What is The Academy?
The Academy is a unique Scout and Guide event designed to provide participants with high-quality training and networking opportunities around the core priorities of the WAGGGS and WOSM European Regions.
Who should attend The Academy?
The event is open to everyone holding a position at National or regional levels in any of our Associations, from members of national teams to Chief Commissioners.
What are the topics at The Academy?
Participants will be able to choose from the four different learning paths mentioned below. We want to encourage participants to choose from various sessions per day, composing their training plan to match their position and particular needs. A broad range of sessions dealing with different work areas will be offered simultaneously, with enough on offer to make the event interesting for everyone.
Symbolic Framework Play, Plan, Grow!
The world around us is changing quickly, especially after the pandemic, war in Ukraine, and environmental and mental health crises. Scouts and Guides have a unique opportunity to support young people, adults and communities in tackling these challenges whilst also bringing the fun. This is the focus of Academy 2023. The Academy is designed to allow participants to choose their learning path according to their personal and organisational needs.
There will be four main learning paths available:
- Nurture - How can we support our members in developing strong mental health to help them adapt to current event? How can organisations support the climate crisis combat, operate environmentally, and strive towards a sustainable future?
- Enhance - How can we make sure our organisations have the right toolkits, skills, and knowledge to thrive in the world today?
- Innovation - How can we provide fresh, quality programmes and utilise new digital technologies?
- Voice - How do we ensure that young people in our organisations are heard at all levels, empowered to speak out and develop into strong leaders?
A detailed description of each session, providing goals, objectives and expected outcomes, will be published at the website in the beginning of October 2023. Additionally, participants can offer informal sharing sessions to tell others of significant innovations and successes that would benefit others.
How to register for The Academy?
Registration is open until 10 October 2023, and you can register online on The Academy website. Make sure you have already shared with your International Commissioner that you have applied to be an Academy participant. Together with your registration, please send us your International Commissioner’s approval.
The venue has limited space, so we can accept a maximum of 200 participants – in case of overbooking, priority will be given to ensure the broadest diversity. A confirmation will be sent to all participants after the deadline.
Venue and Accommodation
The Academy will take place at the Jugendherberge Wiesbaden. For more information about the venue, please visit: https://www.jugendherberge.de/jugendherbergen/wiesbaden/
Participants’ accommodation will be provided in the same hostel, in shared 6-bed dorm rooms.
Participation fee
The fee for the Academy is EUR 400. It includes accommodation, meals, tea/coffee breaks, free access to the venue’s facilities, and session materials for the entire event.
Social media
Follow the Academy on Facebook: https://facebook.com/ScoutGuideAcademy, on Twitter: @thesgacademy and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesgacademy/
Travel Arrangements
Once participants have been selected and approved, they will receive acceptance letters. All participants should then make their travel arrangements and, if necessary, obtain a visa. If you require an official letter supporting a visa application, please complete all information in the application form. Please be aware that getting a visa may take a significant amount of time, so please apply as early as possible. Participants will be expected to arrive on Wednesday 14th of November to start the programme at 20:00 (following the provided dinner), and departure is on Sunday, 19 November, after 12:30. Information on travel to Wiesbaden will be sent to participants. The Venue is easily accessible by train.
Additional Funding to Support Participation
Participants who have difficulties with the traveling costs should contact their WOSM or WAGGGS Regional Offices to request information on the possibility of financial assistance from the Region.
Language
The event will be held in English. All participants are requested to be able to communicate effectively in this language.
Additional Information
If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy Planning Team at: [email protected].
Insurance
The European Scout Region and the Europe Region WAGGGS do not cover the participants for insurance neither during the event or travel to and from the venue. Please note that it is the exclusive responsibility of the Associations to check and make sure that participants are covered by insurance (illness, accident, repatriation).
Cancellation Policy
The viability of the event can be impacted by both regulations imposed by the authorities of the host country or countries of the sending organisations.
The European Scout Region and the European Region WAGGGS reserve the right to charge the association for any expenses incurred if participants cancel their registration after their participation has been confirmed. This excludes the impact of any COVID-19-related measures where participation fees and travel costs will be reimbursed under the following conditions:
- In case of the cancellation of the event by the European Scout Region and the Europe Region WAGGGS.
- In case participants cancel their registration after their participation has been confirmed due to changes in their national measures leading to restrictions on travel.
Any other COVID-19-related situation will be treated on a case-by-case basis and taking into consideration the funding eligibility and insurance coverage (when applicable).