Scouts TT Activity Plan 2021

Rally the Troops!

Foreword

2020 proved to be a year of complete uncertainty, which brought a halt to all of our traditional activities. As we move forward into 2021, we are tasked with keeping scouting relevant. This means adapting to our current conditions with blended activities and empowering our youth members to pursue the programme with remote guidance.

Throughout these difficulties, we must be guided by the key principles of scouting are as prescribed by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in the World Scout Youth Programme Policy:

Scouting should:

  • Have young people at its centre
  • Be about education
  • Develop active citizens
  • Be locally adapted and globally united
  • Be up-to-date and relevant
  • Be open to all
  • Be attractive, challenging, and meaningful for participants

These principles serve to inform the planning of all activities at the national level and no doubt filter down to your individual groups and patrols, but as we participate, we must remain aware of our purpose. As WOSM states:

The Youth Programme is the educational means used to achieve the purpose of Scouting, which is ‘to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities’. Therefore, the Youth Programme is the means through which Scouting contributes to the empowerment of autonomous individuals and the holistic development of active global citizens for the community.

This calendar of activities takes us to the end of our scouting year and has been designed to be flexible as we acknowledge that the pandemic is still very much underway and health restrictions may change throughout this period. Circumstances are understandably difficult and everyone’s safety is of utmost importance, we must also recognise the value that we as a movement have in engaging our youth members and providing them with positive, enjoyable experiences that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

Now, more than ever, the youth of our country yearn for avenues to engage with the world and their peers, let us not disappoint them.

Yours in Scouting,

Jorrel Bisnath
Deputy National Scout Commissioner – Programme

December 2021

For the month of December, ScoutsTT challenges our members to make a positive impact on their communities. This entire month we will be running our Joyful Hands Challenge where we will share some ideas with you to keep you in the Christmas Spirit while you plan your Good Turns.

We recognise the importance of all members of our community by commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the International Human Rights Day. We Bless the Creche at our Headquarters and will be releasing a video of the event on our social media platforms. Finally the Training team will take some time to do a bit of reflection.

November – Save Our Seas

The theme for the month of November is Save Our Seas. It has been a while since we have been able to visit the seas, but that doesn’t mean that our actions have not been affecting them. Climate change and pollution are challenges that we continue to grapple with.

This month we have two activities that highlight actions that we can take to help preserve life in under water. It is also a month that has important conferences and training with our Leaders Indaba and Training workshop as well as our Youth Leadership Training. Universal Children’s Day takes place this month so we take the opportunity to recognise the event with an activity for our youth members.

July – Fitness, Nutrition & Leadership Excellence

This month we host an exhibition on nutrition and meal preparation, to help our members in the kitchen.

The National Challenge Weekend provides our members with a fun opportunity to challenge themselves in their sixes, patrols, and units.

ScoutsTT is in the business of making leaders. Our National Youth Conference is an opportunity for our young leaders to have a say in how we should be doing things. For our adults, we have NLC training and a Leader’s Training and Retreat.

Remember to look out for updates on Imaginarium as we get set for our Virtual Jamboree next month.

June – Environment

As our Founder famously stated, we should all try to leave this world a little better than we found it. Conservation Awareness Week is an opportunity for young persons to learn about environmental conservation and get started on a couple more of the Earth Tribe Challenges.

During this month, as an association, we will also be recognising how we can involve persons with diverse needs and abilities within our groups, after all, scouting is for everyone. We shine the spotlight on our fathers and the role that they play, and we have a healthy dose of training tossed in. Your monthly favourite Youth Evolution and Virtual Campfire discussion series are also featured.

May – Science & Technology

May brings our Science and Technology month. Now more than ever we live in a digital world so this month’s we have ScoutsTT goes Solar, Astronomy camp and our Technology and creativity camp to explore scouting in the 21st century.

We also recognise the culmination of the month of Ramadan with the third installment of our My Faith Series and we celebrate our Scouting Moms with an outdoor challenge.

Stay tuned for details on our Virtual Campfire Series, Youth Evolution Series and our Annual Leader’s Retreat.

April – Service

The theme of April is service. Service to God as we take a walk with God on Good Friday. Service to others with our Service to mankind weekend and also recognising those that serve with our Volunteer recognition weekend. Earth Day observations will occur during this month and you will be provided details of how you can earn a special badge for this occasion.

March – Let’s Go Outdoors

For the month of March, groups are encouraged to do activities that bring their membership outdoors. We will be hosting our very first bike-a-thon this month. Continuing our recognition of national diversity, there will be special ScoutsTT activities for Holi. Also look out for Earth hour on the 27th.