{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Stu Bennett, UK Contingent Leadership Team ","standfirst":"We\u2019re back. Just under 500 UK Scouts have now returned from the 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal, which they shared with 7,000 others from over 117 countries.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/gkof5jjt/participant-post-card-for-16th-world-scout-moot-portugal.jpg","width":2480,"height":1748,"altText":"The image shows 14 photos of Scouts at the 16th World Scout Moot in a collage. In the top right corner is the Moot logo on a blue background.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022#\u0022 title=\u0022About the Moot\u0022\u003EWorld Scout Moots\u003C/a\u003E take place every four years, with a different host country each time. They\u2019re a chance for Scouts aged 18 to 25 to build friendships and share cultures.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThose who took part from the UK were from our Scout Network. We also had some amazing volunteers aged 25\u002B attending as International Service Team members, plus a small Contingent Management Team.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter two years of planning, preparing and fundraising our UK Pod (proudly sporting our dolphin logo) was ready to dive into Portugal.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ESetting off\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOn 24 July, our participants departed from a range of UK airports to start their adventure in Lisbon. The opening ceremony took place at Parque Tejo, a stunning location with a view of the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the second longest bridge in Europe.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs soon as the ceremony finished, they travelled to one of 120 paths across Portugal, including on the Madria and Azure isles. On their paths, they camped and cooked in international patrols with Scouts from around the world, creating unique friendships while exploring the local area.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe paths had different themes from adventure to culture, spirituality to society, with a unique, locally planned programme to take part in.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/syejxfhj/uk-contingent-16th-world-scout-moot-2025.jpg","width":2945,"height":1423,"altText":"The image shows participants for the 16th World Scout Moot stood in a group on a football playing field.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHeading to the main camp\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter five days on the paths, it was time to start the next chapter of the adventure. Participants travelled by bus and train across Portugal to the stunning main camp in Cortega\u00E7a, Ovar. Still camping with their paths, a packed programme of cultural and adventurous activities was available.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere was also a chance to explore the local area and take part in evening entertainment. International Night was a highlight, giving each country the opportunity to showcase their country; including a fantastic ceilidh led by our Scottish participants.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EHelping hands\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThroughout the Moot, our dedicated International Service Team members helped make the event happen.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETaking on a range of roles from building the main camp to catering and safety, helping run paths and programme; they made a huge difference to young people from all over the world. They also learned new skills, made friends and explored Portugal.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/hw1pbwfn/16th-world-scout-moot-portugal-2025.jpg","width":2048,"height":2048,"altText":"The image shows a bunch of Scouts from different countries looking towards a stage where streamers have just been set off. The stage says \u0027Moot Official\u0027.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003EA grand finale\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe fun didn\u2019t stop there. The final day of the official programme was 3 August when participants packed their tents early and headed into Porto for a day of exploration and sightseeing. The Moot was then rounded off with a stunning closing ceremony celebrating the journey we\u2019d all been on.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAt this point, some of our UK Contingent members headed home, but for others the adventure continued with a post event experience in Madrid. From walking tours to visiting the royal palace, flamenco shows to a special celebration evening, it was the perfect way to round off our time together.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003ELasting memories\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt was a truly magical few weeks of Scouts, with so many new memories unlocked and friendships created. The Moot will stay in our participants our hearts and minds for a long time to come. We know they\u2019ll go on to take part or lead some amazing \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/international-events/\u0022 title=\u0022International Events\u0022\u003Einternational experiences in the future\u003C/a\u003E, including the next World Scout Moot in Taiwan in 2029.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/441j4mwc/sunset-at-16th-world-scout-moot-in-portugal.jpg","width":1267,"height":1095,"altText":"The image shows the sunset at the 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal. The sun is setting over the sea, and there are Scouts gathered in front of a stage just before the ocean.","caption":"","link":null},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019d like to share the Moot journey with your Section, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=portugal\u0022 data-anchor=\u0022?name=portugal\u0022\u003Etake a look at these fantastic Portuguese ideas on our Activity Finder\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Share your story","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"21 August 2025","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"16th World Scout Moot 2025","url":null,"newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Bring the Moot to your Section with these Portuguese activity ideas","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/?name=portugal","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"International Events","url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/international-scouts-and-events/international-events/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[],"id":86840,"nodeName":"Making a splash in Portugal at the 16th World Scout Moot","title":"Making a splash in Portugal at the 16th World Scout Moot","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/gkof5jjt/participant-post-card-for-16th-world-scout-moot-portugal.jpg?cc=0,0,0,0.20194508009153317\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dc12a98f3a2e00","caption":"Participant Post Card For 16Th World Scout Moot Portugal","type":"jpg","size":684091,"width":2480,"height":1748,"altText":""},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Making a splash in Portugal at the 16th World Scout Moot","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Just under 500 UK Scouts have now returned from the 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal. Here\u0027s how they got on.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC84Njg0MCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2025/august/making-a-splash-in-portugal-at-the-16th-world-scout-moot/"}