout Group.

Code NLC 01: A NLC 01: B-D NLC 02

NLC 04 NLC 05 NLC 06

Camp rise was at 6 am on Sunday. We

NSC Roger Berkeley, in his closing speech, reinforced that the mission and values of scouting not only serves us in our scout lives and urged us to make the change we wish to see in the future. As he said, “The future of Scouting lies In your hands”.

Aug 31 — Independence Day

Produced through the kind support of

September - NLC 07, 05, October - NLC 04 November - NLC 01: A, 01: B –D December- NLC 02 January – NLC 10, 06 February –NLC 03 TBA –NLC 08

NLC 03

Following this was a Marketing Presentation done by Yvan Mendoza who stated the urgent need for Rebranding and uplifting the image of the Scout Association in the eyes of the Public.

We discussed the Better World Framework of enhancing WOSM before it was time to elect the youth council.

Conference - Grace Communion Arima

Sep 17 — Leaders’ Indaba

See full schedule below:

Title Leader Specific Training: Group Leader Leader Specific Training: Section Leader Coaching and Mentoring Youth Shared Learning

Date 05/11/2016 05/11/2016 03/12/2016 09/01/2016

Leadership Skills for Scout- 01/10/2016 ers Youth Protection Policy 03/09/2016

NLC 07

Leave No Trace: Environmental Protection Scouting Essentials

NLC 08

Basic Outdoor Skills

NLC 09

Basic First Aid

NLC 10

Activity Planning

The newly elected National Youth Council

After brief presentations about Scouting and the history of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement by Siddeeq Shakoor, we were introduced to the Vision 2023 National Strategic Plan. Then we were free to mingle and socialise for the rest of the night.

Upcoming Activities

07/01/2017 03/09/2016 TBA

Location

Pre-reqs.

Scout HQ-St Ann’s 12 noon – 3pm Scout HQ-St Ann’s 9am – 12 noon Scout HQ-St Ann’s NLC 07 9am – 3pm Scout HQ-St Ann’s NLC 01, 02, 04 - 10 9am – 12 noon Scout HQ-St Ann’s NLC 07 9am – 3pm Scout HQ-St Ann’s NLC 07 11 noon – 12.30pm Scout HQ-St Ann’s 12noon – 2pm Scout HQ-St Ann’s 9am – 11 Paxvale II NLC 01, 05, 06, 07

To be done by participants through own arrangement at any first aid certification provider (Red Cross First Aid/CPR/ 07/01/2017

Scout HQ-St Ann’s 9am – 1 2noon

NLC 01, 07

Cost

Contact Hours

$50.00

3 hrs (1/2 day)

$50.00

3 hrs (1/2 day)

$50.00

6 hrs (1 day)

Nil

3 hrs (1/2 day)

$50.00

6 hrs (1 day)

$50.00

1 1/2 hrs

$50.00

2 hrs (1/2 day)

$50.00

2 hrs

$150.00

20 hrs (2 days & 2 nights) 8 hrs

Approx ($500.00) $50.00

3 hrs (1/2 day)

Scouting Around the World

National Youth Leadership Training Academy - Los Angeles 2016

We even had a hike day where I presented to the astronaut Mike Fossum without even knowing who he was. Later that day he led the tour of the Space Exhibit at the California Science Centre telling us about his experience in space as we saw a real life space shuttle. Another unforgettable moment on hike day was walking up some hills going to the

A leadership experience truly unlike any other, the Boy Scouts of America Train the Trainers Program for National Youth Leadership Training, NYLT LA 2016 (July 24-30), was all about creating better leaders to run local National Youth Leadership Courses in their respective councils in the Western Region of USA.

As a Scout from Trinidad and Tobago, I was tremendously honored to be selected to attend this course thanks to the Inter American Leadership Training Council. From the very beginning it was a totally fun yet hectic and extremely productive journey that ensured holistic development in all participants. Being one of the two international Scouts participating in a Boy Scout of America event, I was intimidated at first but the staff and participants made me feel like one of their own in a few hours.

I was quite surprised, not only that a youth staff ran the course, but also at the professional, mature and enthusiastic manner in which they did it. Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned the perfect blend of fun and learning that existed at the Academy.

Games and songs that allowed expression and joy were everywhere, most memorably at meals during 'mealtime shenanigans', yet we found ourselves engulfed in absorbing knowledge on deeper and more complex levels of leadership skills such as the Teaching EDGE and the Leading EDGE methods, Stages of Team Development and the Be Know Do Leadership Way. Every morning we had to make a fifteen minute

16th Caribbean Cuboree - Guyana Sachin Seejattan (MTM)

Siddeeq Shakoor

The NYLT Leadership Academy trains youth staff to be world-class leaders, presenters and evaluators of their council’s National Youth Leadership Training course. The Leadership Academy’s goal is to develop a staff dedicated to infusing each participant with an enthusiastic force of learning that will instill in them a growth experience that will last a lifetime. This goal will be accomplished through the establishment of a special place where learning and mutual respect are fostered within the ideals of the Scout Oath and Law.

Scouting Around the World

BSA participants at #NYLTLA2016 take a selfie with Siddeeq

presentation to our team and one or two members of adult staff on a topic that was given to us the night before. We had to plan our presentation on a really helpful Presentation Planning Form and each presentation needed to be unique and personalized. After each presentation, we would evaluate ourselves and then the rest of the team would evaluate us using an evaluation form, providing feedback in the 'Sandwich method' to ensure positive motivation.

It was quite challenging but definitely worth it in the end as we attempted to perfect our presenting and evaluating skills while learning all the content on the topics on which we presented. I started off the week shaky but eventually I developed my presenting skills and by the end of the week I grew confident in my new ability, what seemed to be my new superpower.

We also had forums with the adult staff every day to discuss problems we faced in our own council’s leadership courses. Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Servant Leadership and Leading Yourself were some of the topics we went through. We were even taught how to run Emergency First Aid and Geocaching sessions.

One of the most memorable parts of the course was the guest speakers; CEO's, a Mayor and even an Astronaut, all of whom were Scouts, brought a higher feeling of motivation and inspiration to all present.

“Hollywood!” - Siddeeq

observatory in Griffith Park and then noticing the Hollywood sign for the first time not too far away.

The staff made the entire course memorable and enjoyable with their fun events, campfire performances, unique presentations, flag raising and lowering assemblies, and the opening and closing ceremonies.

The skills we learnt, the fun we had, the friends we made and the leadership trainers we became are all part of the end result of one of the greatest leadership training programmes in the world. I'm proud to have been a part of #NYLTLA2016.

An IST (International Service Team member) is a member of staff at a jamboree that helps to do all of the jobs that help make a Jamboree happen.

My life as an IST began before I ever expected it. The preparations for the 14th Caribbean Cuboree in Guyana gave me an experience to turn into a young leader.

strong bond amongst ourselves and we all shared experiences that we will never forget, mine being accidentally locked in a bathroom for 35 minutes.

Before we left Piarco International Airport in Trinidad, we started our work by organizing the cubs to check-in. Work continued in Guyana as we landed and volunteered to pack bags onto the truck to be transported to the campsite.

During the camp there was a serious accident involving two cubs and this took a toll on not only the IST team but also the management team. The incident made our jobs a bit tougher as we were instructed to maintain a higher level of security in the camp and ensure all participants were safe.

On site I met fellow ISTs and we were given duties every morning at 6:00am. These duties involved carrying wooden pallets in the rain to build a bathroom, digging drains, building tables and benches, moving tents and tables and basically anything the management team wanted us to do.

My life as an IST did not only give me the experience of a lifetime but also allowed me to build friendships that will last a lifetime. I invite you to become part of the International Service Team, the question is: are you ready to become an IST?

Through doing these tasks the IST team built a

PHOTO of the Month By: Sachin Seejattan (MTM) Send your photos to programme@scouts.tt to be highlighted here!

14th Caribbean Cuboree Highlights Three cubs relaxing after a long activity-filled day at the Cuboree

Left: President of Guyana, David A. Granger arriving at the Opening Ceremony Centre: Cubs from Guyana performing a dance routine at the opening Ceremony Right: Trinidad and Tobago contingent parading through the streets