Scouting Programmes To Bring About Positive Change

Muscat: The Directorate-General of Scouts and Guides has announced the local summer programs for 2024, featuring a diverse array of activities and partnerships designed to enhance the skills of boys, girls, rovers, and rangers.

The Directorate is set to host the 23rd Summer Camp for Guides and Advanced Guides at the dedicated scout camp in Sahl Jabal Ashur within the Dhofar Governorate, from the 25th to the 31st of July, 2024. This camp is dedicated to nurturing the guiding skills of its participants by engaging them in various activities related to guiding traditions, challenges, and adventures, alongside sports and the development of scientific and social abilities. The program incorporates a range of workshops, including religious culture, photography, self-development, scientific experiments on reducing plastic waste, and fostering religious values among leaders. Other activities planned include icebreaker games, presentations of the camp's program, and the distribution of progress cards.

ARAB SCOUTS FORUM

The inaugural Arab Scout Forum for Scout and Guide Pioneers, under the banner of 'Scouting Loyalty in the Land of Giving', is scheduled to be held in the Dhofar Governorate from August 1 to 6. This event is anticipated to gather 20 pioneers from Arab nations and 60 from the Pioneers Committee within the Sultanate of Oman, marking a significant milestone in the historic celebration.

The agenda for the forum encompasses a variety of exploration and adventure trips, as well as visits to archaeological sites. The primary objectives of this forum are to shed light on the pivotal role of pioneers within the Scouting and Guiding movements in Oman, to enhance the participation and commitment of pioneers by emphasizing loyalty and a sense of belonging to their respective countries, and to preserve the legacy of the Renaissance within these communities. Furthermore, it seeks to foster dialogue and mutual understanding between the older and newer generations of the Scouting and Guiding movements at an Arab-level, thereby enriching the collective experience and values.

EXCELENT SCOUTS CAMP

Participating scouts, hailing from a diverse range of governorates within the Sultanate of Oman and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, are invited to the annual summer scout camp for the advanced scout stage. This prestigious event is scheduled to take place from the 8th to the 14th of August at the dedicated scout camp located in Sahl Jabal Ashur, situated in the Dhofar Governorate. The theme of the camp is 'Scouting: Vision, Development and Sustainability', reflecting the core values and objectives of the Scout Movement.

The primary objective of the camp is to cultivate a deep appreciation for citizenship among the scouts, while simultaneously imparting a plethora of scouting skills. These skills are designed to foster the physical well-being of the participants, engage them in a wide array of activities that bolster their capacity for sustainable development, and nurture their self-reliance, responsibility, and commitment to serving the community.

In alignment with the theme, the camp will host the 'Leadership and Empowerment' segment of the Arab Scout Youth Empowerment Forum. This esteemed event will be convened at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah, and spans from the 2nd to the 8th of August, in collaboration with the Arab Scout Organisation. It is open to youth aged 26 and below from Arab nations, who will actively participate in the forum. The forum's agenda will revolve around the management of contemporary projects, a review of the impact and outcomes of youth involvement in the digital transformation youth forum, and the exploration of strategies to elevate the role of youth in the realms of project management and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the forum aims to equip participants with essential leadership and organizational skills, promote human values, and spread the ethos of tolerance and peace.

WORLD SCOUT CONFERENCE

The Sultanate of Oman will take part in the 43rd World Scout Conference, scheduled to take place in the Arab Republic of Egypt from August 17 to 23. The primary objectives of the conference are to review the policies and standards of the Scouting movement, develop the general policy of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and make decisions on the next set of global scouting objectives. This triennial gathering offers a unique platform for member organizations to scrutinize the policies of the Scouting movement and collectively define the overarching policy for the World Organization.

Dr. Yaqoob al Nadabi, the Director-General of the Directorate-General of Scouts and Guides, has outlined the primary goals of the scout camps. These include instilling in boys and girls a set of positive attitudes that equip them to provide valuable contributions to the community, foster a spirit of cooperation and a passion for work, coordinate volunteer humanitarian efforts, and elevate health awareness among participants.

Furthermore, al Nadabi emphasized that the scout camps serve as an educational and recreational haven for the participants, where they acquire new skills and discover their interests and talents through a variety of activities offered, such as sports, workshops, arts, music, field trips, and games. These camps are designed to instigate positive changes in the behavior and attitudes of guides and rangers, thereby equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to actively engage in the guide movement, contribute to the community, and serve its needs effectively.