Each year many thousands of Scouts participate in international camps organised at local level. Some camps have a high proportion of international participation. However, some only attract a small number of overseas participants, which makes it more difficult to justify calling the camps international particularly if there are few international activities in the programme.
Since the early 1990s, Global Development Villages have become a key feature of world events and, increasingly, their potential has been used by UK international camps. Scouts from the UK, as well as those visiting from other countries, have expectations of what an international camp should include, not least that there should be the opportunity to mix with Scouts from other countries and to experience aspects of life from another country.
Global Explorer builds on current good practice and seeks to extend it to a wider circle. It is a quality incentive for event organisers and a support for marketing: Global Explorer is a system of recognising good international programming which "kite marks" events which are prepared to promote, prepare for and implement this important aspect of Scouting.
Events prepared to sign-up for the scheme will have their event endorsed as providing programme opportunities to be "Global Explorers".
There is a special symbol to use on printed material and web sites:
