30 million Scouts in 216 different countries and territories and not one Scout group is the same. Different adventures, interests and ambitions. Growing up in my first Scout group I got a passion for the outdoors and running around getting cold, wet and muddy. Other groups will lead you down different paths and you will take different steps. No two countries with Scouting are the same. So when we arrived in Tuvalu we knew that UK Scouting would not work on a tropical island. We visited Australia and Fiji on the way here and knew not even their Scouting would work even with their locality. People ask all the time how in 4 months we have not started or first Scout troop? The reason is we are not supporting the creation Scouting as anyone in the outside world knows it. We are here for Tuvaluan Scouting. A new Scouting. A new member in the World family.

To get to the stage there was a lot of work in recruitment and eventually a training program was established and we had 6 newly trained leaders.

I am proud to say the wait is over. Over the last month the first group on Funafuti has been running. It took a lot of work and commitment from the newly trained leaders but now we have had three very successful meetings.

1st meeting – What is Scouting? As it was our first meeting we could not expect many people but were pleased to see 10 Scouts arrive curious to what was going on. With a blind fold trail they worked together on a tour of the surrounding area, feeling and guiding each other over, under and through tough obstacles.

2nd meeting – Word must have got around unlike last week when 10 turned up late around 5pm this week we had 35 young people by 4.25pm. New skill – tie a reef knot. Everyone learnt how to tie a reef knot (behind their back as well) and it’s uses then they used it for some games. Tug of war was a major hit almost breaking a rope.

3rd meeting – Shark infested custard – 35 Scouts managed to escape the horror of Shark infested custard using their new skills with rope and a couple of trees. Only a few had missing limbs from stepping into the custard. They created their own way of escaping the dangers either swinging, dangling or climbing along the rope.

We meet Tuesday night from 4.30 – 6 on the other side of the run way opposite the airport. So if you happen to be passing Funafuti come along.

Scouting is running in Tuvalu. It has taken it’s time coming but now the adventure has started.