Some 1,200 Scout leaders attended this year’s annual Scoutopia gathering at the Chevetogne provincial park on Saturday, Belga News Agency reports.
Due to the health crisis, this was the first time in three years that the annual event was held in person, and the overwhelming response by the scout leaders was reflected in the attendance, which was greater than ever before. Normally, about 800 persons take part in the gathering, according to the organisers, the non-profit Les Scouts organisation.
The theme of the day was eco-sensitivity. Activities included a big collective game, lectures by experts and an associative village linking a score of organisations active in areas such as energy transition, sustainable food systems and waste management.
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Ministers responsible for environmental and related affairs were present at the event. At the end of the day, Wallonia’s Environment Minister Céline Tellier, and Christelle Alexandre, president of the Federation of Scouts, planted an oak tree in the Chevetogne Park to symbolise the scouts’ participation in the ‘Yes we plant’ project.
Under this project, some 3,200 trees have been planted since last September.
