Shaping leaders & driving sustainability in Ireland
Irish Rover Scouts Lydia Keating and Jack Horgan are incredible advocates for the important role Scouting plays in developing leaders to drive positive change in local communities. At our 74th Annual Baden-Powell Fellowship event, these two Inspirational Scouts shared the impact Scouting has had in developing their own leadership skills and how that, in turn, has allowed them to give back through active citizenship and sustainability initiatives, by creating inspiring and leading programmes for local Scouts and the communities that they live in.
Lydia Keating is a remarkable Troop leader at the 31st Waterford Scout Troop. She is involved in Scouting Ireland as a Rover Scout, National Youth Representative and a Scouting Ireland Sustainability Team member. Starting Scouting at an early age put Lydia on a path to discover, learn and educate Scouts and her community on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate action awareness, in particular on SDG 4 on Education, promoting lifelong learning for all and SDG 13 on Climate Action. Hear Lydia’s inspiring story and call to action to take care of our world here.
When I was six, I learned as a Beaver Scout to ‘leave no trace’ wherever I go. Twelve years later, this has developed into a sense of pride and duty to look after our natural habitats. [...] Scouts will be key to stopping the climate crisis.” Lydia Keating
Lydia firmly believes young people have the power to change the world. As part of the sustainability team, her focus is on two main projects: training systems to support Scout leaders incorporating SDGs into Scout group activities and Adventure Skill Sustainability, ensuring sustainability is a part of core adventure activities such as hiking, camping and outdoor sport. She also leads actions encouraging Cub Scouts to embrace healthy gardening practices, resulting in an increase in biodiversity of insects and natural habitats throughout her local community.
"I truly believe the Scouting Ireland Sustainability team is the perfect example of the Scout method in action. [...] We have young people and adults coming together to make something wonderful for everyone.”
Thanks to Scouts taking the lead like Lydia, the world is a better place.
“Scouting is a philosophy; it taught me to see the best in myself and those around me!”
Jack Horgan is a Rover Scout with the 137th Balally Scouts who ishared his experience of leading a patrol of eight in the footsteps of the famous Irish Arctic explorer Tom Crean, through adverse weather conditions in Iceland over a week, as part of the Crean Challenge to develop personal and patrol-based skills. Watch Jack talk about his incredible expedition experience in the video here.
Scouting is one of the most successful apprenticeship programs for leadership, starting at the age of five. Scouts continuously learn and teach each other.”
Jack continues to support leadership development, specifially programme development for current and future participants of the Crean Challenge, which has seen over 300 participants over the last ten years.
We thank Scouting Ireland for their strong support during the 74th Baden-Powell Fellowship event and wish Lydia and Jack continued success in their ongoing endeavours to drive sustainability and leadership opportunities in Ireland.