FSE Scout Group · San Giovanni Lantrua
Scout Group Arma di Taggia 1 was born in the early 1960s from the wish of a young priest, Don Enrico, to let the youngsters who came to the Oratory experience the adventure of scouting.
Although it did not belong to any recognised organisation, the Group has always been inspired by the educational method of the FSE (Federazione Scout d'Europa).
In February 2001, at the founder's suggestion, it was decided to make the Group "official" by registering it as a member of the Associazione Italiana Guide e Scout d'Europa Cattolici.
The Group is named after San Giovanni Lantrua, a saint born in Molini di Triora, in the hinterland of our valley, who died a martyr in China during his mission of evangelisation in the early 1800s. Recently we have also been able to open a small girls' section, thanks to the arrival of a qualified leader from an FSE group in Sicily who moved to our area for work and got in touch with us to continue her Service.
An FSE Group is normally made up of the following units:
| Age range | Boys' section | Girls' section |
|---|---|---|
| 9–11 years | Pack (Cub Scouts) | Circle (Brownies) |
| 11–16 | Troop (Scouts) | Troop (Guides) |
| 16–21 | Clan (Rovers) | Fire (Rangers) |
| over 21 | Rovers in Service and Leaders | Rangers in Service and Leaders |
Today Group Arma di Taggia 1 has almost 60 members, divided as follows:
Our youngsters meet weekly from September to June, leading up to the summer camps held in July and August. Great importance is given to "life in the open air", where contact with nature plays a fundamental role.
Even in autumn and winter, helped by our area's mild climate, we try to hold most of our activities outdoors: starting from the grounds of our Oratory, moving on to the beaches and, with the older ones, venturing out on trips of one or more days into our wonderful hinterland.
We have given each Unit of the Group a special, meaningful name that recalls something distinctive about our culture and our land: the "Giglio Selvatico" Pack, inspired by a rare, protected flower typical of our mountains which, besides being the symbol of the Scouts, stands for purity; the "La Fortezza" Troop, in honour of the fortress that stands on the coast guarding the valley and as a reminder of the cardinal virtue of fortitude; the "Stella Maris" Clan, in honour of Mary and of our closeness to the sea; and the girls' Fire "Chiara Luce Badano", in memory of the Ligurian Blessed whose life is an example for our girls.
To get a clearer idea of what we do, visit our Federation's website, where you will find plenty of information.
Visit FSE.itYou are welcome to contact us directly through the following channels:
Here is a short video by the Association, also published by "La Gazzetta dello Sport", about a "unusual" time that, in spite of everything, did not stop us.
