Plan
- What are your top five items you would bring when you go somewhere new?
- How would these items change depending on the situation? I.e., going to school vs. going to your Scouts group?
- Can you think of a time where you were somewhere new, and it would have been nice for someone to share these ‘must have’ items with you?
- What do you think helps others to feel welcome and included?
- What are some special things that you do in school (sing the national anthem, play certain games at recess) or in Scouting (opening ceremonies, using hand signals or salutes) that a new person might have trouble understanding?
Do
- As a Section or in small teams, design a welcome pack for a new person who is joining your school or Scout Group after leaving their home country/province/city (for whatever reason).
- Choose five objects that you would include in the pack and talk about why these items are so important.
- Create a list of five top tips for settling into your school or Group. When creating your list, are there any traditions or special rules that you would like to share?
Review
- How did this activity make you feel?
- How did this activity help your new friends?
- Why is it important to make sure others are welcomed into a new place?
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Remember to submit your activities on our Scouts for Sustainability Take Action Map
Materials
- Writing utensils
- Paper
- Poster board
Keep it Simple
- Keep it simple by limiting the number of supplies, have each person contribute one idea and make a collective list of ‘must have’ items.
Take it Further
- Make a welome poster that can be displayed to welcome new members to your Group or Section. Take it even further by purchasing the items you came up with as a group and having spares if any new person arrives and does not have a particular item.
- You could even create an actual welcome pack and hold onto it until a new member joins your Group – where will you get the supplies you need? How will you pay for them? How will you give this pack to someone and make them feel welcomed, rather than scared or overwhelmed?
