RoverNet & VentureNet 2014: Coming Together for Better Rovering and Venturing

(WOSM Europe/Iceland) – Rover and Venture Commissioners and other members of National Rover and Venture Programme Teams from 15 different National Scout Organisations (NSOs) in Europe travelled to Iceland in September for this year’s RoverNet & VentureNet weekend. They came together to share how their associations run the Rover and Venture programmes and had plenty of opportunities to pick up suggestions and input from each other.

Updating participants about new developments in Rovering and Venturing in the European Region

“One of the main positive things I think we can get from RoverNet & VentureNet”, explains Catarina Inverno, from the European Region’s Youth Empowerment Priority Group, “is the fact that every time it happens, a bigger network is created and more knowledge and information about Rovering and Venturing in Europe is gathered and shared.”

Informal talks in larger and smaller groups allowed exchanges about specific topics and proofed very fruitful and profitable to the work NSOs and NSAs do in the area of Rovering and Venturing on national level.

“RoverNet 2014”, insists Catarina, “was one of the most important networking events for me as my association’s Rover Commissioner: it allowed me to get to know other Rover Commissioners and share with them our concerns, challenges and best practices.”

RoverNet Team Kollóttadyngja discovering the beauties of Iceland during an outdoor activity

For some of the activities during the weekend the participants were split into small international teams (patrols). This is what the members of the Kollóttadyngja Team told us: “So far, we have shared experiences, we went paddling to a deserted island, we have met amazing people, we have shared our ideas about Rovering in our associations, we have developed new strategies and new programmes ideas and we heard hot news about coming Rover events in the European Region! We have been very happy to be here and be part of RoverNet & VentureNet!”

Summarising the three days in beautiful Iceland, Catarina says: “I am a Rover passionate. This is mainly because I believe that in this section we can really make a difference on preparing our young people for life. RoverNet definitely offers welcome help so that we can even better achieve this very important goal! And I am sure that for Venture Commissioners and their teams it is quite similar.”

For more details about this event and the regular support available to Rover and Venture Commissioners and their teams, please check the special website run by the European Scout Region and the relevant FB Page.

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