The Scout Association of Guyana

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The Scout Association of Guyana is the national Scouting organization of Guyana. Its headquarters are on Woolford Avenue in Georgetown.

It was established in 1967 as the successor to the British Guiana branch of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom and joined the World Organization of the Scout Movement in the same year. By 2008, it had 424 registered members.

Scouting began in Guyana in 1909, making Guyana the first Caribbean country to start Scouting and the fifth in the world. The first Scout Troop formed at Queen’s College under the leadership of George Manly.

Many troops were formed at church schools, including St. Mary’s, St. Theresa’s, St. Stanislaus, St. Francis, St. Thomas More, HQ Troop 39, St. Pius, and Central High in Georgetown. St. Stanislaus College Troop 25 was established in 1911 for Roman Catholic boys and later became co-educational. Father Bernard Darke, S.J., who trained as a Scout Leader at Gilwell, England, served on Guyana’s Scout Executive Committee.

The first Jamboree Camp in British Guiana was held in 1912. The 2019 National Camp marked the 110th anniversary of Scouting in Guyana.

To reach the highest rank, a Scout must pass standard proficiency tests and earn badges in agriculture, which teach them to feed themselves from their own produce.

Early on, commissioners were called District Commissioners; in 1920 the title changed to Colony Commissioner. Over the years, the organization has had various commissioners.