Scouting, Volume 79, Number 1, January-February 1991 Page: 18
58, E1-E12, [16] p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Cub Scout
Blood Brothers
BY SUSAN CAMP
Illustration by Sheryl Regester
SOME OF US HAVE HEARD
stories of how the Scouting uni-
form has "opened doors,"
changed lives, or worked some
small "miracle."
I have my own such story. It takes place
on the Mediterranean island of Sicily
where my family and I live while my
Naval officer husband, Joe, serves as a
civil engineer in charge of construction at
the Sigonella U.S. Naval Air Station near
the eastern shore.
Joe and I both work as volunteers in
Scouting, he as a Cub Scout den leader for
boys like ours, dependents of U.S. Naval
personnel, I as a unit commissioner.
Dressed in his BSA Scout uniform, Joe
was heading from his military job to his
weekly den meeting. Native Sicilian Ora-
zio Foti, a construction inspector who
works for the Navy, spotted Joe. A conver-
sation ensued.
It turned out that Foti is a Scout leader,
too, in the nearby town of Riposto. The
two men chatted, "Hey, wouldn't it be
exciting, educational, and fun if both the
Italian and American Cub Scouts could
get together for a joint activity?" Plans
were laid for such an event.
December was chosen as the time for
the get-together because the Cub Scout
theme for that month was "Customs of
Countries." It would take place in close-
by Riposto and the Italian Cub Scouts,
called Lupetti, Little Wolves, would host
it. Sunday afternoon turned out to be best
since Sicilian youngsters attend school
from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, Monday
through Saturday. For this first gathering
leaders also agreed to keep each group to
50.
The opening featured a flag ceremony
with both Italian and US. flags paraded,
as well as the Pack 53 and the Riposto 1
Branco (pack) banners. Foti and Joe
Camp delivered welcoming remarks in
their own languages. Then the unit
leaders exchanged plaques commemorat-
ing the event. Boys and girls played sev-
eral team icebreaker games. Afterward,
18
BSA Cub Scouts
link up with
Italian Lupetti on
the island of Sicily
and learn firsthand about
the world brotherhood
of Scouting.
they dashed to a nearby school lunchroom
for a large Sicilian meal including tradi-
tional pasta dishes.
Naturally, the language barrier delayed
much interaction between the Italian and
U.S. kids, but trading quickly broke down
January-February 1991 rfc Scouting
all barriers. Neckerchiefs, slides, belts,
caps, and pins of both countries ex-
changed hands. Many of our Cub Scouts
felt this was the day's highlight.
During the day we discovered many
facts about Scouting in Italy. There are
two recognized national associations: the
Corpo Nazionale Giovani Esploratori ed
Esploratrici Italiani (National Corps of
Italian Boy and Girl Scouts) and the As-
sociazione Guide e Scouts Cattolici Ita-
liani (Association of Italian Catholic
Guides and Scouts).
Volunteers run every phase of Italian
Scouting. Each member pays the U.S.
equivalent of $75 a year. Of this, $30 sup-
ports the national organization while the
rest stays for local operation. There are no
Chartered Organi- (continued on page 38)
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 79, Number 1, January-February 1991, periodical, January 1991; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353595/m1/18/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.