The Scout Association of Jamaica

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name =The Scout Association of Jamaica


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location =2D, Camp Road, Kingston 5
country =Jamaica
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website =http://jascouts.tripod.com/
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The Scout Association of Jamaica, the national Scouting organization of Jamaica, was founded in 1910, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1963. The coeducational Scout Association of Jamaica has 2,450 members as of 2008.cite web |title=Triennial Report 2005-2008 |url=http://scout.org/en/content/download/11615/94838/file/Triennial_Report_EN.pdf |publisher=World Organization of the Scout Movement |accessdate=2008-07-13]

Scouting came to Jamaica in 1910, through the efforts of Anglican clergyman Joseph William Graham. In 1912, F.S. Massias established the first Scout Troop in Saint Catherine Parish. It was through the activities of this Spanish Town Troop, that the Guide movement was established in Jamaica in 1915, and the Cub Scout movement was established in 1916.

The 1952 First Caribbean Jamboree was held in Jamaica.

In 1965, Jamaica's Leslie R. Mordecai was awarded the "Bronze Wolf", the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting. Other honorees include Donald A. Fitz-Ritson in 1973.

Community service is a major part of Jamaican Scouting. There are camps held for disadvantaged youngsters, literacy campaigns, cleanups, tree planting and relief work during natural disasters.

Dr. Edward Lee is the International Commissioner of the Scout Association of Jamaica.

History

1910- Scouting came to Jamaica with the first troop being started in Brown's Town, St. Ann, by the Rev. J.W. Graham.

1911 - First troop to be formed in Kingston was started by Mr. Harry Mills. Mr. D. L. Stephenson started Wolmer's Boys' School Troop.

1912 - First St. Catherine troop started by Mr. F.S. Massias in Spanish Town. Lord Robert Baden-Powell, who was then the Commonwealth Chief Scout, visited Jamaica. It was on his voyage to Jamaica that he met his wife, Olave Soames.

1913 - Jamaica Branch of the Boy Scout Association was registered. Captain Langley became the first Island Commissioner. The Island Camp was held at Clovelly Park on what are now the grounds of Kingston College.

1920 - The Association became the Boy Scout Association of Jamaica.

1925 - A contingent of Scouts from Jamaica was sent to the Olympia Jamboree in England, and has had representatives at every World Jamboree since then.

1952 - Jamaica hosted the first Caribbean Jamboree at Briggs Park (now Up Park Camp).

1958 - The Scout Headquarters was established at its present address, 2d Camp Road, Kingston. Scout Headquarters was established at its present address, 2d Camp Road, Kingston. Prior to this the headquarters was housed on the Doncaster Lands, by the sea in Kingston.

The Boy Scout Association of Jamaica had three Island Commissioners:

1932 - Noel Crosswell

1940 - Mr. H.D. Tucker

1949 - Mr. D.S. A. Fitz-Ritson

While Mr. Fitz-Ritson was in office the title "Island Commissioner" was changed to "Chief Commissioner" and since then there have been five Chief Commissioners:

1979 - Mr. James Lloyd

1979 - Brig. Dunstan Robinson

1986 - Mr. Vincent Rose

1994 - Mr. Richard Chambers

1998 - Dr Edward Lee

ee also

* The Girl Guides Association of Jamaica

References