Summer Camps held throughout the Pacific

Over 1,000 youth participate

Scouts in Palau enjoy camping in the Rock Islands

The year 2009 brought another summer of fun, adventure and skill development for the Scouts of the Pacific Basin. Summer camp programs were held throughout the Pacific, with nearly 800 youth participating within the islands of Micronesia, and over 200 Scouts joining Day Camp and Summer Camp within American Samoa.

For the first time in three years the youth of Yap State, FSM enjoyed a summer camp experience. The turnout was small, but the stories will bring more boys next year.

Working with the youth this year was a Venturing Scout from Hauula, Hawaii. Natahli Mills, from Crew 423, travelled the Pacific to assist at each camp as part of a personal growth project for her Venturing Silver Award. She taught the boys Scout Skills, Fingerprinting Merit Badge and Art Merit Badge.

Scouts and Leaders from Tafunsak, Lelu and Utwe municipalities
on the island of Kosrae, pose for a photo
on the last day of summer camp

This year summer camp programs introduced merit badges to several islands in an effort to see the first-ever Eagle Scout in Micronesia.

Scouts are Taught Traditional Skills

Along with Scout Skills and merit badges, Scouts in the Pacific are taught the skills of their ancestors from local experts. In many island nations traditional methods of hunting, fishing, weaving, sailing and cooking are being forgotten. In an effort to ensure Scouts are learning these skills, local experts are invited to share their knowledge with the youth.

Among skills that were taught this year include basket weaving, snaring a pig, simple navigation techniques and cooking. Experts also teach the Scouts local legends and language.

Scout Camp: Yap

The Scouts of Yap enjoyed their first summer camp experience in three years.

Scouts of Yap enjoy their new uniforms

Instruction on the Scouting method of starting fire

Scouts learn a new skill... their first time watercoloring

Scout instruction on Personal Safety

Enjoying a campfire with a visiting Venturer from Hawaii

Instruction in the basics of orienteering

Growth of Scouting in the Pacific Basin

The Pacific Basin is expanding to serve more youth as new units are established and existing ones are strengthened.

Yap State recently rebuilt a Boy Scout troop with the help of Curtis Villa (pictured above), a Filipino national who is in Yap with his family on a contract with the College of Micronesia.

Kosrae State and American Samoa organized five new units between them, two troops and one Venturing Crew, with the LDS Branches in Kosrae, and a new Cub Scout Pack and Scout Troop with Aua Elementary School in American Samoa.

More new units, serving youth on other islands, are expected this year.