Scouting is fun with a purpose, directed towards helping young people become happy, healthy, and useful citizens. It also aims to develop the intellectual, social, and spiritual aspects of the children.

Every October, the Scouting Month Celebration under Proclamation No. 1326 has always been observed in the Philippines.

In response to this annual celebration, the USL Elementary Department celebrated the Scouting Month with the theme: “Preparing CAPABLE Louisians for LIFE.”

LIFE is an acronym for Leading, Inspiring, Facilitating, and Enabling which are the objectives and the end goals of this activity.

To achieve the goals and objectives for the celebration, the Scouting Month activities started with the launching last Oct. 3, 2019 during the flag ceremony wherein the scouts recited the Scout Oath, Law and Promise.

An orientation on Smartness and Good Order, emphasizing the wearing of proper scout uniform every Thursday was also part of the activities.

In order to increase awareness of the scouting movement, the display area located at the Constant Jurgens Building (Elementary building) was set up based on the scouting theme.

Investiture, camping and more

The BSP and GSP investiture of the KID (Kabataang Iminumulat Diwa), KAB (Kabataan Alay sa Bayan), Boy Scouts, Twinklers, Star Scouts, and Junior Scouts was conducted on Oct. 25 in the morning at the James Ter Meer Gymnasium and participated in by the Kindergarten and Grades 1 and 4 pupils, with their parents.

As registered members of the BSP and GSP Cagayan Council, the boy and girl scouts were officially welcomed to the BSP and GSP movement during the investiture ceremony.

Ms. Blessida Diwa, president of the GSP Cagayan Council and Ms. Jessica Delfin, GSP Cagayan Council executive, officiated the GSP investiture.

Mr. Julieto Attaban, BSP Cagayan Council Program commissioner, and Ms. Melody Maquera, BSP Cagayan Council bookkeeper, officiated the BSP investiture ceremony.

In the afternoon of Oct. 25 and on to Oct. 26, the camping happened in the USL campus and participated in by 71 girl scouts and 76 boys scouts from Grades 5 and 6.

The Elementary faculty were assigned as adult leaders to assist the different patrols or troops.

The camping was spearheaded by the assistant principal, Ms. Lourdes C. Batac, who was assisted by the different area coordinators.

One of the highlights of the camping was the orientation on first aid and safety rules and procedures by Ms. Daisy Edel M. Manaligod, a University nurse and parent-speaker. The scouts were made to learn some basic life-saving techniques and skills to assist an injured or ill person during a variety of emergency situations.

The scouts were also taught on how to respond and react properly to different emergency situations like fire and earthquake, and how to become independent.

The campfire ceremony, patrol presentation, wellness and team building activities, and boodle fight were also conducted. These activities served as avenues for the scouts’ teamwork, cooperation, and camaraderie.

The Scouting Month celebration ended with the awarding of the best patrols and best in Kaibigan ng Kalikasan Program (KKP) implementation.

It is hoped that this the scouting would inspire the scouts to live up to the ideals of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and to continue to uphold the CAPABLE (Christ-centered, Action-directed, Person-oriented, Academically driven, Behaviorally upright, Law-abiding, Emotionally mature) Louisian spirit and values.