Scouting in Malta still 'extremely popular'

Going back to the basics of survival, 600 scouts camped at the Ta' Qali recreation area on Saturday and yesterday to mark 100 years of scouting worldwide and in Malta.

Festa Scout saw the different scout groups mingling together, cooking their food over camp fires and cuddling at night in the dim light of lanterns.

The aim of the event was to show the public the many skills the cubs, scouts, venture scouts and rovers learnt throughout the year and to entice young children to enrol.

The various activities involved crafts such as rope making, cooking, abseiling and plenty of fun and games.

Vincent Cassar, chief scout of the Scout Association of Malta, said that contrary to what had happened in some other European countries, scouting in Malta had remained extremely popular.

"Robert Baden-Powell's (the founder of the world scout movement) teachings of self-reliance and discipline are still valid. They equip young children with the necessary skills they need in growing up," Mr Cassar said.

Today, in Malta there are 2,600 scouts spread in 39 groups and the association continues to attract a lot of attention, as was evident over the weekend, when throngs of people visited Ta' Qali to take part in the celebration.

"We hope that Festa Scout won't just be a centenary event, but an annual gathering to get all the boys and girls from the different groups together," Mr Cassar augured.