Introduction: Scouting is an educational organisation whose core mission is to develop and cultivate personal qualities in young people that they will later transfer to their immediate and wider social environment. This is achieved through structured leisure time in nature, which enables young people to develop their personalities in a positive direction and thus contribute to building a better world for all. Occupation is a central concept in occupational therapy and refers to activities that give meaning and purpose to the individual and contribute to improving their way of life. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to explore how Scout leaders experience scouting as a form of occupation and what meanings and experiences they associate with this role in their lives. The focus was placed on their personal growth, values, and everyday life. Methods: The qualitative study involved four Scout leaders — three women and one man — with an average age of twenty-four years and an average membership of eight years in one of the Slovenian scout groups. We conducted semi-structured interviews, which were recorded with their consent, transcribed verbatim and then analysed using content analysis. Results: We identified four categories: personal growth, integration into everyday life, time management and community. The results show that the participants perceive Scouting as an activity that contributes significantly to the development of self-confidence and a positive self-image, the assumption of responsibility, organisational and communication skills, the development of skills and the formation of positive values. The outdoor activities, mutual support and leadership role— in which they serve as role models for their group members are seen as a valuable contribution to their quality of life. Scouting is high on their list of priorities, and they often adjust other commitments such as school and work to maintain their role in the organisation. Scouting has become an important part of their identity and lifestyle. Discussion and conclusion: The study confirms that Scouting has great potential as an activity that promotes a positive self-image, strengthens a sense of belonging, improves time management and contributes to a higher quality of life. This is in line with the philosophy of occupational therapy, which supports people in engaging in meaningful activities and emphasises the potential of structured activities to improve mental and physical health.
|
