Be Prepared. What it means for Ukrainian Scouts

“Be Prepared” is the Scout motto first introduced by Robert Baden-Powell and shared by Scout organizations around the world.

For Ukrainian Scouts — Plast — this motto carries a deep historical, cultural, and lived meaning.

In Plast, the idea of being prepared starts from the youngest age. Our youngest members, Cub Scouts, use the Scout motto ”Be prepared”, learning step by step how to grow, care for others, and take responsibility.
Older Scouts greet each other with the word ”SKOB.”
At first glance, SKOB is the Ukrainian name of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a powerful bird that Plast chose as its symbol.

But the word also holds a deeper meaning.

Each letter of SKOB stands for a core quality of a Plast Scout:

• S – Strong in mind and body
• K – Beautiful in soul
• O – Careful and responsible in plans and decisions
• B – Quick in thought and action
These qualities are not abstract ideas — they are values meant to be practiced in everyday life.

Plast also expresses them through symbols:
• An oak leaf symbolizes strength — the oak is a strong, enduring tree
• Red viburnum berries (kalyna), a traditional Ukrainian symbol, represent inner beauty and dignity
• A fly agaric mushroom reminds us of caution — knowing dangers and acting wisely
• A lightning bolt symbolizes quick thinking and decisive action

For Ukrainian Scouts, “Be Prepared” is being prepared to serve, to protect, to help others, and to stay true to our values — even in the hardest times of our country’s history.