Scouts from across the Black Country are preparing for a party to remember tomorrow when they herald the dawn of a new century for the movement.
From tree planting to abseiling, youngsters will be taking part in a range of activities to mark 100 years of scouting.
And at 8am tomorrow all will join together, in a move that will be mirrored across the world, to take part in a series of special sunrise ceremonies to mark the centenary and renew scouting promises.
In Wolverhampton, around 200 youngster are expected to descend on Molineux and when the clock chimes at 8am the sound of a rare horn will resonate through the stadium as scout leaders recreate Lord Baden Powell’s launch of the movement.
When he set up the first-ever scout camp on Brownsea Island in 1907, he blew a note through a kudu, or antelope’s horn, to mark its launch and organisers have managed to get hold of one of the rare horns from Israel.
Rachel Heyhoe-Flint, Wolves director and former girl scout, said: “We are obviously thrilled to be able to support this event and are all looking forward to it.”
Youngsters from scout groups across Halesowen have gone further afield to join the party, travelling down to Essex to take part in the World Scout Jamboree with thousands of other teenagers from across the world.
Meanwhile, more than 100 scouts in Kinver have celebrated the release of new stamps commemorating the anniversary of the movement.
The scouting stamps were officially launched at Kinver Scout Camp and youngsters unveiled a giant version of one of the new designs.
The set of six stamps, now on sale, reveal a selection of the many achievements of an organisation which continues to shape the lives of millions of young people around the world.
Royal Mail spokesman Mike Dalton said: “Scouting’s ethos of personal development, teamwork and self reliance is as relevant for youngsters today as it was back in 1907.”
And scouts in the village will be joined by their counterparts from Wolverhampton, Telford and Malvern at The Compa Scout Camp where the anniversary celebrations will continue. They will be taking part in activities including climbing, abseiling and archery during their stay in Kinver. In Sedgley, a troupe will be marking the big occasion by hoisting a flag up the town’s flagpole.
Youngsters will gather in the town centre at 6.30pm tomorrow to celebrate the centenary.
They will also release 100 balloons for world peace and afterwards they will plant a tree outside their HQ in Ladies Walk.
The tree, a Japanese Maple, will be planted by the group’s oldest leader, 84-year-old George Cox, and its youngest member, five-year-old beaver scout Rebecca Wright.
The group was formed in 1910 and is one of the most successful groups in the Black Country, with more than 100 members and its own purpose-built headquarters.
Around 100 of Wolverhampton’s North District scouts will also be joining the sunrise celebrations at Northycote Farm by renewing their scout promises before tucking into a tasty breakfast and taking part in a range of exciting activities.
Dozens of beavers and cubs from across the region are also taking to their tents tonight to Dudley Zoo for a sleepover to mark the centenary celebrations.
The group will join twilight adventures with costume character Dr Dudley at the popular tourist attraction before settling down for a sleepover in the castle courtyard.
6 Comments
Scouts from Smethwick Old Church Scout Group and Fiennes Explorer Unit will be walking from the Lickey Hills to the Clent Hills during the night of 31st July to watch the sunrise and make our promise at 8.00am on 1st August. The Explorer Group recently took 9 members down to the world scout Jamboree for a week to assist with setting up the huge event in Hylands Park in Essex. Which has some 40,000 scouts aged 14 to 17 help celebrate 100 years of scouting from 161 countries around the world, more countries than take part in the Olympic Games. They worked extremely hard, cleaning toilets, repairing roads and building an arena for horse jousting.
im in the scouts but the one in great bridge and i went camping to dudley castle and saw the gray lady
Our little boy who is 9 years old is a member of The Areley Kings Cubs and Scouts from Stourport On Severn and they are all spending this week celebrating the 100th Centenary at The Rhydd Covert in Bewdley and they are all travelling to London on Friday to celebrate the Jamboree. All the leaders have worked very hard in organising this week away and we hope that they all have a truely memorable time and the “Sun” stays shining on them all. This will be a celebration not to be missed and to say that they have been apart of it, is something to treasure.
I went Camping at Dudley Castle. I was really scared! But had a great time!
My children are both members of KD9 in Kidderminster (1 cub, 1 beaver). My beaver spent a night at Holy Trininty school then went to Rhydd for the Sunrise ceremony. My cub is still there, today they are on a trip to the Jamboree in Cheltenham. It is lovely that in 50 years time when the scouting movement is celebrating 150 years, they will be able to tell their grandchildren all about it.
I meant Chelmsford!!