The 16th World Scout Moot has now underway in Lisbon, Portugal! An engaging opening ceremony at Parque das Nações marked the launch of ten days of skill-building activities, leadership pathways, intercultural exchanges, and immersion in local communities, capturing the spirit of global Scouting.
This year’s Moot is the largest yet, welcoming around 7,500 Scouts and volunteers from 117 countries. Participants will take part in a range of activities from adventure sports and educational sessions to community projects and cultural exchanges.
Organised by the Scout Federation of Portugal in partnership with World Scouting, and supported by governmental and local entities, this event brings together Rover Scouts from around the world for an exciting and engaging programme designed to build critical skills and create lifelong memories.
World Scout Committee Chair Daniël Corsen welcomed participants at the opening ceremony, describing them as representing “a generation of Scouts ready to tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing our planet. From promoting peace to addressing climate change to championing mental health, you all have the opportunity to act as global citizens to make our world a better place.”
As in previous years, the Moot programme is split into two parts. First, Scouts travel in international teams to explore different parts of the host country, fostering intercultural exchange, understanding, and friendship. They then make their way to the main campsite in Cortegaça on the northern coast, where the entire group comes together for shared experiences and activities, making it a truly global celebration of Scouting.
Addressing the participants, World Scout Committee member Elise Drouet emphasised the importance of youth leadership: “As young leaders and Rover Scouts, you are the driving force of this global movement. Your energy, your ideas, your action. This is what keeps the Scouting spirits alive and as relevant today as it was a century ago.”
Sustainability is a major focus of this year’s event. A dedicated strategy – aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Scouts4SDG framework – aims to minimise the event’s environmental and social impact. Measures include water refill stations, an ecocentre for waste management, and a plan to donate unopened food trays to local organisations.
Held every four years, the Moot is an international gathering for Scouts aged 18 to 25, promoting cultural exchange, leadership, and adventure. The next edition will be hosted by the Scouts of China in 2029.
Text by World Scouting
