al-Bustan Hosts Summer Scout Camp for Silwan Youth

Young scouts from Silwan had a respite from the rigors of daily life in the neighborhood when al-Bustan Association in Silwan organized “Silwan Summer 2022,” the second annual scout camp for the al-Bustan Silwan district scout troop.

The overnight camp ran from August 11 to 13, 2022, in the nearby Palestinian village of Sataf in ‘Ayn Karim, which was attacked, occupied, and emptied by Israeli forces in May 1948 and remains deserted.

The campers participated in lectures, scouting exercises, educational games, and entertainment activities, kinetic activities, educational and leadership games, virtual reality game practice, and a nature tour.

On the first day, the campers learned how to pitch tents on their own. They reviewed the scouting rules and regulations. As night fell, they lit a campfire and cooked dinner over the fire.

According to the deputy leader of the scout troop, Hamouda Awad Allah, these activities aim to “offer a chance [for the children] to camp in nature and through that to learn about setting up tents, lighting campfires, wildlife in the forests, and outdoor life. Through these experiences, the aim is to enhance the children’s independence and strengthen their personalities, while introducing them to this aspect of their homeland and deepening friendships.”

At night, the campers enjoyed a party around the campfire that included singing, dabka dance, and poetry recitation.

The scout camp concluded with closing activities. Each camper received a certificate. This helps to preserve a long tradition of scouting in Jerusalem, as the Jerusalem scout has always been at the forefront of community work and helps to preserve the Palestinian community’s survival.