Deaf Scout's Camp, Ireland 2006 .
Minutes of 1st Meeting
Minutes of Leaders Meeting Tuesday 8th August 2006
International Deaf Scout Camp. Larch Hill, Dublin, Ireland.
Kevin Mulqueen chaired the meeting. Countries represented were Belguim (1 rep) Czech Republic (2 reps) Switzerland (4 reps) Netherlands (3 reps) and England (2 reps) Ireland (8 reps)
ISL Interpreters – Sean Gilligan and Catherine White.
Dutch Interpreter – Sjors de Beer
Czech Interpreter – Yan Fikeys
Notetaker – Ray Greene
First delegates gave feedback on the 1st Deaf International Scout Camp.
Dolphin (Switzerland) - Difficulties regarding the timing of things. An activity would be planned for the day. All the scouts would be informed and prepared for this and then it would be changed.
Paul Wise (England) – An excellent camp. As a recommendation for improvement, better information could have been distributed before the camp. Not knowing what to expect, equipment was brought that wasn’t needed.
Tišek – Frantisek Pulpan ( Czech Republic) thanked Kevin for organizing the event, which gave Scout groups the opportunity to make new contacts and get to know and exchange each others national games. It was a good idea for each country to cook their national food. He thanked him for organizing the event which will have a lot of good memories.
George de Beer (Netherlands) – It was great sharing activities like knot making, being creative with wood and sharing ideas around using a map and compass with different countries. It was interesting to learn about other countries culture.
Dolphin (Switzerland) – The language and communication experience with the interpretation into different languages has been an experience, as is evident in this meeting. The interpreters did very well. Everyone worked well together and communicated clearly. It has not been an easy job and they worked hard.
Swiss Girl - Soleil – It was great and a wonderful experience to come together as scouts. There were some organizational issues but people have been flexible so huge respect for that. The all day visit to museums was a bit too much. Next time it might be better to go to a museum in the morning and do an activity in the afternoon.
Paul Moore (Ireland): The opportunity of sharing meals and tasting food from other countries was enjoyable and I want to see more of that.
KGM (Ireland) – I am pleased to get positive and negative feedback. It is very useful for the future and everything said is appreciated.
Sean Byrne (Ireland) - It has been very important for all of us that each of you were here. It’s been excellent. Two to three years ago Kevin had the idea of Scouts from other parts of the world coming together. He knew that there must be some in Europe and the Irish Deaf Scouts group were keen for Kevins’ dream to come true. As it was his vision, it was right and proper that he should be Co-ordinator. It was called “International Deaf Scouts Camp” rather than the “1 st International Deaf Scouts Camp” as they didn’t know if it was actually the first one or if there would be more camps after this one. It would be so great if it did happen again. Now we have met and are discussing it, it is our hope that there would be more Deaf camps. It is good to get positive and negative feedback and the first time can be hard without prior experience. Now that the first camp has taken place the next ones should be even better.
Paul Wise (England): I think it will continue. If everyone agreed to circulate e-mail contacts, we could go back to our own country, bring in other people and set up a European Federation of Deaf Scouts. We could meet every three to four years like a Jamboree.
Paul Moore (Ireland): When I first got involved in Deaf Scouts, I had a similar dream. It was great that Kevin made that dream possible. I still can’t believe that the dream has come true. A big congratulations to Kevin for making it happen and all those at this meeting who made it happen.
KGM (Ireland): All of you came here and are willing to be here so there is no need to keep thanking me. We will all keep in touch and should we meet in two, four or ten years time?
This was discussed and it was agreed to meet in two years time. Kevin was asked if this would allow sufficient time to organize the event. He said that it had taken three years to look for people through contacting the EUD and the WFD and now that the groups have met, that part would be no problem. The biggest task is organizing activities. Four years wouldn’t allow the current group of scouts to meet again and it would be great if they could meet again. It was agreed that they would organize the next camp in two years time.
KGM (Ireland) raised the next question of where it was to be held and if any of the countries would be willing to host it.
Dolphin (Switzerland): In Switzerland, there is a big hearing Scouting gathering organized for 2008, and it might be possible to attach ourselves to that where we could stay with them for some of the activities and do our own activities separately as well.
Tina Wise ( England): It would be nice to have a World Jamboree but with a smaller group of people. With a big Jamboree, the Deaf might get lost in the huge numbers. The next Jamboree is in the UK and will have 40,000 participants. The smallness of this International Deaf camp is what attracted us to it.
Colm Finnegan (Ireland): Maybe Deaf Scouts from countries not represented here may wish to organize the second camp.
KGM (Ireland): Eleven other countries have Deaf Scouts. There are strong Deaf groups in Finland, Asia and America. The American Scouts have separate boys and girls scouts so they didn’t become involved in this camp as it is a mixed camp. We could nevertheless send them information about this camp and see if they would be interested in setting up the second one.
Sean Byrne (Ireland): We are asking people from this group because it would make sense as we all now have practical experience of a Deaf Camp. I am asking countries here about their willingness to run the next camp.
George (Netherlands): The Netherlands is not able to organize the Second Deaf Scout Camp. Hollands Deaf Scouts started in 2005 and would not be ready yet.
Paul Wise (England): We don’t know if we can commit to it as there is only two of us, but if we could get suitable help in England, we could organize it if no-one else is willing to come forward. Whoever organizes the camp should also host the camp in their country.
Colm Finnegan (Ireland): We should take time to think it over. We could meet again this evening and see if people have strong feelings about this.
Dolphin (Switzerland): I can say for sure now that Switzerland cannot do it.
Karol (Ireland): We could think about it and communicate via an e-mail group. The final decision does not have to be made today. We will have the minutes. We can go back over them, think further and e-mail each other.
Dolphin (Switzerland): E-mail discussions take too long. It’s important to make the decision tonight and start organizing immediately. Video Phone might be a way of communicating with each other.
Czech Republic: We are thinking about organizing it. It would be wonderful for new children and the children that are here at this camp to meet. We are discussing it but it is too difficult to make a decision now. We would like to think more on it.
KGM (Ireland): It looks like we may be going to the Czech Republic but it is too difficult for them to make a decision now.
KGM (Ireland): Regarding the e-mail list, all contacts can be given to me. We can set it up as a list of individual members so that people can contact individuals on the list rather than having to contact the full group all of the time.
The meeting concluded at 5pm.
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WHY A DEAF SCOUT CAMP? ( as previously mentioned 8 th August 2003 )
The aim of this camp will be to promote scouting for Deaf children and make other scouts aware of the needs of Deaf scouts. We, the Leaders involved in the 191 st feel strongly that there should be a camp specifically for Deaf Scouters , having attended camps run by 'hearing' scouts over the past 10 years we feel that there is a huge benefit to be gained from a Deaf camp.
Deaf children have specific communication needs which can only be met by Deaf adults with a full clear working knowledge and understanding of sign-language and the other communication needs associated with working with deaf children and adults.
Deaf Scouters will be involved in the planning and implementation process from the very beginning. The 191 st do not wish any special provisions to be made, other than the recognition of their communication needs, leading to certain specific events suitable for Deaf scouts e.g. special 'campfires'.
BENEFITS
It is felt by the 191 st that such a camp would promote the interests of Deaf scouting (and other disabilities) and ensure that scouts from both Ireland and around the world will get a chance to meet, learn from each other and have fun whilst doing so.
Deaf Scouting encourages Deaf young people to perceive and understand themselves as Deaf people appreciating their own community and Deaf culture. It is only in understanding one's identity that one's self-reliance will be raised, having the ability to join in such an event will go far towards achieving this goal.
In addition this event will give Leaders from Ireland and throughout the world an opportunity to network, learn from each other and work towards making programming for young Deaf scouts an even greater success.
This event will also give hearing scouts and Scouters and opportunity to mix with Deaf scouts and Scouters , this will help develop a better understanding of Deaf young people and adults and misconceptions and prejudices will be eliminated and there will be a better working relationship between hearing and Deaf not only in scouting but in society as a whole.
For more information please write or email to:
International Deaf Camp Team
191 st Dublin Deaf Scout Group
Scouting Ireland
2 nd Floor Office
40 Lower Drumcondra Road
Dublin 9
Ireland
Fax +353 1 8827535
Mobile text +353 86 1671754
Email: deafscoutunit@o2.ie
Website: http://www.dublindeafscout.com
Registered Charity Number: CHY 4057