International Scouting Events in 2004
If you ever wanted to do something really exciting and something you will never forget, try an International Scouting Event.
Now is the time to start planning your international opportunities for the summer of 2004 and 2005. Your Troop can apply to attend any of the events listed below as a troop. You will need to get both Council and National approval for your unit to participate. Each Scouting Association hosting the event has different criteria for international units that range from the age of the participants, to the number of units they invite from each country. They usually like diversity in the number of countries that participate, as well as to have the international youth participants that match the ages of their youth attendees. The invitations issued range from six to eighteen Scouts, with some events allowing more.
The requirements for participant units range from having to bring all of your own equipment to having all of the patrol gear and tenting provided by a patrol from the host country. Also, some are very clear that they will provide home stays and others it is on a pre-arrangement basis only. There is always a stated fee for the event, and you must plan for your own touring costs for the extra sightseeing you will most certainly do.
The single largest expense is your airline fare. There are some shopping techniques we can brief you on that will help you get the best ticket price possible. Careful planning can help you come up with a budget that can be surprisingly affordable. There are some Scout Hostels in some countries and other Scout Camps and facilities you can stay at while doing adjunct touring.
There is another aspect to the trip that you need to embrace in your planning. That is the fact that you become international ambassadors of the Boy Scouts of America and the United States itself. You have to consider everything from uniform appearance to paying special attention to how your Scouts conduct themselves in public to how they interact with host families. A little planning in this area goes a long way.
Here is a list of the events that are currently on the schedule for 2004 and 2005. The list for 2005 will certainly grow, and will be refreshed on the council website link. If you go the council website, you will find a link to each of these encampments where you can get more information and the procedure for getting an invitation. Once you decide you want to go, contact the Council International Commissioner for some help; Jack Berry, berryj@us.ibm.com, or call (203) 226-6426
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Last updated: 10/19/03