The language of symbols in Slovenian catholic scout movement

Skavtstvo se je od svojih začetkov s prvim skavtskim taborom na otoku Brownsea leta 1907 pod vodstvom Roberta Badena-Powella v svojem več kot sto let preživetem gibanju razširilo na več kot 50 milijonov skavtinj in skavtov po celem svetu. V slovenskem prostoru je zato moralo preskočiti kar nekaj težkih ovir. Danes število aktivnih članov Združenja slovenskih katoliških skavtinj in skavtov (v nadaljevanju ZSKSS) že presega število pet tisoč. Simbolna govorica je v ZSKSS uporabljena kot vzgojni pripomoček, ki v njenih članih prebudi občutek pripadnosti. Skavtinje in skavti simbole vzamejo za svoje – v največji meri le znotraj organizacije. Ker simboli predstavljajo široko polje pomenov, je normalno, da so včasih razumljeni tudi napačno. To je tudi razlog, zaradi katerega si nekateri skavti ne upajo nadeti rutke ali kroja za v družbo. Razumevanje skavtske simbolike je potrebno gledati iz dveh zornih kotov: iz oči skavta in iz oči neskavta. Ravno zaradi morebitnih napačnih razumevanj simbolike, ki jo skavti uporabljamo, se moramo zavedati, kaj ali koga z nošenjem teh simbolov predstavljamo. Če želimo, da bi skavtska simbolika tudi navzven sporočala enake pomene kot jih sporoča skavtom, moramo to navzven tudi pokazati. S tem mislim, da nismo skavti samo takrat, ko nosimo rutico ali kroj in ko smo skupaj na nekem srečanju ali dogodku, ampak tudi doma, s prijatelji, z družino. Če bodo ljudje spoznali globlji pomen, ki ga predstavlja skavtska simbolika, bodo mogoče končno spoznali, zakaj in kako počnemo, kar počnemo. Vzgajamo mlade k polnemu telesnemu, duševnemu, duhovnemu in družbenemu razvoju, da bodo lahko postali trdne osebnosti, odgovorni državljani in člani krajevnih, narodnih in mednarodnih skupnosti. Govorica simbolov nam pri tem pomaga.From its beginnings with the first Scout camp on the island of Brownsea, in 1907, under the leadership of Robert Baden-Powell, in its more than one hundred years of survival, scouting has expanded to more than 50 million Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts worldwide. In Slovenia, it had to overcome several difficult obstacles. Today, the number of active members of the Association of Slovenian Catholic Girl Guides and Boy Scouts (ZSKSS) has already exceeded the number of five thousand. The symbolic language is in the ZSKSS used as an educational tool, which awakens a sense of belonging in its members. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts use the symbols for their own purposes, mostly within the organization. Since the symbols represent an open field of meanings, they can easily be misunderstood. This is also the reason why some Scouts do not dare to go on the street with their scout uniform. Thus, the understanding of Scout symbolism needs to be seen from two angles: from the scout\u27s eyes and from the eyes of a non-scout. Precisely because of any possible misunderstandings of the symbolism used by scouts, we must be aware of what, or who we are representing with them. If we want the scout symbols to be seen in public as we see them, we must be scouts every minute of the day. Not only when we wear a scout uniform, or when we are together at a meeting or an event, but also at home, with friends, with family. If people realize the deeper meaning that scout symbolism represents, they will finally be able to know why and how we actually do what we are doing. We are educating young people towards full physical, mental, spiritual and social development so that they can become solid personalities, responsible citizens and members of local, national and international communities. And the language of symbols helps us doing it. Key words