Let SCOUTING Help You To Help Your Sons

Sethna’s Scouting Society celebrates 91 years this year. It is the oldest continuously running Scout group in India and probably the world.

What started as an idea, an experiment; way back in the August of 1914, today has over 91 wonderful years, come to become an Institution non paralleled in the nation and probably the world, in its own field.

One man, Rustomji Edulji Sethna stumbled upon a book, by Lord Baden Powell, on a then new, relatively unknown activity, called Boy Scouting. The brilliance and the vision in the man saw it as a building block of society and a way to make good citizens of our nation, from young boys at a very influential age.

This was the inspiration to the Sethna’s 18th West Bombay Scout Group. With more than nine decades of continuous and active performance as a Scout Group, there is possibly nothing that the group has not done or achieved. The group has nearly always stood first in various competitions of Scout craft and has dominated the scene in First aid, Ambulance work and Signaling. The quest to excel in the everyday world is eternal and is the strongest legacy left behind by the founding father who passed away 47 years ago, way back in 1954.

Young boys at around the age of six join the group in the Cub Pack, and over the years move on to the Scout Troop or the Sea Scout Troop when they are 11 years and then over the next seven years excel as scouts and graduate as Rovers. The Rover Crew lends yeomen service to the group in all its activities; and to the Sethna’s Scouting Society. Many among the rovers progress further and become Cub masters, Scoutmasters and Rover Leaders.

It is said that, “Through Scouting we utilize the boy’s spare time, we train him in leadership and citizenship; we teach him to be self-reliant, honest and loyal. In short by Scouting we make a man out of a boy, a man full of character, a man who will lead the nation tomorrow in one field or another”. To be better citizens, to become leaders of tomorrow’s nation, to understand and appreciate the idea of the world as a global village, is the mission of the group. This is achieved by instilling in the young boys values of discipline, obedience and truthfulness.

Cubs and scouts, with their enthusiasm work hard and learn eagerly the tricks of the trade; what is called SCOUTCRAFT. Rovers with their past knowledge provide the ample support needed by the Scouters who with their wisdom and experience mould the boys to be better citizens of a fast changing tomorrow. We take our Cubs and Scouts on Training Camps, Annual camps Hikes and Outings, to build into them a love for open air, team spirit and self-preservation.

The challenges facing the troop today are many. In a globalized world of cutthroat competition, there are more and more reasons for a boy to be distracted by temporary and superficial attractions. In this scenario, the group faces the biggest challenge in maintaining the numbers of boys. What differs the 18th West from countless other groups is that the whole structure of the Group is based on voluntary service without any remuneration whatsoever.

The Scout group would not be what it is today if not primarily for the faith the parents have reposed in the group by sending their boys to the group and to all its activities. It is to them and to their total faith and belief that the group is always indebted. We therefore, wish to request all parents to admit their sons/wards to our Group so that we can prepare them for a better and useful life ahead.

For admission enquiries visit their website www.sethnas.org; email: contact@sethnas.org or contact Mr. Neville Mistry on 9223473987 or Yazdi Randeria on 9892374789.