Dear friends in Scouting,
The Interamerican Scout Committee (ISC) met in person in Panama City from 19–21 June 2026, as part of the 2025–2028 triennium. During three days of collaborative work, the Committee advanced key strategic issues for the region, including monitoring the Regional Triennial Plan, finances, Safe from Harm compliance, youth leadership, and regional event planning.
Among the most notable results, the meeting confirmed that all operational teams and volunteer working groups are fully functional. Of the total number of volunteers, 59% are under 30 years old, 47% are women, and 22 National Scout Organizations (NSOs) are represented. Regarding membership, the region has surpassed 2 million Scouts and recorded 5.9% growth in 2024, making Interamerica the fastest-growing region in the Scout Movement in percentage terms that year. The ISC also reviewed the status of NSO compliance with their constitutional obligations: currently, 42% have submitted their annual report. We invite organizations that have not yet done so to upload their information, as having up-to-date data allows us to serve you better.
Strategically, the topics addressed included the status of Safe from Harm policy compliance, the future of youth leadership in the region, and the strategy for partnerships and resource mobilization, especially in the context of the International Year of Volunteers. The Committee reviewed progress toward the upcoming Interamerican Leadership Training to be held in Mexico in 2027, the next Regional Conference, the JamCam, and the Regional Moot in Ecuador, and shared its strategic vision for the next Interamerican Scout Summit. Furthermore, we ratified the volunteers who will co-coordinate the regional networks, and we invite NSOs to designate their focal points for each network.
Regarding finances, the ISC reviewed the status of global and regional membership fees. We thank the NSOs for their contributions and value their commitment to the global discussions surrounding the new fee model proposed by the World Scout Committee. Likewise, we validated the regional office budget for the next fiscal year, ensuring that resources are focused on the priorities of the Regional Plan. We also reviewed the status of grants available to NSOs in the region and encourage them to continue applying for these opportunities. Finally, we heard the report from the Interamerican Scout Foundation, which remains our primary partner and ally.
I am convinced that this work will allow the Committee to more effectively support the implementation of the Regional Plan, as the growth of the Scout Movement is deeply connected to the quality of the experiences we offer to children, young people, and volunteers throughout the region. Soon, each ISC member will reach out to the NSOs in their respective zones to listen to your priorities for the second half of the year.
Yours in Scouting,
José Vargas
Chairperson
Interamerican Scout Committee