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Revision as of 17:05, 9 August 2008 by Guliolopez (talk | contribs) (Undid revision 230838654 by 83.71.5.136 (talk))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Scouting Ireland | |||
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| File:Ireland Scouting.svg | |||
| Headquarters | Larch Hill | ||
| Country | Ireland (NI & ROI) | ||
| Founded | 2004 | ||
| Membership | 33,994 (2008) | ||
| Chief Scout | Martin Burbridge | ||
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| Website http://www.scouts.ie | |||
 Scouting portal | |||
Scouting Ireland (Irish: Gasóga na hÉireann) is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the national Scouting association of Ireland (both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The Scout Association UK is also active in the latter. Scouting Ireland is a voluntary, non-formal educational movement for young people. It is independent, non-political, open to all without distinction of origin, race, creed or gender, in accordance with the purpose, principles and method conceived by Robert Baden-Powell and as stated by WOSM.
The aim of Scouting Ireland is to "encourage the physical, intellectual, social, spiritual and cultural development of its members so that they may achieve their full potential and, as responsible citizens, contribute and improve society." Of the 750,000 people between the ages of 6 and 18 in Ireland, approximately 2.5% participate in Scouting Ireland.
The organisation was founded on January 1, 2004 after a merge between Scouting Ireland C.S.I. and Scouting Ireland S.A.I.. Its headquarters are at Larch Hill, County Dublin.
Origins
See also: History of SAI and History of CBSIThe Scouting Ireland organisation has its basis in two separate Irish scouting organisations - the Scouting Association of Ireland (SAI), and the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI). The former traces it's roots to 1908, and the latter was founded in 1926 - both trace their legacy to Baden Powell's Scout Movement.
By 1908, the influence of Powell's scouting movement had spread from England to Ireland. The earliest known Scouting event in Ireland took place in the Phoenix Park in 1908 with members of the Dublin City Boy Scouts (later Scouting Ireland S.A.I.) taking part.
Because of the impacts to available leadership, the coming of the Great War in 1914 could have affected the viability of scouting in Ireland. However, patrol leader members took over much of the leadership activities when adult leaders volunteered for active military duty. Scouts contributed to the war effort in several ways; notably the Sea Scouts, who took supported regular coast guardsmen.
In Dublin in the 1920s, two priests, Fathers Tom and Ernest Farrell followed the progress of Scouting. They noted that in other countries, the Catholic Church had taken up the idea of Scouting. After some study and experimentation, they made a proposal to the bishops of Ireland and were granted a constitution and Episcopal patronage in November 1926. Thus, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) was created. The CBSI would later become the largest Scout association on the island.
When war (and The Emergency) came again in 1939, Scouts carried on under the direction of their patrol leaders, and undertook service tasks. Including acting as messengers, fire watchers, stretcher bearers, salvage collectors, etc.
In 1965, CBSI joined with the Scout Association of Ireland to form the Federation of Irish Scout Associations, FISA. Through FISA, Irish Scouts were able to play a full part in international Scouting. Prior to this, because the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) traditionally recognises only one Scouting body in each country, the separate organisations did not have full WOSM membership status. Similarly, the Northern Irish Scout Council (NISC) only had observer status in the Federation, as CBSI's membership extended across the 32 counties on the island of Ireland and WOSM usually only recognises associations that observe political frontiers.
Although aligned through FISA, these two separate scouting organisations (the SAI and CBSI) operated as separate entities through the latter half of the 20th century. Then, on January 1, 2004, the two organisations were merged to form "Scouting Ireland". This followed a poll in 2003, when both associations voted to join together to form a new single association. This in turn had followed from a 1998 decision to set this process in motion.
Scouting Ireland now has 33,994 members across the island of Ireland (as of 2008), including Northern Ireland where it works in partnership with the Scout Association of Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom Scout Association The Scout Association.
Local volunteers are now supported by a centralised full-time (professional) staff, who support the day to day running of the association.
Scout Method
Scouting Ireland achieves its aims through a system of progressive self-education, known as the Scout method. The principal elements are:
- Voluntary membership of a group which, guided by adults, is increasingly self-governing in its successive age groups.
- Commitment to a code of living as expressed in the promise and law, the meaning of which is expanded as the member grows towards maturity.
- The provision of a wide range of attractive, constructive and challenging activities, including opportunities for adventure and exploration, camping both indoors and outdoors.
- The provision of opportunities for leadership and responsibility.
- Learning by doing.
- Encouragement of activities in small groups.
- An award scheme, which encourages participation in its full range of activities and provides recognition and group achievements. Awards are often given in the form of merit badges.
- The use of symbolic frameworks which stimulate the imagination and provide a purpose for activities .
Structure
The first Chief Scout elected was Martin Burbridge, the former National Treasurer of Scouting Ireland (CSI). He was re-elected at National Council in 2007 for a second term which will end in 2010. Other National Officers include Michael Devins (National Secretary), Niall Walsh (National Treasurer), Kiernan Gildea (Chief Commissioner for Youth Programme) and Michael-John Shinnick (Chief Commissioner for Adult Resources). Rev. Gillan Warton is the Chairperson of the National Spiritual and Religious Advisory Panel since Scouting Ireland's National Council 2006.
For organisational purposes, Ireland is divided into six Scout Provinces; namely the Northern, Southern, North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Dublin Metropolitan provinces. Each province is subsequently divided into Scout Counties, each having its own duly elected County Commissioner. There is a National Management Committee which acts like a board of directors of the association. Éamonn Lynch is currently CEO and together with the professional staff are mainly located in National Office in Larch Hill.
Sections
Currently the association does not have any official sections. It operates a mix and match between the two previous associations. This give roughly five sections (note that the age ranges given are approximate):
- Beaver Scouts (6-8);
- Macaoimh or Cub Scouts (8-11), notable by the uniquely Irish symbolic framework it uses;
- Scouts (11-15);
- Venture Scouts (16-21);
- Sea Scouts (11-17), a section with a nautical symbolic framework and a large emphasis on water activities.
Officially Scouting Ireland offers a programme for youth members ages between 6 and 20 years 365 days.
Renewed Approach to Programme
Scouting Ireland is currently developing a new programme using WOSM's Renewed Approach to Programme methodology. It was felt after the formation of Scouting Ireland that a redesigned programme would add coherency to the implementation of Youth Programme in the 21st Century. The Programme Development Team meet regularly to assess how the needs and aspirations of young people have changed over time and how best to design activities that remain challenging for Scouting Ireland's youth members. Scouting Ireland inherited two separate programmes from its legacy associations, thus prompting the need to create a single method.
The stated aim of the RAP process is to meet the needs of young people, parents, Scouters and communities through the provision of:
For young people
- Attractive and imaginative programme
- Application of the Scout Method
- Effective Youth Involvement
- Effective transitions between Sections
- Balance of numbers between Sections
For adults
- Practicality
- Support via resource material
- Consistency
Through this process it is hoped to build a bridge between the aspirations of young people and the expectations and challenges of society.
Youth participation
Annually the National Scout Forum and the National Venture Scout Forum meet. These fora debate motions relating to the running of the association. Membership of the fora represent each Scout County in Ireland and are elected at Regional fora by their peers. Successful motions are carried forward to the relevant national bodies. Each forum elects 9 representatives who then represent the interests of youth members on various committees throughout their term of office (one year). 3 Scouters under the age of 26 are eligible to sit on the National Management Committee.
Campsites
Campsites and Scout centres in Scouting Ireland, may be owned and operated Nationally, or by a Scout County, or Scout Group, or run by a group of volunteers on behalf of SI. Larch Hill in Tibradden, Co. Dublin, and Lough Dan near Roundwood, Co. Dublin, are the national campsites, having been inherited from Scouting Ireland (CSI) and Scouting Ireland S.A.I. respectively. Other nationally owned campsites include Mount Melleray Scout Centre in the Knockmealdown Mountains near Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, while the National Water Activity Centre is located in Killaloe, Co. Clare. Locally run campsites are located in Kilcully, Co. Cork, and Shrahan Scout Centre, Co. Laois.
International representation
Ann Foley is the International Commissioner for Scouting Ireland.
Therèse Birmingham is Vice President/Vice Chairman of the World Scout Committee. Her term of office ends in 2011.
John Lawlor Junior (35th Dublin, Donore Avenue) along with members from Mexico, Côte d’Ivoire, Australia, Finland and Tunisia was elected at the World Scout Youth Forum 2005 to be a youth advisor to the World Scout Committee.
In 2001 John Geoghegan was appointed director of the World Scout Foundation. John started Scouting in Dublin first as a Scout, then as leader of the 73rd Dublin Unit.
Mr. Howard E. Kilroy is Chairman of the World Scout Foundation's Investment Committee
Irish Bronze Wolf recipients
The following have been awarded the Bronze Wolf by the World Scout Committee:
- The late Edward J. Montgomery
- Jeremiah Kelly
The National Star Scout Show
The National Star Scout Show is where members of Scouting Ireland perform acts of different kinds on stage. It usually takes place in Saint Patrick's College, Dublin. There is a song written especially for the show by Paul Redmond called "We Carry the Light". The show, performing to capacity audiences over three days, features a wide range of acts with music, dancing, drama and comedy, performed by Scouting Ireland Members of all ages and from several locations around Ireland, together with a strong representation from Dublin.
Jamboree 2008
Scouting Ireland is hosting Jamboree 2008, its first international Jamboree in July/August 2008. It will be held in Punchestown Racecourse, County Kildare with the aim of celebrating one hundred years of scouting in Ireland. Over 12,000 Irish and oversea scouts are expected to attend. The Camp Chief for Jamboree 2008 is Christy McCann.
See also
- Scouting Ireland Chief Scout's Award
- Order of CúChulainn
- Scouting Ireland - Merit Badges
- Attainment badge (Scouting Ireland)
- Scouting Ireland - Scout Promise
- Scouting Ireland - Scout Law
- Lough Dan
- Scouting in Northern Ireland
References
- "The creation of Scouting Ireland" (PDF). World Organisation of the Scout Movement. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "Triennial Report 2005-2008" (PDF). World Organization of the Scout Movement. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
- http://www.programme2008.ie/Documents/Methods_Summary.pdf
- "Killaloe Centre Details". Scouting Ireland. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- "Ventact". Ventact Team. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- "Shrahan Details". Scouting Ireland. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- "World Scout Committee". World Organisation of the Scout Movement. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - "World Youth Representatives". World Organisation of the Scout Movement. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
External links
- Official Scouting Ireland website
- Official Sionnach Adventure website
- Official Mountain Pursuit Challenge website
- Irish Scout Badge website
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| Programme Sections of Scouting Ireland | |
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| Age groups in Scouting and Guiding around the world |