First 550 Scouts earn World Scout Environment Badge!
http://scout.org/.../first_550_scouts_earn_world_scout_environment_badge
 During
the first few months of 2008, fourteen local Scout Groups and Scout
Centres from nine countries around the world (including South Africa)
were given the special task of testing the curriculum content and
programme activities for the World Scout Environment Badge. These
550 Scouts from Algeria, Australia, Bolivia, Hungary, Japan, Mexico,
Palestinian Authority, South Africa and the United Kingdom gave
valuable feedback that proved the environment is an important global
issue and something that young people, wherever they are in the
world, are concerned about and want to help make a difference.
The Scouts participated in a wide range of activities that included
exploring their local environment, looking at the local air quality
and water quality, analysing environmental issues in their country
then engaging in debates and discussions, learning about natural
disasters that could happen to their community, creating natural
art pieces, tree planting, clean up activities, looking at their
own carbon footprint and much more.
 The
World Scout Environment Badge, as part of the wider World Scout
Environment Programme, was adopted by the 38th World Scout Conference
in Korea, July 2008. In order for the Scouts to earn the World Scout
Environment Badge, they participate in activities based on five
aims: air and water, habitats and native species, harmful substances,
environmental practices, environmental hazards and natural disasters.
They then take action with a project, based on their experiences,
which contributes to the local and global environment. Programme
activity resources that can be used by local Scout Groups have been
developed to help focus on these aims, targeted at different age
groups.
When providing the World Scout Environment Badges and certificates
to the Scouts, Luc Panissod, Acting Secretary General of the World
Organization of the Scout Movement, offered his praise to the Scouts
for their commitment and enthusiasm in the testing period, recommending,
"We hope that you will look upon this not as the conclusion
of your interest in the environment, but as a starting point in
a lifelong journey."
 Along
with the many Scouts and leaders involved in developing the World
Scout Environment Programme, several partner organisations were
very supportive. The Alcoa Foundation provided a two-year $US205,000
grant to support environment education in Scouting. Rudi Huber,
President Alcoa European Region said, "Over the past two years
we've witnessed and contributed to the development of this extremely
valuable programme. It's great to see that the Scouts are now taking
the next step, integrating environmental education even further
in the Scouting curriculum and using the Environment Badge as a
sign of being aware of what's important now and for the future".
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the world's largest
youth movement, with 28 million members, girls and boys, women and
men, in 215 countries and territories. National Scout Organizations
are now looking at how the World Scout Environment Programme can
be applied within their country.
For more information on the World Scout Environment Programme,
including quotes and photographs from Scouts that participated in
testing the World Scout Environment Badge, please see: www.scout.org/environment
Or contact Rod Abson, Unit Manager, Environment Education, World
Scout Bureau: rodabson@scout.org
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