NORTHERN LIGHTS SCOUT FOUNDATION

Carey Benson

They say that a journey begins with a single step. Well it was exactly 95 years ago in a small village in Switzerland where Baden Powell’s dream of having the permanent mini jamboree. This would be the place where scouts from all over the world can come together and celebrate the unity of scouting movement in Kandersteg.

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This is where my journey starts, at the beginning of June to when I first arrived at the permanent mini jamboree. The Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) is literally the place where dreams become reality.  I was one of the first summer staff members to arrive on site and see how the centre ran. It was quite amazing to see a world scout centre being runned by scouts under 35 from all over the world. As soon as I walked in through the front door I was immersed in the Scouting spirit. So it was very clear that the spring staff members set the bar high for standards and quality of service for everything at KISC.

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Once all the summer staff members arrived we began our two week training, which the train would help us get ready for the next three months. The training days were very long, lots of information to absorb and we learnt how all the areas of the centre operated with everyone. Some days, training took us on overnight hikes to mountain huts, through passes, down into valleys, over glaciers and to the tops of mountains to view the entire Kandersteg Valley. Once I was up there and saw for the first time what Baden Powell saw and envisioned what this place could mean for scouting, I knew I was living that dream he had for all the scouts in the world. Once training was over we finally graduated and became real live Pinkies! It was a great honour and privilege to be able to ear the pink shirts and to be only 39 scouts out of 50 Million Scouts was truly a humbling feeling.

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Soon after training I pick my role as a member of the Chalet Services team, where I would be making meals and cleaning for up 400 guest at a time. When it comes to looking after 400 guests I had to make sure that I was doing a thorough job that met a high standard of quality and efficiency.  Our team would also be responsible for organizing a barbeque that would raise money for the Messengers of Peace program to help with funding projects all over the world that promoted peace. 

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I know I wouldn’t have been able to get there if it wasn’t for the generosity and support from the Northern Lights Scouts Foundation. You have allowed me to go on a journey of a life time. I was able to climb mountains, meet scouts from around the world, make new friends, and gained valuable experiences that I can put towards my career and personal life. When it came to working at KISC I was challenged in ways that reignited my passion for scouting and reaffirmed my commitment to the movement. I have come back to Canada as a changed man who in many aspects as become more focused on what I can bring to the table to the betterment of scouting. I now have a responsibility to inspire all youth to reach out and apply to work in KISC and to be a part of the dream like I was. This has been one of the greatest experiences in my life and it is all thanks to you, the Northern Lights Scouts Foundation.

Thank you for making my dreams come true.

 

Yours in Scouting;

Carey Benson