On the 14th December 1998, the first corner post of Global Campsite was stacked on the Web, by an Irish Senior Patrol Leader, known as CrashAid. Armed with the basic web skills and big hopes, Crash set out to give something different to web viewing world.

The site is an off-shoot of Global Campfire, an on-line community hosted by CrashAid for members of the scouting and guiding movements. and has many aims. The first and foremost is to promote scouting and guiding, as CA himself explains. "Over my time in scouting I have learned so much, and received so much; yet I am slightly annoyed of how little scouting and guiding is heard off or thought off in mainstream society. I wanted to show everyone how big, great and important the Scouting and Guiding movements truly are. What better forum to address the world than the internet?"

Crash joined the Cub Scouts when he was eight years old. Nine and a half years, and I'll still in the Unit, having gone through cub, scouts and now as a junior scout leader. "The thing I have enjoyed most, and truly love about scouting, is the global scale of it. I've been at Jamborees and been part of Home Hospitality, found out about people and scouting from different cultures. It really is an eye-opener, and each international camp bring something new."

Global Campsite is hoped to become one of the biggest collections of scouting and guiding information on the World Wide Web. Currently its main objective is to collect the links of all scouting and guiding sections with web sites. "This is a big undertaking to say the least. Via communities like Global Campfire, I have gotten to know people from across the world, but this is really a small selection considering the millions out there. The problem will be getting word to all these people to convince them to strike camp here. I would be good to have an international focal point for scouting and guiding on-line, a mass data base of information; and also a means for people to get to know each other. That is the overall goal."

A lofty goal to say the least, but Crash insists that he will do all he can, and will try to get others involved too. "I learn new things about web-mastering the whole time. This site will continue to expand and improve as long as I have the time to work on it. As I have just started college, I spend my free time tweaking what is here on the site. Ideally I would like to people to volunteer, and together we would strive to met that ultimate goal. We'll see what happens in the future."

With people already registering or "Striking Camp on the Global Campsite"; that future might not be so far away.

Article: Michael O'Neill
Pictures: CrashAid