Cyclone Ditwah has wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka over the last two weeks, causing heavy flooding and landslides. To date, more than 600 people have been killed and there have been more than $1.6 billion in damages. This is the deadliest disaster in Sri Lanka in more than two decades.

The WFIS World Council has launched a fundraising effort to provide aid to WFIS Scouts in the region. Donations from groups or individuals can be made via PayPal to office@wfis-worldwide.org. Please read on to see the message from WFIS, which is also available to download here.

Yours in Inclusive Scouting,

Chief Commissioner Liz

Message from WFIS World Council

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Scouting all over the World,

I hope this message finds you in good health.

Today, I would like to address you with an urgent request for help for our Scout brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka.

Perhaps you have heard of Cyclone “Ditwa”, which flooded large areas of Sri Lanka and caused suffering to many of our Scout friends. Many have lost all their possessions and their homes. Many have been evacuated or are still stranded in the floods. We have no news from some areas as there is no electricity, telephone, internet or mobile phone service.

The Scout school and the WFIS office in Sri Lanka are under water, but fortunately our WFIS staff were able to retreat to Colombo in time. We are currently in constant contact with our members in Sri Lanka and have launched an emergency aid programme to provide our Scouts and Scout families with drinking water and dry food supplies.

We would like to ask you to make a donation to our donation account by bank transfer or viaPayPal so that we at WFIS can show our solidarity with the Scouts in Sri Lanka and help them get through the first few days with food and drinking water.

Every little contribution you can make helps us to help our Scout brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka. Let’s roll up our sleeves and help our scouts and guides. Show the world that only together can we be strong – in line with our motto

‘TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGEST’.

Together we can create change! Reach out at office@wfis.world to find out how you can get involved.

Yours in traditional Scouting,

Klaus Tegeder – President WFIS

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Dear OSG Community,

Today we remember and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for his leadership in the civil rights movement and his tireless work to bring equality to our country.

It is also Inauguration Day for a deeply divided country, and some are celebrating while others are feeling scared and anxious. As parents, many of us are navigating our children’s feelings, not just our own. Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, Outdoor Service Guides remains committed to inclusivity and being a safe, welcoming community.

OSG honors the right of all youth and adults to be who they are, and we stand against intolerance. We continue to welcome everyone to scout with us, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ability, immigration status, or any other factor.

It is understandable, when things seem dark, to feel hopeless. The way to move through that is to take action. The Scout Law says that our duty is to be useful and to help others. In these times, there will be many who need our help.

Go render service to your community, be a friend to those around you, and drive out darkness and hate with light and love.

Yours in Inclusive Scouting,

Chief Commissioner Liz Kelly-Campanale

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Every donation helps to grow inclusive scouting

Outdoor Service Guides is a 100% volunteer-run organization so you know your entire contribution goes to scouts, groups, or organizing and running national programs.

OSG has one of the most affordable national registration fees of any scouting organization. But we never turn anyone away if they can’t pay. Your $25 donation provides a registration scholarship for one scout for a year. A $200 donation covers registration fees for a whole den, six, or patrol. Donate now! >>

Groups chartered through Outdoor Serivce Guides have some or the most affordable dues compared to other youth programs. Camping trips, craft projects, and s’more supplies cost money. OSG groups never turn anyone away due to financial need. Your $100 donation provides an annual “no questions asked” scholarship to a scout in need. Donate now! >>

OSG has one the most comprehensive scout adult leader training programs. Brownsea Training Camp (BTC) is a three day, two night weekend camping trip where adult leaders learn best practices for running every age level scouting program, youth protection guidelines, camping and cooking skills, and join in fellowship with other Rovers across the country.

Rovers who have finished BTC can attend an Advanced Leader Training the goes further in depth in the skills above, featuring the best ways to teach specific skills and requirements in the scouting program. Participants also begin a project helping their region or the national organization.

Your donation of $300 provides the funding needed to run a single BTC (which happen at a minimum once every two years in each of our seven regions, and as often as twice a year in more active regions) and provide essential leadership training to six or more adult leaders. 

And a donation of $50 provides a scholarship for a new leader to attend a BTC. Donate now! >>

As we grow nationally, one of the best ways folks find groups to join or start in their area is our online presence. Even when contacted through social media, most correspondence eventually points prospective members and new group scoutmasters to our website. All of our text material is provided online for free. Hard copies as well as badges, uniforms, and equipment are all sold through our online quartermaster store. Group registration is hosted online. A $400 donation keeps the lights on at the website, quartermaster store, and registration dashboard. Donate now! >>

Since OSG is an affordable program, no amount is too small. Even if you can’t fully support one of the funding levels mentioned above, even small donations can add up. Whatever amount you can donate today helps provide scouting to youth who may not be able to otherwise, comprehensive training for adult leaders, and promoting our program to new members. Donate now! >>

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BTC is short for Brownsea Training Camp. The first ever organized scouting event happened on Brownsea Island in Great Britain. At that event the basic principles of scouting were tested; the patrol method, and learning from the outdoors. We chose the name Brownsea because our training is like that camp event. A weekend full of activities and adventures, not just sitting in a classroom being told what to do. BTC3 has been carefully developed to be an expansive, immersive, and educational event. It has been fine tuned to meet physical needs as well as include as much content as possible without being grueling.

Why it is BTC3?

The three is because this is the third version of the training we have developed as an organization. Brownsea training began at the very start of our organization and we have been working to continuously improve it.The original training was shorter, but it didn’t cover essential information like what to do as an otter or timberwolf leader. It was very bare bones and left most leaders who went through it with more questions than answers.

This third version is very special for several reasons. First of all, you get the chance to dive into every age level. This means that no matter which age level you will be leading, you are going to have a chance to get into the mindset and activities for that age level. You will feel what it is like to age up through our program and see how we approach each age level with regard for the differences in child development that occur naturally.

Why does it last all weekend?

Unfortunately, immersing everyone in the program takes some time. This is why BTC3 requires 2 nights of camping with us. Spending a half day on the otter program, a half day on the timberwolf program, and then time for pathfinders and rovers just adds up.

Beyond the obvious benefits of learning the program, many scout leaders find that the weekend also builds their confidence to lead a group in a wide variety of ways. If you aren’t experienced at camping, our trainers will help you learn to set up your tent and use your gear. All you need to do is ask for some help!

We also provide a full camp kitchen and a variety of foods to cook at camp for the weekend. This means you will leave knowing several recipes you can try with your own group! Not only that, but the dietary needs of every participant are taken into account, so even if you are allergic to gluten or dairy or something else, you will still get the experience of cooking and eating at camp.

Getting to Know Us

The other amazing thing that you get from this weekend of learning and scouting with us, is that you will make friends with some amazing people. We do our best to make sure each training has a minimum number of participants and trainers. So, at the end of the weekend, you not only know how to lead an OSG group, but you have friends you can call and ask for help.

Over the years, I have convinced many folks to attend a BTC3, and I can honestly say that I have never had someone say they regretted it. Many leaders choose to attend more than once because they are moving to a new age level and want to review the material or they want to experience the camaraderie and inclusion the weekend provides.

When You Love it….

Occasionally, we have leaders who love our BTC3 program so much, they choose to become trainers so they can provide this experience for others. As an all volunteer organization, that means that people REALLY love this program! They agree to put together the plan, the equipment and the food and show up over and over to do this for free.

Okay, so, you DO get a very nice badge to wear from attending. So technically, it isn’t without a reward… and if you become a trainer you can qualify for our coveted BTC sparkle patch. But honestly, our trainers do this because they love it. And they love it, because it really is an amazing way to spend a weekend.

If you would like to attend an upcoming BTC3 leader weekend, please check out the Training Page for upcoming events and/or contact your Regional Commissioner for details.

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