Scouts: Your friendly, neighbourhood, multinational.

With so much attention focused on world events these days, I thought that the
world-wide aspect of Scouting would be a fitting topic for this month's
column. Perhaps you may heave noticed the small, purple badge worn by most
Scouts in Yellowknife. It has a white Fleur-de-lis surrounded by a rope tied
in a square knot. That is the "World Membership Badge," which can be worn
by over 16 million "Scouts" -- including Beavers, Cubs, Rovers, and Venturers
as well -- in more than 150 countries. 

Or, If you look carefully at the Scout-Guide Week displays going up next
month, you will find uniforms, neckers, badges and books from all over
Canada, the US, Australia and other countries. Most of these have been
exchanged by friends through the mail or at a Jamboree.

Some Scouts, now adults, recall a World Jamboree as the highlight of their
Scouting experience.  Imagine, as Scout Jason MacVicar put it, "Being with
25,000 people, all sharing the common background of Scouting." Jason is one
of four Yellowknife Scouts privileged to be attending the next World Jamboree
near Seoul, Korea, in August. Other Jamborees are held at the National,
Provincial and Regional levels. 

Beavers and Cubs don't have nearly the same opportunities to physically meet
their brothers in Scouting in far-off places, but our younger members can
take part in this "world-wide brotherhood". For example, the Boy Scouts of
America sponsor a Cubbing program -- as do many countries. This year, their
national Cub theme for April is "Canada, our neighbour". Plans are in the
works to "pair up" American and Canadian packs to exchange ideas, and learn
first-hand about being a Cub in another country. Perhaps in doing so, our
cubs can knock off some requirements of the Canadian program's "World
Cubbing badge"

In October, while in Ottawa, I had a few minutes to pop into the Radio Room at
National Headquarters during "Jamboree on the Air".  During one 24-hour
period each year, Amateur Radio operators ("Hams") use their equipment to
link Scouting members world-wide. During my brief stay, I saw Cubs and
Scouts interacting with their counterparts from all over the continent. Had I
been able to stay longer, I would have heard friendly voices from all over the
globe.

And Beavers? Those youngest guys aren't alone either. For example, although
Japan doesn't have any of the brown, furry, wet beavers, it sure has lots of
two-legged ones! I'm told by one Japanese leader that the youngsters in his
colony love to conjure up images of what an exotic place Canada must be with
marshes, ponds, forests and prairies -- and animals like beavers. Beavers
explore the world through ways suited to their ages and interests. Some have
craft projects depicting uniforms of other country's beavers. It seems that in
many Beaver displays, stories and crafts, the Beaver motto of "Sharing,
Sharing, Sharing", is not stopped by city limits.

The really amazing thing about all of this, is that the key -- the source of it
all -- is what happens in a local section from week-to-week.  The young
people in the program, the leaders, and the parents are what make up
scouting. Although Kings, Presidents, Governor-Generals and others in highest
office have filled roles at the National and International level, those levels
wouldn't even exist if not for the people who work with the children and
youth of scouting -- in Yellowknife and around the world. Worldwide, and in
Yellowknife, our leaders share the aims and principles of Scouting. Those
principles are implemented differently and activities are planned locally, but
those values are held true-to-heart independent of geography or politics.

Sometimes, Scouts of all ages face politics making it hard to live the Scouting
way... My thoughts today have often turned to the Gulf, where, according to
the World Scout Bureau's 1988 figures, there are 8,475 Scouts in Kuwait, over
11,000 in Iraq, and over 27,000 in Israel.






Comments or questions about this column or Scouting in general can be sent
to Scouts Canada, Box 1089, Yellowknife, NWT  X1A 2N1.