By: Katie Roberts
If you want to find an engaging and worthwhile group activity for your child look no further than our roundup of group activities that are popular with expat kids. The legacy of Sir Baden-Powell is thriving in Singapore with thousands of children actively involved in the Scouting and Guiding movement established over 100 years ago in Great Britain.
BROWNIES AND RAINBOWS
British Guides in Foreign Countries runs Rainbows and Brownie groups. Rainbows is for girls aged five to seven years; they participate in a variety of age-appropriate activities. Brownies, aged seven to 10 years, work towards badges, do sports activities and learn about new cultures. As stipulated by British Guides in Foreign Countries, membership is 75 percent from Commonwealth countries and 25 percent from other nationalities.
When: Weekly, Monday to Friday
Where: Tanglin Trust School, ISS School (Paterson campus), Chatsworth School (Emerald Hill campus) and the Canadian International School (Tajong Katong campus)
Contact: girlguidingenquiries-bgifc@hotmail.com
The Overseas Family School Brownie Troop 53 is an international mix of girls from countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Japan, India and South Africa. It is run under the auspices of USA Girl Scouts Overseas.
When: Twice-monthly
Where: Overseas Family School, and USA Girl Scouts events
Contact: Gayle Yap
Email: gstraining@gmail.com
GUIDES
British Guides in Foreign Countries comprises Guides who are aged 10 to 14 years and the Senior Section for girls aged 14 to 25 years.
When: Guides meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; the Senior Section meets on Wednesdays
Where: Contact association for details
Contact: girlguidingenquiries-bgifc@hotmail.com
USA Girl Scouts Overseas has over 30 troops, each with at least two leaders and up to 12 girls, operating under the same programme as in the US. Girls of any nationality (except Singaporean) who are attending a local or international school may register to join. Troop activities include working towards badges, a Song-fest, a father-daughter dinner and dance, ice-skating, Christmas carolling and overnight camps.
When: Varying days and times
Where: Singapore American School, Canadian International School, Overseas Family School, St Joseph’s Institution and Avondale School
Contact: Gayle Yap
Email: gstraining@gmail.com
Pack 3017 is a family-oriented Cub Scout pack that follows the guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America programme. The pack, which numbers around 120 children of 11 nationalities, welcomes boys aged six to 10 years from any school in Singapore.
When: Thursday or Friday, 6.30 to 8.30pm
Where: Singapore American School, 40 Woodlands Street 41
Contact: Megan Sen at mandrsen@yahoo.com
Tanglin Trust School’s cub pack is for boys and girls aged eight to 11 years, and is part of British Scouting Overseas. The nationality mix is largely a reflection of the Tanglin Trust School and the children participate in activities which combine fun, friendship and adventure. They try lots of different outdoor experiences, meet new people and earn badges ranging from astronomer and book reader to cyclist and water activities.
When: Wednesdays, 2.50pm to 4.30pm during term time
Where: Tanglin Trust School
Contact: scoutingapplications@gmail.com
Tanglin Trust School also has five Beaver colonies for boys aged five-and-a-half to eight years. They work towards craft and activity badges, play games and do outdoor activities such as kayaking and nature walks.
SCOUTS
1st ANZA Scouts is the only Australian Scout Group outside Australia. The 24 boys in the group are aged from 10 to 14 years. The group focuses on the outdoors with two camps a year, plus learning survival skills and bush craft and doing adventure activities. This year, the boys have camped, hiked and flown in a light aircraft to obtain their air activities badges.
When: Every Saturday, 2pm to 4pm
Where: UWC South East Asia, 1207 Dover Road
Email: scouts@anza.org.sg
Boy Scouts of America Troop 07 is open to boys aged 11 to 17 years and is a balanced mix of adventure and community service. This busy troop has had camp-outs in Malaysia, spent a long weekend on the South China Sea earning fishing merit badges, cleaned up the mangroves and even marched in a flag ceremony with the US Marine Color Guard.
When: Every Tuesday, 6.15pm to 7.30pm
Where: Singapore American School, 40 Woodlands Street 41
Contact: generalinfo@bsatroop07.com
For additional information, contact the Singapore Scout Association and Girl Guides Singapore.
