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Scouts come together for three days of fun
14/08/2009
Scouts from across the world will be gathering at Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre for Reunion 2009, an activity camp where adult volunteers share knowledge, enjoy outdoor activities and take part in workshops packed full of ideas to help them in providing great Scouting to young people.
Taking place from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September, over 2000 adult volunteers and members of Scout Network (UK Scouting's Section for young people aged 18-25) will be coming together for an event that was first held 89 years ago.
Those attending will have the opportunity to meet the UK Chief Commissioner Wayne Bulpitt and his team, who make up UK Scouting's volunteer leadership team alongside Chief Scout and TV adventurer Bear Grylls.
The event will also celebrate 90 years since the first Wood Badge training course was held at Gilwell Park. The first Wood Badge course to take place at Gilwell was Monday 8 to Friday 19 September 1919 only a few weeks after Gilwell Park was officially opened in July 1919.
Founder of the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell, created the Wood Badge training as an opportunity to share ideas and learn the skills Scout Leaders need to provide Scouting's programme of adventure and outdoor activity to young people.
Today, adult volunteers all over the world take part in their Wood Badge training. Upon completion they become members of the 1st Gilwell Park Scout Group, the only world-wide Scout Group.
As well as sharing ideas, Scouts will be taking part in a broad range of activities including hot air ballooning, climbing and archery.
If you're a Scout book your place at Reunion 2009 now!
There are still some places left if you're an adult volunteer in Scouting.
Book your place at Reunion now.
Providing adventure to the UK’s young people
Scouting is more popular than ever, with adult volunteering increasing at the fastest rate for 23 years and just as many girls as boys now joining. 100,000 Scout volunteers give up their time to provide adventurous activities to 400,000 6-25 year olds. Despite this, demand still outstrips supply and waiting lists remain at an all-time high due to the need for more adult volunteers.
By volunteering for Scouting you not only benefit from supporting young people, you also gain from developing yourself.
There are lots of
flexible volunteering opportunities.
Comments
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By Moz
on 14/08/2009 14:30 I'll be there!
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By Clare
on 15/08/2009 19:03 Don't you have to hold wood badge nowadays to go to reunion? (not just an adult volunteer) And what are the scouts doing on an adult weekend??
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By Leanne Oscroft
on 16/08/2009 11:54 I find it very interesting that the picture used to advertise this event shows a young person taking part in an activity. I have not attended a reunion for the past few years since it was made very clear by Gilwell that the children of the adult leaders where no longer welcome. Seeing as my husband and I are both involved in scouting, as are our parents, it meant we were forced to make a choice between spending time together as a family or being at the reunion and enjoying what it had to offer. Family time won. Are my children now welcome at the reunion and able to take part in the activities?
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By Claire Nicoll
on 18/08/2009 11:31 Leanne's comments reflect my first thoughts when I saw the picture that linked to this article! I have enjoyed many Reunions in the past, but not in recent years for the same reason as Leanne. The Scout Association has done a lot of good work to accommodate the flexibility required by today's volunteers - perhaps a review of Reunion is required to see how Reunion does or doesn't support the needs of many different types of adult volunteers? I hope Bear Grylls enjoys his first Reunion! (Will he be taking his kids?)
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By beaver leader lilac
on 19/08/2009 11:50 coming to you for my first weekend at gilwell , yes i have my beads and very proud of them , very much looking forward to attending with my scout leader , and hopefully will bring home some new ideas for our meetings . p.s hope you got lots of badges as i like to get one from every camp for my very own camp blanket . see you very soon . lilac
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By Steve
on 19/08/2009 12:35 Although the term "Scouts" is used, it actually refers to adult scouts as I recall that this is an adults only weekend.
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By Keith Farmery
on 19/08/2009 19:31 There doesn't seem to be a reply to Claire and Leanne's comments.
Why?
Are we having problems recognising family?
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By Matt Oakes - Web Team
on 20/08/2009 15:13 Hello,
The picture was from Reunion 2006 taken off our Photo Library. Apologies if it's appeared to be misleading, it has now been replaced with another Reunion image hopefully less so.
To clarify the situation. Reunion is an event aimed at adult volunteers. The programme is focussed on adult volunteers and providing adults with ideas and support to run the youth programme. There is no programme of activities for children and child tickets are not available for this event.
In the past people have turned up with their children, however, as there is only the one ticket type available for the event the cost is the same as it would be for an adult.
I have passed your comments on though to the organising team.
Kind regards,
Matt
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By Gil 3rd Dubai Scouts/Explorer Leader
on 21/08/2009 18:48 Really looking forward to the Reunion, living abroad has made it impossible to attend until now, so Waahay! here i come!!!!
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