Scouting in South West England: Difference between revisions

There are five student associations at various universities in the region, each of which is affiliated to the [[Student Scout and Guide Organisation]] (SSAGO). These are ''[[University of Bath|Bath University]] Guides and Scouts'',<ref> [http://www.ssago.org.uk/bath Bath University Guides and Scouts]</ref> ''[[Bath Spa University|Bath Spa]] SSAGO'',<ref> [http://www.ssago.org.uk/bathspa Bath Spa SSAGO]</ref> ''[[University of Bristol]] Guides and Scouts'',<ref> [http://www.ssago.org.uk/bristol University of Bristol Guides and Scouts]</ref> Scouts And Guides at the [[University of the West of England]] and<ref> [http://www.ssago.org.uk/uwe Scouts and Guides at the University of the West of England]</ref> ''Scout and Guide of Exeter'', covering [[Exeter University]].<ref> [http://www.ssago.org.uk/exeter Scout and Guide of Exeter]</ref>

[[Image:scout.stone.750pix.jpg|thumb|The monument commemorating the [[Brownsea Island Scout camp|first Scout camp]]]]

From 1 August until 8 August 1907, [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Lieutenant General Baden-Powell]] held the [[Brownsea Island Scout camp|first experimental Scout camp]] for 22 boys on [[Brownsea Island]] in [[Poole Harbour]] in Dorset. The subsequent publishing of ''[[Scouting for Boys]]'' started the [[Scouting|Scout]] Movement.<ref name="themesold">{{cite web | first = Johnny | last = Walker | url = http://www.scouting.milestones.btinternet.co.uk/brownsea.htm| title = Scouting Milestones - Brownsea Island| |publisher = Scouting Milestones | accessdate = 2006-09-06}}</ref>

On 1 August 2007, all 28 million Scouts from around the world renewed their Scout Promise at 8am local time as part of the Sunrise Ceremony, with Brownsea Island being a focal point of the celebrations.<ref> [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/6477573.stm BBC News - Scout island focus of celebration]</ref> <!-- this reference - http://www.brownsea2007.org - redirects to the wikipedia Brownsea article!! -->

[[The Scout Association]] in South West England is administered through seven [[Scout Counties]]

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|[[Image:EnglandAvon.png|thumb|90px|Map of England highlighting the location of Avon]]

*Wansdyke District covers the area in the south east of the County, but does not include the city of Bath. The District also has the Chelwood Scout Campsite, which is owned and managed by the 1st Keynsham Scout Group.

There are a number of marching bands from around the County:<ref name="fymb_list">{{cite web | title = Band Links A-F | publisher = British Federation of Youth Marching Band Organisations | date = 2007 | url = http://www.marchingbands.org.uk/bands_a_f.html | format = html | accessdate = 2007-04-16}}</ref>

*Brislington Scouts & Guides

*37th Kingswood Drum & Bugle Corps and Cadet bands, both of which are currently the national champions for the British Youth Bands Association.<ref> [http://www.37th.co.uk/ 37th Kingswood Drum & Bugle Corps Homepage] </ref>

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|[[Image:England and Cornwall.png|thumb|100px|Map of England highlighting the location of Cornwall]]

District badge worn on the uniform of Scouting members

Devon Scout County is concurrent with the county of [[Devon]]<ref> [http://www.devonscouts.org.uk/ Devon Scout County]</ref>

*[[West Devon]]

[[Image:Dorset.jpg|right|140px]]

*[[Weymouth and Portland]]

Gloucestershire Scout County is concurrent with the political county of [[Gloucestershire]]. The County Scout HQ is based at Cranham where it has been present since 1947.<ref> [http://www.gloucestershire-scouts.org.uk/ Gloucesterhire Scout County] </ref>

*Tewkesbury District encompasses the town of [[Tewkesbury]] and its immediate environs.<ref> [http://www.tewkesburydistrictscouts.org.uk/ Tewkesbury Scout District] </ref>

Somerset Scout County covers the political county of [[Somerset]].

*[[West Somerset]]

[[Image:EnglandWiltshire.png|thumb|100px|right|Map of the UK highlighting the location of Wiltshire]]

* [[Swindon|Swindon Ridgeway]]

There are seven campsites or activity centres within the Avon area:

Woodhouse Park is an activity and camping centre managed by Avon Scout County, sited in South Gloucestershire, and overlooks the [[River Severn|Severn]] crossings.<ref> [http://www.avonscouts.org.uk/woodhousepark/ Woodhouse Park] </ref> The site has five large camping fields, and two buildings which can be used for accommodation or training purposes. Woodhouse Park offers a large range of activities, either on site or nearby. Site hosted activities include [[Abseiling]], [[Pioneering]], [[Tracking]], [[Climbing]], [[Archery]], and [[Air gun|Air Rifles]]. Off-site activities include [[Sailing]], [[Kayaking]], and [[Caving]].

There are several camp sites in Cornwall:-<ref> [http://cornwallscouts.net/Sites.aspx Cornwall Camp Sites]</ref>

*Mount Edgcumbe District Campsite - Cawsand, Rame, Near Torpoint

There are several camp sites in Devon run by or for Scouts.<ref>[http://www.devonscouts.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85:campsites&catid=62:campsites&Itemid=227 Devon Camp Sites]</ref>

*Blindmans Wood (Plymouth)<ref> [http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/cgi-bin/camping/db.cgi?db=camping&uid=default&sb=1&so=ascend&Check=Yes&SiteCounty=Devon&view_records=View+Sites&nh=1&mh=1 Blindmans Wood]</ref>

There are several camp sites in Dorset, including [[Brownsea Island Scout camp]] where Scouting started in 1907.<ref>[http://www.dorsetscouts.org.uk/Dorset_Scouts/Campsites.html Dorset Camp Sites]</ref>

Cranham, Gloucestershire Scout Association County Scouting Centre is situated in a [[Cotswold]] valley on the edge of the village of [[Cranham]]. It comprises a main camping area and residential accommodation. It also has a wooded valley known as Daniels Grove where there are facilities for 12 smaller "patrol" camp sites. It is adjacent to over {{convert|1200|acre|km2}} of beech woodland to which there is access for activities such as nature trails and orienteering.<ref> [http://www.gloucestershire-scouts.org.uk/cranham/index.htm Cranham County Scout Centre]</ref>

Pennwood Scouting Centre is situated on the Cotswold Escarpment about 3&nbsp;miles (5&nbsp;km) South of Stroud and 3&nbsp;miles  North of Nailsworth.

The Scout Association West Somerset District operates a small site at [[Tivington]] and, on behalf of the Somerset County Scout Council, the larger Horner Woods site at [[Horner, Somerset|Horner]].<ref> [http://www.wsscouts.org.uk/camping.htm West Somerset District Camp Sites]</ref><ref>[http://www.hornermill.co.uk/scoutcampsite.html Horner Woods Scout Camp Site]</ref>

Sedgemoor District Scouts operate the Campbell Room, an all-year indoor self-catering centre on the [[Quantock Hills]]. The centre is nearly equidistant between [[Bridgwater]] and [[Taunton]] near [[Nether Stowey]] and just over a mile from the start of the [[Coleridge Way]] [[Long-distance trail|long distance footpath]].<ref>[http://www.campbellroom.org.uk/ The Campbell Room, Quantock Hills]</ref>

Potterne is the Scout Association County Scout Centre.<ref>[http://www.wiltshirescouts.org.uk/Potterne/CountyScoutCentre.htm Potterne County Scout Centre]</ref>

This [[Gang Show]] was started in 1997, and generally has a cast of about 60 Scouts and Guides from the city of [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]].

The Bristol Gang Show is an annual production held at The [[Bristol Hippodrome]], in Bristol. As the production is a [[Gang Show]] the cast is made up entirely by members of the [[Scouting]] and [[Girl Guides|Guiding]] movement; many of the supporting members are also involved in Scouting and Guiding. The show currently takes place in October/November time, usually to coincide with the English school holiday held at this time. The show itself is a variety show, with singing, dancing and comedy. The show has a live orchestra, contains many different styles of songs such as 'pop' songs past and present and songs from musicals.<ref> [http://www.bristolgangshow.org.uk Bristol Gang Show] </ref>

The show continues to be held annually, in late October or early November to coincide with a school holiday.

Also known as Exeter and District Scout and Guide Gang Show, it has been performed every year in late March or April since 1983 (except 2004) at the [[Barnfield Theatre]] in Exeter. Members of the cast also participated at a Gang Show at the 1986 Westcountry Jamboree. Exeter Gang Show gained the national recognition of wearing the Red Scarf in 1987.<ref>[http://www.exetergangshow.org.uk Exeter Gang Show] </ref>

Gloucester Gang Show is an annual production held at the Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School, Cheltenham. As the production is a Gang Show the cast is made up entirely by members of the Scouting and Guiding movement; many of the supporting members are also involved in Scouting and Guiding. The show currently takes place the week after Easter. The show itself is a variety show, with singing, dancing and comedy. The show contains many different styles of songs such as 'pop' songs past and present and songs from musicals.<ref>[http://www.gangshow.org.uk/ Gloucester Gang Show] </ref>

Swindon Gang Show has been running since 1976.<ref> [http://www.wiltshirescouts.org.uk/swindongangshow/ Swindon Gang Show]</ref>

*[[Olivia Burges]]

*[[Scouting sections]]

*[[Girlguiding South West England]]

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[[Category:Scouting and Guiding in the United Kingdom|South West England, Scouting in]]