Scout movement still alive after 104 years
AFTER over 100 years in Jamaica the Scout movement is still
alive and remains effective, members of the organisation have told the Jamaica Observer.
In fact, according to Assistant District Commissioner for Portland Anthony Ross, “Scouting in Jamaica is the way to go, if we are to ever bring something to the youth of today and to compete with the media and all the negative entities that are around us. Scouting is the thing to do. It is exciting, it is educational.”
He said that the scout camp also allowed members to be well-rounded as they are taught several things, preparing them for the wider world, even helping to mould them as future professionals.
The group’s ongoing presence in the society was showcased in Golden Grove on Friday, with an open day at a week-long camp hosting almost 200 persons, including children and young adults.
The national camp, held under the theme “Scouts: Agents of Change” at the Golden Grove All-Age School, had scout members from all across Jamaica participating.
The camp encourages youth to uphold the moral values of life in order to restore values and attitudes in the society for the next generation of Jamaicans, the group stated.
Dredria Bailey, deputy camp chief in charge of cub scouts (children under 12), said that this year’s camp was a success in preparing the youth to fulfil their roles in society.
She said that it was not the norm for the cubs and scouts to camp together. However, due to low finances this year, both groups came together.
“The camp, which utilised both outdoor and indoor space, had children over 12 camping on the outside under tents, while the younger children, or cubs, were kept inside the classrooms.
“Their task is to make it as homely as possible,” Bailey said.
Far removed from technology, the scouts and cubs were taught leadership.
With the belief that “the young ones are born before the old ones die” scouts in all categories were taught the discipline of moving on to the next stage.
“People will say scouting is a dying thing, but I can tell you, it is not,” Bailey said.
She said that scouts representing 12 districts participated in the camp, which started on August 8 and ended yesterday.
“The beauty about having so many youngsters from a diverse environment is the fact that they have to learn dependency, depending on each other, but most importantly inter-dependency,” Bailey said, emphasising that the scouts through the camp had learned how to help and relate to each other.
She believes that being away from technology in a camp setting has allowed the participants to develop the spirit of compassion, caring about each other.
“You are away from technology, you are away from Mommy, you are away from Daddy and all those comforts at home,” she told the campers, which she insisted helped the scouts to work together.
The camp also hosted its Olympiad.
Underlining the camp’s success, Bailey said that there were also hiccups along the way.
“Like anything in life, there were challenges, but as leaders we have opted to take these challenges and learn from them, learn to be better leaders ourselves, learn to be better role models. No matter what the challenges we face, we are here for the youngsters,” she said.
She said that scouts had decided that no matter what challenges are faced, “scouting in Jamaica will forever live on. We will be here for the youngsters. Once there is a boy or a girl willing to carry the scouting flag, there will be a leader willing to teach them,” the passionate scout leader told the Sunday Observer.
As for Ross, impressing upon the youth some key elements of life was important.
“The main objective of the training was to help these youngsters realise that they are agents of change, and so all the training that we have conducted was really to bring out the leadership quality in them. I must say it has been successful so far.”
He said that most of the children participating had exhibited change for the better in their behaviour.
The Scout Association of Jamaica was first established in St Ann in 1910 and has been undertaking the charge of moulding and shaping
the minds of the nation’s children through its programme of discipline.
On Friday, Custos of St Ann Norma Walters, who is also the president of St Ann Scout Association, toured the campsite and interacted with the youngsters during the open day activities.