From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bermuda Scout Association operates as a
branch of the United Kingdom Scout
Association, due to Bermuda's status as a British Overseas
Territory. The Bermudian Scout Oath and Law, as
well as other Scouting requirements, closely follow that of the
United Kingdom.
Although the program activities are taken from the British
system, Bermuda Scouting is geared to the local way of life.
Training for Wood
Badge and leader training are conducted with the help of
British and nearby affiliated Scout associations. Bermuda Scouts
participate in numerous camps and events, and Bermuda fields a
contingent to World Scout Jamborees. The Scout
emblem incorporates elements of the coat of arms of Bermuda.
The Bermuda Scout Association is governed by a Chief Scout, a
Chief Commissioner, and an executive committee. In 2003, Vincent
John became the first Bermudian to be appointed Chief Scout,
previously an honour bestowed on the Governor of Bermuda. The local
dentist started in Scouting as a boy, later as an adult serving as
a unit leader and Chief Commissioner. He was awarded the Medal of
Merit by the Chief Commonwealth Scout in 1985.[2] In
April 2008, Larry Burchall was named Chief Commissioner.[3]
Programmes and
activities
Both Cub Scout and Boy Scout programmes are offered. Bermuda
Scouts in recent years have attended Scout summer camps in the
United Kingdom as well as Pennsylvania and North Carolina in the United States.
Visiting troops from the Boy Scouts of America have also
been hosted at the Scout Association's Admiral House facility and
grounds in 2002 and 2003.
A popular Association-wide annual event is a weekend camporee on
Darrell's Island. Another
event is the "Budding Chef" activity, when Scouts compete in
cooking skills.[4]
A major island-wide event each year is the observance of Saint George's
Day in April, honoring the patron saint of the Scouting
movement.[3]
As in the United Kingdom, troops participate in a parade on Front
Street in Hamilton on the nearest Sunday to
April 23 and attend a Scout service at one of Bermuda's churches,
where a message from the Chief Scout is read and the Scout Hymn is
sung. A "renewal of promise" then takes place where the Scouts
renew the Scout's Promise made at joining and at all Scout
meetings. The service concludes with the singing of God Save the
Queen.[5]
History
When the Boy Scout Association was formed in Great Britain in
1910 by the grant of a charter by the Parliament of the United
Kingdom, Scouting began that same year in Bermuda as well, with
the Governor of Bermuda serving as
Chief Scout.[1]
Robert Baden-Powell (the founder of
Scouting and Guiding) and Olave Baden-Powell (influential
leader of Guiding) visited Bermuda in 1930. Olave visited again in
1951 and 1954. The British contingent to the 14th World Scout Jamboree in
1975, led by Robert
Baden-Powell, 3rd Baron Baden-Powell, included Scouts from
Branches in Bermuda, Hong Kong and Rhodesia. In
1993, the instrumental role of the Scout Association of Bermuda and
Girlguiding Bermuda in developing
many of the islands prominent leaders was recognized by the Bank of Bermuda
Centennial Trust.[6]
In 2004, Bermuda's Scouts participated in a 12-mile (19 km)
walk to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Ivan in the Caribbean.[7] The Category
5 storm caused extensive in Grenada, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cuba. In 2006, five Bermuda Scouts travelled to Romania to work on a housing
project for the impoverished people there, as part of a Bermuda
Overseas Missions and Habitat for Humanity
International joint effort.[8]
See also
References
External
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