Scout leaders start Woodbadge course
When we think of the Scouts Association we usually think of the boys and girls who wear their uniforms in parades, or raise and lower the flag for us at the Pallotti junction roundabout. But to have scouts, you have to have adult leaders. For the next several days those leaders who volunteer their time to help our children develop in the right way, will be working on their own development. Their goal? A prestigious award designed in memory of the founder of the Scouts movement.
Twenty-one scout leaders have been selected to participate in the 1999 Woodbadge course. The course will run for five days at Camp Oakley, the scouts training headquarters in Burrell Boom.
Nephtali Palma, National Programme Commissioner
“The course entails its an advanced course for leaders, leadership training and we will have scouts leaders from all over the country take part. And what they will be doing, do the final stage of the Woodbadge where after this they will be capable of assisting, running and helping to train adult leaders.”
If the leaders are successful, they will receive the prestigious Woodbadge Award.
Nephtali Palma
“The significance of it is basically a set of beads that were given to Baden Powel from a chief as a remembrance of the chief. What has happen is that a remembrance of the beads have been taken off to be given to leaders when they have achieved this advance training.”
The leaders can acquire as many as four beads depending on the number of courses they take. The course involves both theory and practical sessions and is intense.
Elon Ranguy, Assistant Scout Leader, Toledo District
“I feel very happy that I was selected and I am looking forward to this advanced Woodbadge course.”
Q: “Do you think you will survive the five days?”
Elon Ranguy
“I guess so. I have done some survival at Mountain Pine Ridge already and I am looking forward to this one.”
Mervin Manzanero, Scout Leader, Cayo District
“Well we have been waiting for this course for a couple of months. I am very new to it and so far it has been exciting. The job that I have been doing has put me up at a level that I want to give back to society and I want to expand as well and I do appreciate all these courses that I have been getting.”
But it’s not only scout leaders who will benefit from the course. The newly formed National Youth Cadet Corp was also invited to participate.
Q: “Ismael, will there be a new program implemented at the Youth Cadet Corp as a result of your participation in the Woodbadge
course?”
Ismael Lopez, Instructor, National Youth Cadet Corp
“Definitely yes because we need more trained instructors and leadership is not much of a high standard but through this course I will be getting the necessary tools to carry on my duties.”
Before the scout leaders departed for their training camp, during the official opening ceremony Julian Castillo, the Chief Scout of the National Scout Association of Belize challenged the participants to do their best and make the association proud.
Julian Castillo, Chief Scout
“The future of scouting is in your hands, you are the young leaders, you are the young people coming up and I am excited because I think that scouting will make a big breakthrough. We are on the verge of a big breakthrough in expansion, membership, quality of programs and I know that I can depend on you all to carry the ball and keep this movement growing and making a big difference in our country.”
The Woodbadge course, which is held every two years, will come to a close on Tuesday the twenty-first.
