South East Scotland Goes International
SUMR'24
25th Braid Scouts
Kandersteg International Scout Centre
What a fantastic 2024 we have had with several groups throughout South East Scotland going abroad for Scouting Adventures. Across Europe, we have had members visiting Belgium, Netherlands, Germany with several groups going to Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC) in Switzerland. (See the article from the 25th Braid who visited KISC this year).
Our Scottish Lead Volunteer for International has written a blog about International Scouting to give you some insight to international camping in Scotland.
The Visit Abroad Process for Scouting Abroad is clear and is set out in a 5-step process.
If you are just thinking about a trip or wondering what to do, please contact Simon Innes the Regional Lead Volunteer for International at international@sesscouts.org.uk. He will be happy to come a chat to you or a group of interested volunteers, this will be an easy way to find out about international camping and ideas for fundraising. If you have already started planning for 2025 or 2026, please contact Simon with your Part A form if you haven’t already done so.
International trips are always the scouting activities that live longest in the memories of Scouts and volunteers alike.
Memories
“Who risk assessed I was capable of this?” “I don’t even like cheese.” “Can I just give my Gold award back and go back down”: joyous cries of appreciation from the Scouts as we climbed up to nearly 2000m in the summer heat to reach our goal for the day – the Doldenhorn Cheesery Hut, high up in the Swiss Alps. Just one of many fond memories of our Scout Summer Camp to Kandersteg International Scout Centre earlier this year. I was one of a 6-strong adult leadership team, taking 26 young people aged 11 to 14 and one young leader to Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC), Switzerland. Of course they reached top, of course they were capable of it – and of course they polished off all the cheese. In fact, that week, the Scouts surpassed all our expectations, achieved many, many things and created many, many memories.
Kandersteg International Scout Centre– a mecca of International Scouting
Kandersteg International Scout Camp is a mecca for International Scouting. The main chalet was originally built in 1908 to house and educate children and families of workers building the Lotschberg tunnel. By May 1923, the Chalet and surrounding grounds had been purchased by Scouting bodies and opened as the Kandersteg International Scout Centre – fulfilling Lord Baden-Powel’s dream of creating one place in the world, where the “Jamboree” feeling – feeling of world brotherhood, peace and international friendship – could happen all year long.
KISC had been in our sights as a Scout group for a few years – COVID had put a halt to our initial plans – but by summer 2023 we were ready to try again, and our appetite for international experiences was even greater with the restrictions of COVID still so fresh in our minds. This was our first group trip to KISC and, for most of the leaders, our first time organising an international camp. Planning was initially daunting but reaching out to our regional International Scouting Lead Volunteer early on meant we were well supported through every step of the process. Planning was still time consuming – but making robust plans and risk assessments ahead of the trip meant that by the time we met up at Edinburgh airport at 3am on 27th July 2024, 33 of us proudly kitted out in kilts, uniform shirts and the new Scottish International neckie, we felt excited and ready, if not yet quite awake.
Camp Life
From the moment you arrive through its gates, KISC is a buzzing hive of colourful activity; hundreds of Scouts and leaders wearing multi-coloured neckers and group T-shirts are in constant motion across the site; groups walk purposefully from one activity to another, Scouts of all different neckers play football together on the dusty pitch at the centre of the campsite, small huddles of Scouts bargain with each other for the best neckie or badge swapping deal, and, much more often than I ever expected – groups break out into enthusiastic singing and dancing in front of the main chalet (I don’t think the Portuguese ever stopped dancing). Pinkies, the international volunteers who work at the centre, move amongst the crowds in their cerise pink T-shirts keeping everything running smoothly.
The back drop to this activity is incredibly beautiful- the centre is nestled in a river valley, surrounded by towering mountains with the chocolate-box-style Swiss chalet as the main building at the heart of the camp.
Visitors can camp or stay in indoor accommodation. We had chosen to camp, hiring tents from KISC, reasoning that our Scouts had probably camped in colder and midgier conditions and meaning that we could use our budget on food- opting for the fully catered option freed leaders and Scouts up from cooking and cleaning duties all week. An army marches on its stomach after all. This turned out to be a great decision: every day we had a buffet style breakfast and evening meal in the canteen in the main chalet and could make ourselves a packed lunch (including up to 6 slices of fresh bread still warm from the local bakery) to take on whatever adventures we needed to fuel that day. Apart from a daily lack of gluten free options, the food was incredible. Several Scouts who had worried they would not like anything, bravely tried new things, and even gave the catering team a rousing BRAVO at the end of the week.
Activities
Wanting to make the most of our week, we had planned a busy itinerary including on and off-site activities, considering the Scouts love for fun and adventure. One of our first of trips was a whole group trip to Oeschinen where we took Gondolas high up into the mountains and had fun riding the Rodelbahn (toboggan run) before hiking to the beautiful Oeschinen lake beyond and dipping our toes in its stunning blue waters. This was the perfect backdrop to award the Chief Scout Gold award to the 12 Scouts who had achieved it – the highest award you can reach in Scouting and hopefully a memorable place for them to receive it.
Every Scout did an Alpine hike during the week- some of the younger and smaller Scouts hiked to the Gastern valley, and according to the leader that was with them that day, secured world peace with the wishing stone. The older Scouts hiked higher to the Alpine huts -possibly more like type 2 fun for these Scouts- we all found walking uphill in heat quite a challenge, but the views were worth the effort and a few even said it was their favourite activity of the week!
The outdoor swimming pool in Kandersteg village was a really popular day with the Scouts- they had a chance to swim and play in an outdoor pool as well as enjoying a bit of souvenir shopping and an ice cream in the pretty village of Kandersteg itself. Another success was the High Ropes course at Interlaken. This was like a vast “Go Ape” course- we barely had enough time to complete all the ropes courses, and it was a huge favourite of the Scouts. Travelling there and back successfully from KISC (a 2-train journey) was the biggest relief for the leaders after hearing the day before of another group that had taken the wrong train and ended up in Italy.
Lots of on-site activities were also incredibly memorable: a campfire in the woods with over 800 Scouts, hearing songs and skits from Scouts from all over the world, the International day which involved groups setting up stalls on the main football pitch, wearing national dress and showcasing traditions and foods from their home country – in our case Tunnock’s teacakes and haggis racing. We had opportunities to try fondue, baklava, Eton mess and numerous other international delights.
One of the most vibrant memories of the week was the 1st August celebrations. 1st August is Swiss National Day, and it is celebrated across Switzerland with parades, bonfires and fireworks. At KISC, the day’s celebrations culminate in a parade from KISC chalet into the village. We all paraded in uniform and sang and marched our way into the village green where the celebrations continued with bonfires and music. The gentle ringing of Swiss cowbells was replaced for the night by loud renditions of each country’s finest songs. Our Scouts enthusiastic contributions – the Proclaimers’ “500 miles” and “You cannae shove yer Granny off a bus” on repeat are still ringing in my ears today.
A successful trip is not built in day (a week- or even a year).
Kandersteg was a fantastic trip and there were many obvious factors that contributed to the success of this trip- stunning scenery, great food, amazing activities to name a few. But reflecting on the trip, and particularly on how well the young people had coped, I realised that the real reasons for the success of the trip stretched back many years. Most of the Scouts on the trip had been together as a group since they joined as 5-year-olds Beaver Scouts. They had already formed relationships and friendships that had been forged through the fun, challenges and adventures of at least 6 years-worth of weekly meetings and camps. The resilience they showed when the unexpected Alpine storms soaked through our site had been forged on the fields of camps like the Meggernie cub camp (I didn’t go but I heard about the rain!), badge and neckie swapping skills had been learned and honed at Blair Atholl jamborette, and their ability to mix with other Scouts and see themselves as part of something much wider than our own Scout group, learned from attending one of the many Scotland-wide adventure camps.
KISC was a great success and a fun trip, but this was hugely due to the time and dedication the young people have put into their own Scouting journey over many years.
Final Words
At the end of the camp, we stood in a circle in front of the main chalet, waiting for our bus to arrive, and asked each of the Scouts and leaders what their favourite part of the trip was. Opinions varied, most couldn’t stick to one and opted for two or even three favourites. Answers were: the views, the swimming pool, playing football with other people, high ropes, tobogganing, trading badges, the parade, signing songs, hiking, having new experiences but almost everyone agreed that one of their outstanding highlights was meeting new people. I remembered that at the start of the week, during the camp opening ceremony, when the hundreds of visiting Scouts were gathered in the camp circle for the first time, the Pinky-in-charge had spoken about Kandersteg; “People come for the mountains – but they leave remembering the new friends and people they have met”.
Kandersteg was about lots of things but above all it was about exactly what our Scouts have said: meeting new people, having new experiences and coming together with people from across the world all under the umbrella and common ground of Scouting. If you haven’t been yet – go – you will make memories that last a lifetime.
With huge thanks to the William Lyburn Trust and South East Scotland International fund for supporting our trip.
