Brownsea Island Scout camp

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The Brownsea Island Scout Camp was the world's first Scout camp, and is regarded as the formal birth of the worldwide Scout movement. Robert Baden-Powell ran the camp from August 1 to August 8, 1907 on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour on the South coast of England. Many of the concepts still used worldwide in the Scout program were first used at the Brownsea Island camp.

The centenary of Scouting will be celebrated worldwide on the 100th anniversary of the start of the camp, on August 1, 2007.

Contents 1 Background 2 The first Scouts 3 The site 4 Uniform and badges 5 Camp program 6 Aftermath 7 The site today 8 See also 9 References

[edit] Background

Baden-Powell had become a national hero as a result of his successful defence during the Siege of Mafeking of 1899–1900 during the Anglo-Boer War.^[1] During the siege, the Mafeking Cadets had impressed him with their resourcefulness and courage. He had also published a number of popular books on military scouting, including Aids to Scouting (written in 1899) which became a bestseller and was used by teachers and youth organisations. In the years following the war, he began discussing the idea of a new youth organisation with a number of people, including William Alexander Smith, founder of the Boys' Brigade. To test his ideas for "Scouting for Boys", Baden-Powell conceived of an experimental camp, and organised a camp to take place on Brownsea Island during the summer of 1907. He invited his life-long friend, Major Kenneth McLaren, to attend the camp as his deputy.

[edit] The first Scouts

Baden-Powell invited 20 boys to the camp, from different social backgrounds - a revolutionary idea in class-conscious Edwardian England.^[2] Ten came from the well-to-do public schools of Eton and Harrow, mostly sons of friends of Baden-Powell. Seven came from the Bournemouth Boys' Brigade, and three from the Poole Boys' Brigade. Baden-Powell's 9 year old nephew Donald Baden-Powell also attended. The camp fee was dependent on means: £1 for the public school boys, and three shillings and sixpence (17½ p) for the others. The boys were arranged into four "Patrols": Wolves, Ravens, Bulls and Curlews.

[edit] The site

Brownsea Island covers 560 acres of woodland and open areas with two lakes. Baden-Powell had visited the site as a boy with his brothers, and the owner, Charles van Raalte, was happy to offer him use of the site. It suited his needs perfectly as it was isolated from the mainland and hence the press, but only a short ferry trip from the town of Poole, making the logistics easier.

[edit] Uniform and badges

The boys wore khaki scarves and were presented with brass fleur-de-lis badges, the first use of the Scout emblem. They wore a coloured knot on their shoulder indicating their Patrol - green for Bulls, blue for Wolves, yellow for Curlews, and red for Ravens. The Patrol Leader carried a staff with a flag depicting the patrol animal. After passing tests on knots, tracking, and the national flag, they were given another brass badge, a scroll with the words Be Prepared, to wear below the fleur-de-lis.

[edit] Camp program

The camp began with a blast from a kudu horn Baden-Powell had captured in the Matabele campaign. He used the same kudu horn to open the "coming of age" Jamboree 21 years later in 1929. Baden-Powell made full use of his personal fame as the "hero" of the Siege of Mafeking. For many of the participants, the highlights of the camp were his campfire yarns of his African experiences, and the Zulu "Eengonyama" chant - meaning "he is a lion".

Each Patrol camped in an army bell tent. The day began with cocoa, exercises, flag break and prayers, followed by the morning activity. After lunch there was a strict siesta, followed by the afternoon activity and Tea. The day ended with games, supper, campfire yarns and prayers.

Each day was based on a different theme:^[3]

Day 1 (August 1) - Preliminary

Formation of patrols, distribution of duties, special instruction for Patrol Leaders, settle into camp.

Day 2 - Campaigning

Camping skills, building huts, knots, fire lighting, cooking, health and sanitation, endurance

Day 3 - Observation

Tracking, memorising details, deducing meaning from tracks and signs. training eyesight.

Day 4 - Woodcraft

Study of animals and birds, plants, stars, stalking animals.

Day 5 - Chivalry

Honour, code of the knights, unselfishness, courage, charity, thrift, loyalty, chivalry to women. Doing a "Good Turn" daily.

Day 6 - Saving a life

From fire, drowning, sewer gas, runaway horses, panic, street accidents etc. First Aid.

Day 7 - Patriotism

History and deeds that won the empire, our Navy and Army, flags, duties as citizens, marksmanship.

Day 8 - Conclusion

Summary of the course, sports day

The participants left by ferry on the 9th day, August 9.

[edit] Aftermath

Following the successful camp, Baden-Powell went on an extensive speaking tour arranged by his publisher, Pearsons, to promote his forthcoming book, Scouting for Boys. It initially appeared as six installments in a boys' fortnightly magazine, beginning in January 1908, and later appeared in book form. Scouting began to spread throughout Great Britain and Ireland, then through the countries of the British Empire, and soon to the rest of the world.

In 1932, the new owner of the island, Mrs. Mary Bonham-Christie, allowed 500 Scouts to camp there to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Scouting, but shortly afterwards, she closed the island to the public and it became very overgrown.

[edit] The site today

The island was reopened to the public in 1963 by Lady Baden-Powell when it came under the control of the National Trust.^[4] Since then it has been maintained as a conservation area and is a popular site for visitors. It is accessible by ferry from Poole.

The Scout campsite and parts of the island have been cleared, and Scouts have been able to camp there since 1964. A commemorative stone by sculptor Don Potter was unveiled in 1967.

The Brownsea Island Scout and Guide Management Committee maintains the site,^[5] and operates a small trading post on the site. Scout and Guide groups can book day activities or camps. There are plans for a more extensive visitors centre and Scout museum. A special international camp will be held during August 2007 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Scouting.

[edit] See also

[edit] References