GENERAL INFORMATION COURSE

CAYMAN ISLANDS SCOUT ASSOCIATION

ADULT LEADERS’ TRAINING

THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCOUTING 

BP SPIRIT

Be Prepared!

What comes to mind when one thinks of the BP Spirit is our motto:

BE PREPARED.This actually comes from a quotation of the Founder,

Lord Robert Baden Powell, in “Scouting for Boys” (the following is paraphrased):

 “Be Prepared, that is, be ready for any kind of duty that may be thrust upon you, having practiced it beforehand… when others are perhaps dazed or flustered, you will come quietly forward and do the right thing”.

Ask yourself, “WHY AM I HERE?” 

BP SpiritWe help young people to be

prepared for life, so they can make the most of it!

But what’s in this BP Spirit for us as leaders?

Why?Let’s see if we can find out why…

It’s an exciting OPPORTUNITY for us to

HELP young people develop their CONFIDENCE & SELF ESTEEM (while developing our own.

HELP ourselves to develop our LEADERSHIP SKILLS

HELP ourselves to take a responsible ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY

GAIN SKILLS that help us in the WORKPLACE, in our STUDIES… in our

PLANNING, ORGANISATION and ADMINISTRATION, our COMMUNICATION, and CRISIS MANAGEMENT (even in something as simple as learning to tie a bandage, sling, clothes line, etc)

Friendships

We make new FRIENDSHIPS (not only locally, but overseas… when we wear our Scout badge, we identify with a wonderful worldwide organization which has far-reaching goals.

Challenges

We face CHALLENGES in NEW ADVENTURES and new EXPERIENCES, and help the youngsters to do the same.

Learning by doing…

We learn by “DOING” in a team.

Game

Here’s a game to demonstrate teamwork: divide group into two teams; each team in a line links arms; the people in the middle can give instructions but not use hands; only the two at the ends can use hands; now try the following (depending on the age group you’re working with):Patrols (tie a reef knot)Sixes (make a paper hat)Beavers (colour a picture) Keep changing until

everyone has had a turn “at the end”.

Teamwork

It’s quite different when you’re “at the end”, to when you’re in the middle shouting instructions, isn’t it?

It means NOT letting down the side and being COMMITTED.

Through this teamwork, we develop our LIFE SKILLS and Scouting supports its members in developing a sense of TOLERANCE (different CULTURES, RELIGIONS – remember that Scouting & Guiding are unique in that they are multi-faith organizations);

JUSTICE & UNDERSTANDING (Being able to understand other people’s feelings and handle them sensitively is a valuable skill in everyday life in our relationships with adults, and, especially, with our young people).

Promise

We are joined together in a 3-FOLD COMMITMENT; there are three parts to our PROMISE –

seeking SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT,

SERVICE to others/the wider community;

living by a code – our LAWS.Our salute represents the 3-fold

promise – three fingers.

Handshake

We have a special way of greeting our fellow Scouts and Guides with the LEFT HANDSHAKE, and how did this come about? More of the BP Spirit… BP was a soldier, and he had heard the West African legend of warriors who carried their shields in their left hand to protect their heart, and held their spears in the right hand. So when they put their shields down, they shook with their left hand, which demonstrated TRUST & FRIENDSHIP

Fun!!!

The Founder also emphasized that in all this commitment, we should never forget to make it FUN!!!