International Scouting
Scouting extends all over the world with most countries having an active role in the Association. Worldwide there are over 28 million Scouts and consequently the International aspect is an interactive part of the Scouting programme. This may take many forms from a small activity within a section programme to International expeditions. Within the UK headquarters there is a vast amount of help for all aspects ranging from members with a large amount of personal experience to many fact sheets on what ever subject you are interested in.

Image4.gif
As a County, Cleveland is here to help you down which ever road you want to travel. This can take any form that will help you such as coming to give talks on previous expedition that the County has run or just for help and support on any international idea you may have.

Large International Camps

Over the years many Scouts from Cleveland have represented their County at World Jamborees, and other large International Camps. At these events the members attending have the opportunity of meeting Scouts from all over the World and to experience the different ways that Scouting is practised in these countries. In 2007 Cleveland, was for the first time, given the opportunity to have a full Unit of 36 young members and 4 leaders at a World Jamboree. In addition to this the County provided about 10 leaders who were part of the International Service Team helping to organise the event. This was a great experience for the lucky few as they represented the County at the largest ever Scout Camp with over 40,000 members being involved. It was a fitting event to celebrate the Centenary of Scouting.

Cleveland Overseas Scout Expeditions (COSE)

Over the last 20 years Cleveland has been involved in several expeditions overseas.

These include:-
An expedition to Kenya where we built a water harvesting tank in a rural village as part of an 'International Decade of Water'.Image5.jpg
A second expedition to Kenya where we constructed a Health Clinic using natural stone in a village on the slopes of Mount Kenya. On this trip we invited Cleveland Guides and Scouts from Sunderland to join us. Image6.jpg
Following the success of the previous expedition the next was to a rural village in Zimbabwe where we built another Health Clinic. Image7.jpg
In 2000 we planned to go back to Zimbabwe where we intended to construct a new classroom in a rural school. Unfortunately due to the political unrest in that country we had to postpone the expedition until 2001 when we went to Botswana. Due to the huge success we had in fund raising for this trip we were able to pay for the construction of the school classrooms we had promised in Zimbabwe as well as
Image8_WEB.jpgImage9_WEB.jpg
constructing an open air classroom and toilet block for the benefit of the Botswana children within a nature reserve. Not many Scouts can claim to have camped in an area and to wake up one morning with three rhinos walking through their camp.

The County has also organised several expedition to Norway. These are usually run over a two year cycle and the main aim is to provide an adventurous area suitable for Silver and Gold DofE expeditions.
Apart from County organised expedition Scouts from Cleveland have taken active roles in two national expeditions organised through Scout Headquarters. The first of these was to Tanzania and
Image10_WEB.jpg Image11_WEB.jpg
consisted of Scouts from as far a field as Devon to Aberdeen. During this trip the group built two new
classrooms at a Maasai school and six members stayed on to climb Kilimanjaro at the end of the expedition.



Image12_WEB.jpg
The second headquarters expedition was in 2007 and this time the venue was Malawi. Six members from Cleveland took part on this expedition of about 50 Scouts where they helped renovate a run down camp site. This camp site belonged to the UK ScoutsImage13_WEB.jpg
but as Scouting (and all youth organisations) had been banned in Malawi for about twenty years up until 1999 this camp site had deteriorated and a lot of work was requires to bring it back into a usable state. As part of the Sunrise Ceremony on 1st August 2007 the site was officially handed over to the Scout Association of Malawi.




Cleveland Scouts have been involved in many other smaller expeditions overseas where they have been able to gain the experienced of meeting Scouts from other countries and different cultures. Many of these experiences will last our members a lifetime and will help spread the co-operation of Scouting to all the family of Scouts from all over the world.

Future Expeditions

Most of the expeditions that Scouts from Cleveland have been involved in have been either to Europe or Africa. It has been proposed that the County should look at other possible venues. In order to pursue this idea talks have been taking place with the UK Scout Headquarters with a view of running an expedition to Central, or South, America. Due to the time scale of finding a Country where we would be able to arrange suitable project this expedition is being planned for 2010. We are starting to set up the possible team for this trip as it is important to establish the Leader Team as soon as possible so that detailed plans may made. Any interested Leader, or Scout who will be over 15 in 2010, can obtain further details from the International Adviser, or any member of the County Team.

It was originally planned that this South American expedition would be in 2009 but this is not practical as it is a new area for Cleveland Scouts and a lot of work has to be carried out to find the suitable site. Initial plans had been started and several applications from Scouts had been received for the trip in 2009. These names are being left on our list for the 2010 trip if the member concerned is still interested. Obviously there will be one or two members who will not be able to partake in 2010 due to other commitments and to help overcome any disappointments we have been offered some places on an expedition to Africa, probably Zambia, which is being organised for the Sunderland Girls Brigade. All young members who applied to go to South America will be offered places on this African trip. Other places may be available and details may be obtained via the International Adviser.

Doug Corbin, International Adviser, 4 Quarry Drive, Stainton Village, Middlesbrough, TS8 9AS

Tel: (01642) 591081 dandscorbin@ntlworld.com