WOSM-Interamerican Region
Encyclopedia
The Interamerican Region is the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
, headquartered in Santiago, Chile
. The InterAmerican Region services Scouting
in the Western Hemisphere, both North
and South America
. Until the 1960s, the Region serviced only Mexico, Central and South America, with Canada
and the United States
serviced through the then-named "Boy Scouts International Bureau" in Ottawa, Canada. Even today, the Interamerican Region exists more for the benefit of countries south of the Rio Grande
, as evidenced by the website being only in Spanish until 2011; consequently, the United States
and Canada
do not participate as vigorously in regional activities as do other national organizations around the world.
The headquarters of the InterAmerican Region has moved progressively southward since its inception, starting in Havana, Cuba
, from 1946 to 1960; moving briefly to Kingston, Jamaica
, in 1960; immediately relocating to Mexico City, Mexico, between 1960 and 1968; then to San José, Costa Rica
, between 1968 and 1992; Santiago, Chile
, from 1992 to 2010, most recently relocating to Ciudad del Saber
, Panama
.
The Scouts of the nations in the Caribbean basin
host their own subregional jamborees.
The InterAmerican Region contains one of the five countries with no Scouting organization, Cuba
, due to political constraints within the country.
This region is the counterpart of the Western Hemisphere Region of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
(WAGGGS).
with several troops at Parkway Village in New York City
, with but 14 members in 1959. Also directly registered to the World Bureau were the 900 member International Boy Scouts of the Canal Zone
.
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
, headquartered in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
. The InterAmerican Region services Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
in the Western Hemisphere, both North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Until the 1960s, the Region serviced only Mexico, Central and South America, with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
serviced through the then-named "Boy Scouts International Bureau" in Ottawa, Canada. Even today, the Interamerican Region exists more for the benefit of countries south of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, as evidenced by the website being only in Spanish until 2011; consequently, the United States
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
do not participate as vigorously in regional activities as do other national organizations around the world.
The headquarters of the InterAmerican Region has moved progressively southward since its inception, starting in Havana, Cuba
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, from 1946 to 1960; moving briefly to Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, in 1960; immediately relocating to Mexico City, Mexico, between 1960 and 1968; then to San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, between 1968 and 1992; Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, from 1992 to 2010, most recently relocating to Ciudad del Saber
Ciudad del Saber
Panama's Ciudad del Saber is a government sponsored cluster of academic organizations, technology companies and non-governmental organizations, managed by the foundation of the same name...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
The Scouts of the nations in the Caribbean basin
Caribbean Basin
The Caribbean Basin is generally defined as the area running from Florida westward along the Gulf coast, then south along the Mexican coast through Central America and then eastward across the northern coast of South America. This region includes the islands of the archipelago of the West Indies...
host their own subregional jamborees.
The InterAmerican Region contains one of the five countries with no Scouting organization, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, due to political constraints within the country.
This region is the counterpart of the Western Hemisphere Region of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is a global association supporting the female-oriented and female-only Scouting organizations in 145 countries. It was established in 1928 and has its headquarters in London, England. It is the counterpart of the World Organization of the Scout...
(WAGGGS).
Regional Scouts administered directly by WOSM
The needs of Scout youth in the Region in unusual situations has created some interesting permutations, answerable directly to the World Scout Bureau. For years there was an active Boy Scouts of the United NationsBoy Scouts of the United Nations
The Boy Scouts of the United Nations existed from 1945 through perhaps the early 1980s as the Scouting association serving the families of diplomats and staff of the United Nations, active in both Geneva and at Parkway Village in New York...
with several troops at Parkway Village in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, with but 14 members in 1959. Also directly registered to the World Bureau were the 900 member International Boy Scouts of the Canal Zone
International Boy Scouts of the Canal Zone
The Boy Scouts of the Panama Canal Zone were founded in 1947, recognized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1955, and had 970 members in 1957. The organization had ties to the Boy Scouts of the United Nations, and existed at least through the 1960s, directly registered to the World...
.
Pan-American Region Scout Jamborees
The Region has run or sponsored region-wide jamborees in its member countries. Past Jamborees include:- 1st Pan-American Jamboree-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1965
- 2nd Pan-American Jamboree-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1966
- 3rd Pan-American Jamboree-Bogota, Colombia 1974
- 4th Pan-American Jamboree-Porto Alegre, Brazil 1981
- 5th Pan-American Jamboree-Kingston, Jamaica 1985
- 6th Pan-American Jamboree-Villarrica, ChileVillarrica, ChileVillarrica is a city and commune in southern Chile located on the western shore of Villarrica Lake in the Province of Cautín, Araucanía Region south of Santiago and close to the Villarrica Volcano ski center to the south east. Residents of Villarrica are known as Villarriquences.Tourism, grain and...
1989 - 7th Pan-American Jamboree-La Calera, Colombia 1990
- 8th Pan-American Jamboree-BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
1992 - 9th Pan-American Jamboree-Cochabamba, Bolivia 1994
- 10th Pan-American Jamboree-Muxbal, Guatemala 1996
- 11th Pan-American Jamboree-Iguaçu Falls, Brazil 2001
- 12th Pan-American Jamboree-San Rafael, MendozaSan Rafael, MendozaSan Rafael is a city in the southern region of the Mendoza Province, Argentina. With more than 170,000 inhabitants , it is the largest city and the seat of San Rafael Department....
, ArgentinaArgentinaArgentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
2005 - 13th Pan-American Jamboree-MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
July 2010 (delayed due to concerns over the 2009 flu pandemic2009 flu pandemicThe 2009 flu pandemic was an influenza pandemic, and the second of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus , albeit in a new version...
)
Interamerican Scout Conferences
- 1980 Chile
- 1982 Bahamas
- 1984 Brazil
- 1986 Trinidad and Tobago
- 1988 Argentina
- 1990 Uruguay
- 1992 Costa Rica
- 1995 Colombia
- 1998 Mexico
- 2001 Bolivia
- 2003 El Salvador
- 2007 Ecuador
Pan-American Moot
- 1st Pan-American Moot-Cochabamba, Bolivia 27 December, 2008 to 4 January, 2009
Youth of the Americas Award
The Youth of the Americas Award is the only award conferred by the Interamerican Scout Committee. The award is given to persons who have made an impact at the international level.External links and references
- Facts on World Scouting, Boy Scouts International Bureau, Ottawa, Canada, 1961
- Patches and memorabilia of the Caribbean Scout Jamborees