COMPAS Adult Scout Network
- We are active adult scouts and guides inspired by scout values.
- We are group of people, who want to make a difference in this world, with the help of scout method.
- Most of us are members of International Scout and Guide Fellowship (ISGF).
History
- With the purpose of contributing actively and meaningfully to the process of ISGF redefinition, over 20 participants, with an age range of 24 to over 70, from 10 countries and 3 continents, met before ISGF World Conference in Lillehammer, Norway in June 2005.
- We had an Open Space Forum, which was called “Youth Forum”, where we defined new mission and vision for adult scouting/guiding. Our work was inspired by the message: “The future is right here! Laying the foundations of the future of ISGF/Adult Scouting and Guiding”. The Youth Forum has addressed the core elements that define the concept of Adult Scouting/Guiding worldwide at the present time.
- Bearing in mind the Scout Promise and Scout Laws, participants devoted themselves to the exchange of live experiences and realities and to the use of imagination with the aim of constructing a global understanding on Adult Scouting/Guiding. One of results of the work of the Youth Forum is COMPAS Adult Scout Network.
What is COMPAS?
COMPAS stands for:
- Committed: to Scout Promise, Scout Laws and their values
- Open-minded: we are not “closed in boxes”, but we are open for new ideas, knowledge and skills. We are curious and open for making new friendships.
- Motivated: to “leave this world a little better than you found it” (Baden Powel in his last message)
- Prepared: “I am still prepared!” is our motto. We are prepared to do something to “leave this world a little better”.
- Active: we do not just sit and talk about our past. Our attitude is activity.
- Scouts/Guides: we were members of young Scout and Guide Movement in our youth or we believe in scout/guide values and joined the movement as adults.
COMPAS is direction you decide to take. It is an attitude. It’s moving into the action.
Our values
- Simplicity
- Proactivity
- Unity
- Tolerance
- Scout promise
- Open-mindedness
- Service to youth and community
- Curiosity
- Creativity
- Flexibility
- Availability for everyone
- Spirituality
- Playfulness
- Partnership with youth
- Without borders
- Thrifty (being economic)
- Cleanliness
- Outdoor activities
How to put COMPAS in practice?
- We believe in whole life active scouting/guiding. You can be active scout/guide when your mind is active. It’s not your age or physical ability but your mind, what makes you COMPAS. The age is in your mind not in your body.
- We want to return to simple scouting/guiding, bringing to our present times the original BP Spirit. In order to be open to our fellow Scouts and Guides, a more available and less expensive scouting/guiding should be put into practice.
- We wish to create Active Network of Scouts/Guides to facilitate the contact of individuals, scout groups and countries. Its purpose is to share the knowledge, the flow of information and good scout practices all over the world. We want to actively contribute to better world with development of international joint and participated actions.
- Our visibility towards both, to our fellow Scouts and Guides and the world, should be increased by the use of a common identity and by the increase of shared and participated activities. We encourage the wearing some sort of scout uniform (National/local uniform, scout scarf, one worldwide badge).
- We believe in our mother organization ISGF. We think it should transform into a movement again. But it needs changes. Step by step. On personal level first. Therefore we have started the process. We are sure that every member of ISGF should be COMPAS.
“Let’s open our minds and create a simple future. It is not your image that makes you COMPAS. It is your action. COMPAS is putting scouting into practice.”
Prepared by: Lillehammer COMPAS Scout Network / Written by: Aleš Čerin
