International Scouting

INTRODUCING THE INTERNATIONAL SPIRIT AWARD

The International Spirit Award is a temporary emblem that is awarded to registered Scouts and Scouters who have completed the necessary requirements, have gained a greater knowledge of international Scouting, and have a greater appreciation and awareness of different cultures and countries. This award serves as a replacement for, and therefore eliminates, the International Activity emblem and the Youth Exchange emblem. International Spirit Award emblems are $4 each and are purchased from the International Department.

Please visit www.scouting.org/international/applications  to see the requirements and apply for this new award.

MESSENGERS OF PEACE
Launched in September 2011 and recently adopted by BSA, Messengers of Peace is a global initiative designed to inspire millions of young men and women in more than 220 countries and territories to work toward peace. Using social media, the initiative lets Scouts from around the world share what they’ve done and inspire fellow Scouts to undertake similar efforts in their own communities. The initiative is inspired by the World Scout Committee, administered by the World Scout Bureau, and driven by youth volunteers worldwide.

Defining Peace
In terms of the MOP initiative, peace encompasses three dimensions:
1.The personal dimension: harmony, justice, and equality
2.The community dimension: peace as opposed to hostility or violent conflict
3.Relationships between humankind and its environment: security, social and economic welfare, and relationship with the environment

Any Scout or Scouter who participates in a project that has had a significant impact on the community in any one of the three dimensions above can qualify as a Messenger of Peace.

Submitting Projects
Submitting MOP-related projects is easy for BSA units. All they need to do is check the Messengers of Peace box when entering a service project through the Journey to Excellence website (www.scouting.org/Awards/JourneyToExcellence). Doing so will add the project to the map on the Messengers of Peace website (http://scoutmessengers.com) and will generate a unit certificate.

Recognition Item
Any Scout or Scouter who participates in a qualifying project is eligible to wear a Messengers of Peace ring patch around the World Crest on his or her uniform. To purchase these ring patches, a unit representative should take the unit certificate to the local Scout shop or council service center
 

http://www.scouting.org/messengersofpeace.aspx

JOTA-JOTI

Jamboree-on-the-Air and Jamboree-on-the-Internet will be held Oct.19 -20, 2013. JOTA and JOTI are annual World Scouting events that provide an opportunity for Scouts to communicate with other Scouts from around the world!  Pictured above are the official BSA patch designs for the 56th Jamboreee-on-the-Air and the 17th Jamboree-on-the-Internet. 

Last year, JOTA worldwide participation reached just short of 700,000 Scouts operating from more than 13,500 amateur radio stations, operated by 22,500 amateur radio operators across 142 countries, while JOTI had almost 16,000 Scouts and leaders registered in the worldwide JOTA-JOTI database in 146 countries!

Through JOTA, Scouts are introduced to radio technology and to other Scouts around the U.S. and around the world. They get a chance to talk with one another and share information that broadens their perspective on other cultures, on geography, and on the technology and hobby that provides the means for their communication.

Reach out to your local amateur radio clubs and get involved in the largest Scouting event in the world. For more information: www.scouting.org/jota

JOTI invites all youth and organizations that support Scouting to join the Internet revolution. This event utilizes computers and the Internet so thousands of Scout groups can be contacted during the weekend. Computer use is growing exponentially; Jamboree-on-the-Internet is prepared to keep pace with that growth. For more information: www.scouting.org/joti
 

BE PART OF A BSA CONTINGENT
As a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, the Boy Scouts of America gets invited to many different international/national events in different countries every year. This is a great opportunity for the BSA to connect with the world through the interaction with local Scouts and Scout leaders at those special events. Consequently, it provides us, our BSA Scouts and adults, an excellent opportunity to learn about other countries, people, and cultures through Scouting activities, plus learn Scouting skills and make new friendships as part of the adventure.

Upcoming events include:

14th World Scout Moot: hosted by The Association des Scouts du Canada, Aug 8 – 18, 2013, http://mootcanada2013.ca Nomination deadline March 31, 2013

Georgian National Jamboree: hosted by the Georgian Scout Association  to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Scouting in the Republic of Georgia.  August 6 - 16, 2013.  Gathering date, Augst 2, 2013.  Cost, $1200 per person (includes round trip travel for US-Georgia, camp fee, home hospitality, lodging, food, and contingent items).  Nomination deadline is May 10, 2013. Contingent size will be 8 youth  (ages 15 - 20) and 2 adults

Youth nomination form: http://scouting.org/filestore/international/pdf/Scout_Nomination_Form.pdf
Adult nomination form: http://scouting.org/filestore/international/pdf/Scout_Leader_Nomination_Form.pdf

INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING WEB PASSPORT

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For more information on any of the above topics contact Greg Wojcicki via email international118@scouting.org