Minister of Educational Transformation, Senator Chad Blackman, says organizations like the Barbados Boy Scout Association are crucial in helping the country to keep young men nurtured and grounded in civics, working together, understanding conflict resolution, and problem solving.
Senator Blackman made this comment yesterday as he addressed Scouts of all ages at the opening ceremony of the Barbados Boy Scout Association’s National Camp 2025, under the theme ‘Boy Scouts Charting New Paths’, at the Blackman and Gollop Primary School, Staple Grove, Christ Church.
“This [camp] plays a very pivotal role in your life and development, fostering friendships, making new bonds, but equally it allows you to learn how to do things on the outside, outdoors, the camping, the hiking, the environment…. This is a time that you must remember for the rest of your life, and therefore I want to encourage all of you to have fun… but equally, to learn new things,” he told the eager Scouts.
The Minister referred to the Boy Scouts’ Motto of ‘Be Prepared’ and encouraged the campers to embrace this motto going forward.
“You must be prepared for everything in life. Sometimes, you don’t know what will come before you, but this allows for you to prepare yourself for any eventuality, so that whether you go into sport, business, language, football, whatever, you are prepared for life, and this is a moment where you can now learn new skills and new things.”
Mr. Blackman commended the Boy Scouts Association for hosting the camp, noting that the association plays a critical role in the country, and is needed now more than ever, to assist young boys who are facing many challenges.
“I just want to simply say to all of you and to the camp leaders and those who are heavily involved in this process, we have to ensure that our young people are prepared for the future.”
He added that as the world continues to change at a very rapid pace, civic organisations, like the Boy Scouts and other associations, must play a pivotal role in ensuring that our young people have a bright future, underscored by leadership and working together in a harmonious way.
The Barbados Boy Scouts Association’s National Camp will host all classifications of Scouts for the first time in over ten years – Beavers (5 – 7 years old), Cub (7 – 11 years old), Scouts (11 – 14 years), and Ventures (15 – 17 years). The camp started yesterday and ends on April 15.
Caption: Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, chatting with Boy Scouts at the opening ceremony of the Barbados Boy Scout Association National Camp 2025 at the Blackman and Gollop Primary School.
