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The history of the Calandtroep
The Calandtroep was founded like a Scoutinggroup should be founded. In September of 1913 a couple of boys came to the HQ of the former Rotterdam Scout Movement (RPV) to ask for a leader. They were playing the game of Scouting already a couple of month with roughly 40 boys in one of the parks of Rotterdam and now they had decided that they needed a leader. The only thing we know of those boys yet is that their spokesman was a boy named Jos Okon. We know that he died as a first mate on a ship during world war I. We know more of the result of their request. Shortly before the boys visit to the HQ a bank director named van Kasteel moved to Rotterdam and volunteered to do something for the Rotterdam Scouts. He became the first leader of the Scoutstroop that was the 5th Rotterdam troop, called the Calandtroep. The troop was named after Pieter Caland, the engineer that invented the method to dig a large canal through the sand of the dunes and in that way connected Rotterdam with the sea. In a way, he was the man that made it possible for Rotterdam to become the largest port in the world. In those day we had a lot of streetcars (trams) in Rotterdam and every tram had a line number on a background that differed for each number. The Scouttroops were assigned the colour of neck kerchief of the numberplate of the tram with the same number as the group had. Tram line 5 had a grey background and that is why we still wear a grey neck kerchief. Van Kasteel was an energetic man and it took a him only a short time to bring the Calandtroep to fame. Other troops took the Calandtroep as their example and when a troop was short of leaders they called for help to the Calandtroep. A lot of the Rovers from our troop (members of the famous Ganesha's) became leaders in other troops and the Kasteel pact was formed. Finally 4 troops were connected in this way to the Calandtroep. Van Kasteel died in the second world war after being in charge of the group for more then 25 years. His place was taken by Wim Hoogenstrijd. A very creative and driven Scout. Wim (or HoHo as he was called) became the first professional Scout of Rotterdam and his ideas are still valid. He wrote a lot of songs and created more then 10 Scoutmusicals who were very successful. After Wim Hoogenstrijd left the Calandtroep, after his 25 years of leadership his place was taken by Mr Zwamborn. In this time the troopskipper became skipper Hogervorst, who transformed the Calandtroep into a Seascouttroop. When he left the Calandtroep got into a very difficult period. Sometimes there was a new troopskipper every new week. Finally there were 22 scouts left and the only leader was a young man that was a hospital nurse and was only available once or twice a month. The troop was dying. The parent asked Wim Hogenstrijd for help during a parentsmeeting in which the group should be terminated. Wim remembered a young leader that just stopped Scouting. He called him and asked him to come to the meeting. Unaware of what was going on he entered the meetingroom and Wim (very dramatically) asked him to become leader of the Calandtroep or else the troop would be stopped that evening. Well I ask you what would you have done?? That was 27 years ago. I knew nothing of seascouting and knew hardly the front of the back of a boat. Still I don't regret it. Shortly after that event Erik de Man entered the Calandtroep and together (with the help of a changing number of staffmembers) we managed to get the troop back on the place where it belongs. Right at the top!!! The secret of the Calandtroep is that the leaders are ONE team who can discus every item together and take all decisions together. The staff of the Calandtroep is one of the most stabile in Holland. most of the leaders stay in the troop for many years and (even when they have to leave) keep a close relationship with the troop. Next to that the atmosphere in the group is one of respect for the other. The boys are teached to understand each other and to make friends together. Of cource there is an argument sometimes (boys will be boys) but it never lasts long. This, together with the willingness of the Calandtroep to participate in all kind of events and the fact that the leaders are willing and able to take responsibilities in district and Admiralty makes the Calandtroep very well known all over Holland. |