This summer, Caitlín, a Rover Scout from the 25th Limerick (Shannon Banks), travelled to Portugal to take part in the 25th World Scout Moot. The World Scout Moot is an international Scout event for Rover Scouts aged 18 to 25. Here, Caitlín recounts her experience.
Two weeks in Portugal this summer, a small contingent of Irish Scouts joined 7,000 Rovers and 1,000 IST from 110 countries for the 25th World Scout Moot—an adventure of a lifetime.
I was on Path 72, a cultural route in Óbidos focused on pedagogy. Mornings meant hiking and games; afternoons were for exploring or relaxing on the beach. Evenings were spent over tea or juice, swapping stories about our cultures and playing cards.
On our free nights, friends and I roamed the castle grounds, sampled local food and drinks, and even walked the castle walls—exhilarating at that height. At our cultural night, I shared tea brack, explained the wonder of a Tayto crisp sandwich, and showed Scouting Ireland badges and neckerchiefs.
The main camp was set in a forest between Cortagea and Ovar. With day trips to nearby villages, lively contingent tents, and skills bases, there was always something to do. I tried go-karting, learned about Carnival, played drums, and wore costumes. As a food lover, the highlight was tasting Portuguese sweets—and even making some in an on-site workshop.
They were two of the best weeks I’ve had: we made friends, tried fantastic food and drink, and stepped out of our comfort zones through new activities. As a group, we visited Lisbon, Ovar, and Porto, and I had the opportunity to explore the medieval village of Óbidos. Overall, attending the Moot was the highlight of the summer—from being on the path, to main camp and even post-camp—it was hard to leave Portugal in the end.