Takeover Gilwell
Calling all Cubs, Scouts and Explorers - Takeover Gilwell Park with our summer-camp style event. Meet other groups and take part in activities you can't do on an average Tuesday night.
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Cubs Takeover Gilwell
£105.00 per young person, including a full programme of activities, catering and camping space. Adults required for the supervising ratio are free of charge, additional adults will be charged at £50 to cover costs such as catering. You will however need to bring a minimum of 2 leaders so if you are only bringing 2 leaders they will both be free.
Scouts Takeover Gilwell
£325.00 per young person, including a full programme of activities, a day trip, catering and camping space. Adults required for the supervising ratio are free of charge, additional adults will be charged at £95 to cover costs such as catering. You will however need to bring a minimum of 2 leaders so if you are only bringing 2 leaders they will both be free.
Explorers Takeover Gilwell
£325.00 per young person, including a full programme of activities, a day trip, catering and camping space. Adults required the supervising ratio are free of charge, additional adults will be charged at £95 to cover costs such as catering. You will however need to bring a minimum of 2 leaders so if you are only bringing 2 leaders they will both be free.
Cubs
If the leader doesn't yet have a Nights Away Permit suitable for the event, they can contact us to discuss how we can still allow them to bring their Cubs to the event before confirming the booking. All other requirements must still be in place, such as ratios.
Scouts and Explorers
Scouts or Explorers can attend on an Event Passport if all the rules of this are met. This includes them being self-sufficient, however we can assist as part of their InTouch process. For example, if they have to phone their leader, who has signed off the Passport, that leader can contact us to assist in person if needed, rather than them having to be nearby.
Scouts and Explorers must have a leader with them unless an Event Passport is in place.
If the leader doesn't yet have a Nights Away Permit suitable for the event, they can contact us to discuss how we can still allow them to bring their Scouts or Explorers to the event before confirming the booking. All other requirements must still be in place, such as ratios.
There are further details on Nights Away here, and further details on Events Passports here.
This event is hosted by Scout Adventures at Gilwell Park, close to London, just off J26 of the M25, and down the road from Chingford Overground Station.
Gilwell Park will open from 13:00 on the first day of the event.
All vehicles staying will be parked on-site. There'll also be a drop-off/pick-up area available.
Our Traffic Management team will be there to help you. Please follow signage and their directions, and most importantly, do be patient with us.
To save time and resources, we won't be using paper parking permits this year. We'll collect vehicle registrations ahead of the event, both for security and in case we need to get hold of you.
If you have accessibility needs, please let our Traffic Management team know on arrival and they'll work with you to find a suitable parking space.
We recommend arriving by 16:00 to allow you time to set up before dinner and our first activities.
All three events will end at 13:00 on the last day. You should plan pick-ups or to depart the centre for this time.
Check-in will be located at Scout Adventures reception from 13:00. We’ll make sure it’s sign-posted so you don’t get lost!
You must check in as soon as you arrive at the centre.
If you have an outstanding balance on your booking, please be ready to pay by card. Unfortunately, we’re not able to accept payment by cash or cheque.
Scouts and Explorers will also get to go on a local day out at part of the programme.
In 2023, we took groups to some of the most popular tourist attractions in London and ran a Monopoly Run too. This year's day out will be confirmed soon.
For groups, we'll provide transport, directions, do all the planning and book your tickets for you. It'll be your responsibility to take your group and look after them for the day.
We'll provide packed lunches for the day. Groups will be able to opt out of dinner if they'd prefer to stay out for the whole day.
Members of our staff, volunteers and external providers will be responsible for providing the activities and programme. Everything we do is appropriately risk assessed and insured, and all staff trained to deliver the task or activity they’re undertaking.
The centre also has a Duty Manager who is ultimately responsible for the running of the centre and the event. They’re in place to support staff, visitors and ensure everything runs smoothly.
The Duty Manager has 24/7 access to the Scouts safeguarding and safety team, an on-call senior manager, and other resources to support them.
All of our centre staff have disclosure checks (DBS), and have completed safeguarding and First Aid training. We also have Mental Health First Aiders in our staff team.
Everyone at Scouts follows the Young People First code (Yellow Card).
Groups will be responsible for looking after the welfare and safety of the young people they’re bringing in the first instance, just like any other Scout camp or event. Groups will need to ensure they follow the normal Nights Away guidance, permit scheme and adult to young people ratios.
Full-board catering is provided for everyone attending from dinner on the first day of the event, until lunch on the final day of the event. This means that you’ll need to bring lunch for the first day if you’re planning on eating when you arrive.
Catering will be canteen-style meals, served by our team in the Adventure Kitchen, which opened just last year. A menu will follow closer to the time.
We’ll cater for the dietary requirements that you provide when registering.
Don’t forget – you’ll need to bring your own camping equipment. This means a tent, roll mat and sleeping bag plus all of the usual stuff you’d need for a week away.
Have a look at our kit list for some recommendations on what to bring. Do think carefully about packing anything valuable, expensive or electronic – we’re not able to take responsibility for anything that’s lost or damaged.
We’ll provide covered space for activities and any wet weather, so individuals don’t need to worry! However, groups are welcome to bring their own event shelters, marquees etc. too if they’d like to.
Pitches will be allocated as you arrive – our team will direct you and help individuals to set up if they need it.
Find more information about camping at Gilwell Park in our Everything you need to know download.
Please wear your wristband throughout the event. Keep it friendly if someone asks to see yours - everyone is entitled to check.
This helps us to identify who, and more importantly who shouldn't, be on-site.
If you lose a wristband, please make your way to the help point and we'll replace it for you.
The centre is 108 acres of open land with a public footpath and various access points. Please remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to a member of staff.
Keep valuables at home if you can, and keep anything you do bring in-sight or on your person.
We're hoping to have merchandise available to buy from Scout Store. We'll have more information soon.
A Takeover 2024 badge is included with your ticket, and will be available to collect at check-in.
There'll be a chance to visit our on-site shop, The Providore, which sells small souvenirs, gifts, sweets, cold drinks etc.
No pets, other than assistance animals, are permitted on the centre.
Smoking is not permitted in front of young people, and only in designated smoking areas. No alcohol is permitted into the event.
Bins are located across all areas of the centre. Please help us to recycle by putting dry, clean mixed recyclables into the large green bins; and any other waste in the black bins or litter bins.
Toilets will be cleaned regularly by our team, and hand soap and toilet roll is provided. Accessible toilets are available.
There are no fridges or freezers available to store food and drink.
Please be considerate of others wishes when taking photos. No drones may be flown over Gilwell Park without express written permission from the event management team.
Most networks give good signal at Gilwell Park, and WI-FI is available across much of the centre.
Gilwell Park will return to hosting other groups after Takeover, so please help us give a good impression of Scouts by leaving your pitch and other areas of the centre you use as you found them.
The majority of our event staff are volunteers who have given up their time to make your visit to Gilwell Park safe and enjoyable. Please keep the Scouts values in mind when interacting with others. We have a zero tolerance approach to any type of abuse – you will be removed from the centre and details shared with your Lead Volunteer and/or the police.
Greeters, map readers, tea makers and mentors. Our events wouldn't happen without fantastic volunteers giving up their time. Volunteer staff applications for Takeover will open early next year.
If you need a hand
Scout Adventures reception will be open throughout the event, clearly sign-posted and marked on the map. You’ll find staff wearing Scout Adventures uniform or an event staff necker.
For emergencies or urgent out-of-hours help, contact the Duty Manager on 0788 576 5074.
Lost children
We'll have a Lost Child point, with staff trained to take appropriate action to reunite them as quickly as possible.
First Aid
First Aid will be available throughout the weekend.
Defibrillators are located in the staff car park and at Wilson Way car park. The access codes to these are available from the Duty Manager or the ambulance service.
In the event of an emergency
- Immediately inform a member of staff. They will take appropriate action and call for help.
- Follow all directions issued by staff.
- All calls for emergency services should be made by the Duty Manager (0788 576 5074), except where a delay would be life-threatening.
Discovery of a fire
- Activate the fire alarm or use a fire bell if present and warn people in the area.
- Try to control small fires using fire buckets or an appropriate extinguisher until help arrives. Don’t put yourself at risk – if in doubt, leave it alone.
- Evacuate the area immediately.
In the event of a terror attack
In the event of a terrorist attack, follow the government run, hide, tell advice.
- RUN to a place of safety. This is a far better option than to surrender or negotiate. If there’s nowhere to go, then…
- HIDE It’s better to hide than to confront. Remember to turn your phone to silent and turn off vibrate. Barricade yourself in if you can. Then finally and only when it is safe to do so…
- TELL the police by calling 999.
Centre evacuation
In the event of a full evacuation of the centre, staff will marshal you to the chosen Assembly Point using the safest route. Follow their instructions and do not leave the centre until instructed.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Email us on takeover@scoutadventures.org.uk or give us a ring on 020 8138 0191 for help.
About Takeover Gilwell
We're Gilwell Park - the original home of adventure and skills for life. This summer, we’re inviting Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from across the country to take us over. Meet new friends, try new things and develop skills for life.
Immerse yourself in nature. Camp under the stars. Learn skills to make a difference in your community. Create projects with a real lasting impact. Experience new cultures. Understand the environment around you.
Takeover Gilwell is a summer-camp style event with an action-packed programme. You'll work towards achieving new badges that you can’t do on an average Monday night. Takeover is built around ticking off elements of the Scouts activity badges, challenge awards and top awards.
Included: key moments that bring everyone together, your chance to make your mark with an impact project, a local day out for Scouts and Explorers, and catering for the entire week.
