Youlbury Scout Activity Centre

Youlbury Scout Activity Centre is one of a number of The Scout Association's National Scout Activity Centres in the United Kingdom and is the oldest permanent Scout campsite in the world (while Brownsea Island was the site of the first campsite, it was a private island for many years after).

The Centre, which is based near Oxford, is open to Scouts from around the world, and offers many activities as well as camping and accommodation in huts.

History

The site was first used as a meeting place and camping field in 1913 when the site owner, Sir Arthur Evans, had a cabin built for a local Scout Patrol. This building was demolished in the 1980s, but many other of the original buildings still stand.

Since then, the site has been developed and expanded to accommodate large gatherings of Scouts, offering activities such as swimming, archery, shooting, climbing, and more.

Milestones

1913 - the log cabin for the Scouts is built
1919 - Gilwell Park, a centre for Scoutmaster training is founded
1925 - Baden-Powell approaches the landowner to use Youlbury as another training centre
1939 - Gilwell Park is commandeered by the Army, and the Scout Movement move their headquarters to Youlbury
1941 - Sir Arthur Evans dies, leaving instructions that site be sold to the Scout Movement for a "reasonable price"
1946 - Headquarters returns to Gilwell Park
2013 - Youlbury celebrates its centenary as a scout camp site

Location

Map of UK showing location of Oxford

Youlbury is situated in a wooded area just north of Boars Hill, about 5 miles west of Oxford.

Facilities

Campsites

Youlbury has a large number of fields and sites spread around the woodland.

Each camping area has designated fire circles, and have shared toilet and washing facilities.

Indoor accommodation

There are a number of buildings with varying facilities available on the site. This provides for the younger sections who require alternative indoor accommodation when camping, and also for training purposes.

The Lawn Hut - was originally a Croquet pavilion and was the building which the Scouts had asked to be allowed to use before having the log cabin built. It has a kitchen and main hall, but no beds
Camp Headquarters Building - has 2 rooms of 10 beds and 2 rooms of 4, kitchen, and a large indoor hall
The Gulf Building - a self-contained chalet with 6 rooms of 2 beds and 3 rooms of 6, a kitchen, and indoor hall
The Brazier Building - 4 rooms of 4, 1 room of 2, kitchen and hall. This building is alongside The Lawn Hut
The Training Centre - has a kitchen, office, 4 classrooms, and a main hall
The Activity Barn - simply a large hall, demolished to make way for a new barn, with a classroom built in.
The Den - has a kitchen, hall, and 18 beds. It also contains the museum - demolished in 2013 to make way for a new building, Not yet named

The Centenary Lodge, a new building, Behring reception, that sleeps 36, large kitchen, main room, boot room with wash/dry facilities, en suites on every room, and a large decking area to the rear.

Activities

The site offers a number of activities on or near site, all properly supervised:

Climbing and Abseiling
Go-Karts
Air Rifle Shooting (Indoor Range)
Assault Course
Archery
Pioneering
Orienteering
Aerial Trek
3G Swing
Jacobs Ladder
Crate Stacking

Sailing is also available nearby, and there is the CuriOXity Science Centre in Oxford, and a rural farm museum nearby.

Staff

The site is overseen by a Centre Manager, who manages a small permanent staff who maintain the site and supervise the various activities.

Over the summer months, as the site is much busier, volunteers are recruited from nearby Scout and Guide Groups and from international members of Scouting or Guiding.

Volunteer Staff members must meet the following requirements:

Be a current member of a recognised Scout or Guide organisation
A basic level of competence with the English Language
The ability to work as a member of an International Team
Prepare to try anything once
Be over 14 years of age (no upper limits)