Introduction to SCENES

A Scout Centre of Excellence for Nature, Environment and Sustainability (SCENES) is an exceptional place. It is a centre that has made a long-term commitment to protect the environment and promote environmental understanding. SCENES is committed to protecting its natural environment, minimizing its environmental impact and enabling all connected with the centre to engage with nature and become empowered to make their own personal commitment to the environment. A SCENES leads by example and acts as a positive role model to other Scout and non-Scout centres, to its guests and the local community. It can provide real hands-on educational activities for Scouts and training opportunities for leaders, equipping them with enthusiasm for nature and a desire to do something positive for their home-life environment. SCENES was developed during the 1990s as an initiative of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). Nine Scout centres worldwide developed environmental management practices and education programmes and became formally recognised as SCENES. Several of these centres have become internationally recognized for their excellence in environmental management and education. The SCENES concept has been tested worldwide and has been proven to be practical, relevant and important. The World Scout Environment Programme, launched at the 38th World Scout Conference in 2008, places SCENES as a key component of forward-thinking, environment-focused WOSM. As the World’s leading youth movement, Scouting is well placed to make a big difference in engaging young people with the environment. The ideas at the heart of SCENES are now widely accepted as important among Scout centres worldwide. SCENES enable centres to achieve their environmental goals and benefit fully from their commitment to environmental excellence through its support network and accreditation system.

What are the key components of SCENES?

There are several key components to SCENES. These components combine to provide guidance and support to Scout centres and NSOs wishing to adopt SCENES and ensure continued development and SCENES success. The key components of SCENES are:

• SCENES Practices: There are three key requirements (and sub-requirements) that must be fulfilled by a Scout centre to qualify as SCENES.
• SCENES Environmental Education: Earth Tribe: SCENES supports the implementation of the Earth Tribe Initiative and challenges: Champions for Nature, Tide Turners Plastic and Scouts go Solar.
• SCENES Network: Participation in the SCENES network is a requirement of membership of SCENES. The network provides support and empowers members to guide the development of SCENES into the future.
• SCENES and community: engaging in actions to protect local natural areas, raising awareness and developing capacity from the local community and the wider Scout community. 
• SCENES Administration: WOSM support through the accreditation process through WOSM Services, in partnership with the Scout Centre, their respective NSO/ NSA, and WOSM.

What are the steps to become a SCENES?

The applicant must complete the following steps to begin the SCENES accreditation process:

• Self-assessment and meeting all the SCENES Requirements: consult SCENES Guidelines.
• WOSM Service request to start the accreditation process,
• Peer review Assessment of the SCENES by a member of other SCENES. This is preferably done in person by a representative of other SCENES, but in cases where this is impractical, it can be done remotely or by another Scout Centre.
• Letter by an NSO to WOSM: The NSO should send a letter, with the completed checklist available on SCENES Guidelines and any other useful accompanying documentation to the World Scout Bureau.

The World Scout Bureau will then take steps to review the request:

• Review of Assessment Report and Requirements by WOSM
• Decision for Establishment of SCENE Centre by the WOSM
• Letter of congratulation to NSO/New SCENES Centre (If Accepted)
• Confirmation of the Name/Title for SCENES Certificate
• Signing of SCENES Certificate by the Secretary-General of WOSM
• Sending a letter of confirmation along with SCENES Certificate to the concerned national office of NSO/NSA

Once the scout centre is officially accredited as SCENES, the last steps are:

• Official Announcement of new SCENES: An article is published on scout.org and shared on social media to announce the new SCENES. The centre is added to the list on this page.

Learn more about the current SCENES

If you want to know more about SCENES, please read SCENES Guidelines that you will find in the featured links at https://www.scout.org/scenes The following is the list of documents that describe each SCENES centre: