The last weekend of October 2002 9 scoutcentres from 7 different countries came together at a conference on program activities concerning nature and environment. The participants of the conference wanted to have a shared activity on nature and the environment combined with an exchange of activities and ideas. These two concepts evolved into the idea of a backpack with an activity from each of the participating centres.
First of all we want to improve the nature and environment activities for Scouts and Guides. Second, to provide an international experience by showing that Scouts and Guides in other parts of Europe are doing the same activities. In addition, it is a good way to promote the participating centres in Europe.
Each centre will have a backpack containing as many activities as there are participating centres. The backpacks will be decorated with the centre badges and national flags. Each centre contributes with an activity description and a page with information and pictures of the centre in English and the original language. The doocument should be in Word. The receiving centre translates the document into the local language. The centre itself decide what languages it wants to present it in.The two pages are collected and put in the backpack.The activities can be adapted so that they fit the campsite. If it is not possible to do an activity at the campsite and it can’t be adapted, the centre is supposed to leave it in the backpack, so that no centres are left out. Instead, make a sign on the activity that says that it is not possible at the centre. Users can report on experiences and results which can be sent together with pictures to the other centres, if they want to.
The activities are those that are judged by the different centres as their best activity. They send the document via the mailinglist to the other centres before 15th December. If two activities are the same, the centres who sent these two activities will contact each other and find a solution. In 2003 the backpacks will be evaluated at the Centre Managers Conference.
The backpack coordinator makes sure that every centre sends in its activity on time. He or she is the contact person for the backpacks. After a new centre has send in its activity and information, the coordinator will send to this centre the already existing documents.
Houens Odde was elected as new backpack co-ordinator with Rachel of Buitenzorg as substitut.Thanks to Erica and Marjolein who carried out the job during the first year and Andreas who did that the second year.
Contact: Svend-ErikFPedersen@SpejderNet.dk
Other centres can join in after sending in their activity to the other centres. The deadline for this will also be 15th December. Activities sent in before the deadline have to be translated in the local language and put in the backpack. If an activity is sent in to late, the receiving centre itself decides if it is to be put it in the backpack and if it is to be translated. This late activity of course is in time for the next deadline.
These guidelines are made on 1 September 2002.