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Scout Week is celebrated every year commemorating the birthday of Lord Baden-Powell, the Founder of the Scout Movement. This year we are celebrating the week from February 22 - 28, 2010.
Lord Baden-Powell
The theme for this year’s Scout Week is “Scouting- Preparing Youths for a Challenging Life”.
Scouting was founded in England in 1907 by Lord Baden-Powell. By 1910 the program was already in Belize, then British Honduras. We have come a long way since then and as we continue to grow and as we celebrate Scout Week let us remind ourselves of two important elements in our Program, the Scout promise and Law.
This is what one of our Leaders recently said about the Scout promise and Law.
“I agree that these two elements of Scouting are extremely important to reinforce in the lives of our young Scouts. These are the most powerful factors that every leader and youth must recognize and embrace in order to live a more meaningful life not only as Scouts but also as Belizeans and world citizens”.
Alma Eiley
Group Scout leader
8th Belize St. Joseph Scout Group
Scouting’s Mission is to contribute to the total development of youths and adults through the Scouting program in partnership with sponsoring organizations in order to create a better society.
The Mission is achieved by providing programs for young people and guided by adult volunteers. These programs form part of our educational proposal which gives young people the opportunity to build their lives on the principles of Scouting which are Relationship with oneself, Relationship with others, Relationship with the world and Relationship with God.
The Scout Method is a complete, integrated approach which incorporates various different elements; Adherence to the Scout Promise and Law, Learning by serving, Life in nature, Learning by doing, learning by playing, working in small groups, stimulating adult presence, Ceremonies to celebrate life and progressive scheme of objectives and activities - Youth program.
Following is President’s message in connection with Scout Week and in declaring Scout Week 2010 open.
February 22, 2010
Ramiro N. Duran
Fellow Scouts
Every year in the month of February, we take one week to celebrate and to recognize one of England’s greatest war heroes, Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell. Baden-Powell or BP as we affectionately call him was an officer in the war between Britain and the descendants of Dutch settlers, the Boers, in South Africa. History has it that it is here where BP gained world fame in holding a key town, Mafeking, for 217 days against an enemy force nine times his size. He stood fast until help finally came, and he went home as the greatest hero of the war. After Lord Baden-Powell retired from the army he started the Scout Movement in 1907. He started it by bringing together a group of 21 boys from all backgrounds to a camp on an island in England. The boys were divided into four small groups and from July 31 to August 9 they learned about camping, hiking, observation, cooking, stalking, life saving skills, and many more things that help young people meet challenges as they grow up. The camp was a great success and B-P knew then that boys could organize themselves and when put on their honor would do their best. This was the birth of Scouting, a Movement that aims in building character, teaches discipline and good values as it prepares young people to take their rightful place in society.
Today, February 22 is Lord Baden Powell’s birthday and as we celebrate Scout Week 2010, I find it most fitting that we all renew our Scout Promise and Scout Law which forms part of the foundation of our Movement. The responsibility of keeping the Promise and Law lies within each Scout and no one else and this is what makes Scouting – Scouts voluntarily make and accept the Scout Promise and Law as a commitment by which to live by.
As president of The Scout Association of Belize I publicly reaffirm the Scout Promise:
I promise to love GOD
Serve my Country
Work for Peace
And be true to the Scout Law
Scouting is a Movement that is organized and run by volunteer adult Leaders. Without them, we could not organize Scout Units so I find it most fitting to congratulate and thank all our Leaders who diligently give of their time to provide the training necessary for each Scout.
Also, we at the Scout Association depend largely on the business community and individuals who have a firm believe in the Scout program for financial contributions which enables us to carry out our program for the Scouts and training for the volunteer adult Leader. To them I also find it most fitting to thank them for their continued invaluable support. To the Government of Belize and to the Ministry of Education for their support in the Primary Education Scout Program. The Governor-General of Belize, and Patron of Scouts in Belize, Sir Colville Young, for his ongoing and unwavering support. Thank you from all of us.
Scouting as a Movement is growing and our vision is to double our membership in the years to come but for this we will need the support of many more volunteers. I would like to appeal to anyone who has an interest in working with young people to contact us. I guarantee - you will not regret it. It will be the most rewarding experience you will have, knowing that you are helping in building a future Belize, free of crime and drugs. We can make the difference. Join us today.
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