Scouting in Scotland

Scouting in Scotland is largely represented by the Scottish branch of the Scout Association of the United Kingdom. [http://www.scouts-scotland.org.uk/ The Scout Association in Scotland] ] The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association also has a presence in Scotland.

There are five student associations at various universities in Scotland, each of which is affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO): University of Aberdeen Guides and Scouts, [ [http://www.ssago.org.uk/aberdeen University of Aberdeen Guides and Scouts] ] Heriot-Watt University SSAGO, [ [http://www.ssago.org.uk/heriotwatt Heriot-Watt SSAGO] ] University of St Andrews Scout and Guide Club, [ [http://www.ssago.org.uk/st-andrews St Andrews University Scout and Guide Club] ] University of Stirling SSAGO [ [http://www.ssago.org.uk/stirling Stirling SSAGO] ] and University of Strathclyde Guides and Scouts. [ [http://www.ssago.org.uk/strathclyde University of Strathclyde Guides and Scouts] ]

History of Scouting in Scotland

The 1st Glasgow Scout Group has a claim to be the first Scout Troop, as it holds a registration certificate dated 26 January, 1908. [ [http://www.1st-glasgow.org.uk/ 1st Glasgow Scout Group] ] No other Scout troop has documentation that pre-dates this. [ [http://www.scotland.org/about/history-tradition-and-roots/features/culture/boy-scouts.html Scouts in Scotland] ]

The 24th Glasgow Scout Group's published history has it forming January 1908, although this is not currently recognised by The Scout Association.cite book | last = Spalding | first = Alex | title = The 24th: 1908 - 2008 | isbn = 0951343904] cite web | title = The First Troops | publisher = The Scout Association | date = August 2006 | url = http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/facts/pdfs/fs295303.pdf | format = pdf | accessdate = 2007-02-14] The 3rd Glasgow (Waverley) Scout Group are also listed as one of the first Groups to have started in 1908.

Mr Jack Stewart, International Commissioner for Scotland, founded the Blair Atholl International Jamborette in 1946. It has been held every two years since that date, with representatives of more than 50 countries attending. [ [http://www.jamborette.org.uk/history.htm History of Blair Atholl International Jamborette] ] ]

The centenary of Scouting was marked by a debate and reception in the Scottish Parliament initiated by member of the Scottish Parliament, Robert Brown, in December 2007. [ [http://robertbrownmsp.org.uk/news/000126/robert_brown_praises_centenary_of_scouting.html Robert Brown praises Centenary of Scouting] ]

The Scout Association in Scotland

A Scottish Headquarters, at Fordell Firs in Fife, for training, programme and administration in Scotland goes back to 1909. There is a Chief Commissioner of Scotland.

Eight new regions of the Scout Association in Scotland were formed on 1 April, 2008, by amalgamating the previous Scout Areas. [ [http://www.scouts-scotland.org.uk/upload/file/restructuring_guidance/Restructuring%20Scotland%20-%20Guidance%20Document%20Final.pdf Restructuring Scotland Guidance Document] ] ]

In April, 2008, it was reported that there are 582 Scout Groups in Scotland and that in the previous year there had been an increase in new members of 1500, raising the total to nearly 30,000. However, this had resulted in a shortage of leaders. [ [http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/04/21/leadership-crisis-for-scouts-as-wave-of-new-members-leaves-them-short-86908-20390093/ Leadership crisis for Scouts as wave of new members leaves them short] ]

Highlands and Islands Region

The Highlands and Islands Region was formed by amalgamating the six previous Scout Areas of Caithness, Inverness, Lochaber, Orkney, Ross and Sutherland, and Western Isles. The old areas are now the six Scout Districts in the Region:

*Caithness [ [http://www.scoutscaithness.org.uk Former Caithness Scout Area] ]
*Inverness [ [http://www.scoutsinverness.net Inverness Scout District] ]
*Lochaber
*Orkney
*Ross and Sutherland
*Western Isles

Inverness District Scouts raise money at Christmas by delivering Christmas cards around the city delivering in excess of 23,000 cards at 15 pence per card. [ [http://www.scoutpost.co.uk Inverness Christmas Scout Post] ]

Inverness District Scouts perform the Inverness Area Gang Show every two years at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

North East Scotland Region

The North East Scotland Region was formed by amalgamating the six previous Scout Areas of Aberdeen, [ [http://aberdeenscouting.org.uk Former Aberdeen Scout Scout Area] ] Banff and Buchan, Gordon, Kincardine and Deeside, [ [http://www.kdascouts.org.uk Former Kincardine and Deeside Scout Area] ] Moray, and Shetland.

There are now 8 Scout District in the Region:

*Aberdeen
*Banff and Buchan was the old Area with three Districts Banff District, Buchan District and Turriff District.
*Gordon. Prior to Scottish restructuring in 2008 there were three districts Central, Western and Eastern within Gordon Area. [ [http://www.gordondistrictscouts.org.uk Gordon Scout District] ]
*Deeside
*Kincardine
*Moray. Before 2008, there were four districts Elgin District, Moray West District, Seafield District and Speyside District.
*Shetland with only 4 Groups.

East Scotland Region

The East Scotland Region was formed by amalgamating the four previous Scout Areas of Dundee, Fife, Perth and Kinross, and Angus.

The 2nd Fife (Dunfermline) Scout Group was founded in 1908 and is the oldest existing Scout Group in Fife and one of the oldest in Scotland. [ [http://www.2ndfifescouts.org.uk. 2nd Fife (Dunfermline Y.M.C.A.) Scout Group] ]

There are now ten Scout Districts in the Region:

*Arbroath
*North Angus
*South Angus. These three were formerly in the old Area of Angus as: Arbroath & Montrose District, North Angus and South Angus District
*Dundee [ [http://www.dundeescouts.org.uk Former Dundee Scout Area] ]
*Dunfermline
*Glenrothes and Levenmouth
*Kirkcaldy
*Rosyth
*North East Fife. The former Area of Fife [ [http://www.fife-scouts.org Former Fife Scout Area] ] contained ten Districts: Benarty District, Cupar District, Dunfermline District, East Neuk District, Glenrothes and Levenmouth District [ [http://glenlevenscout.wetpaint.com Glenrothes and Levenmouth Scout District] ] Kirkcaldy, Rosyth District [ [http://www.rosyth-scouts.org.uk Rosyth Scout District] ] and St Andrews District
*Perth and Kinross. [ [http://perthandkinross-scouts.org.uk/ Perth and Kinross Scout Area] ] [ [http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/direct/ukemail/view.php/113 ScoutBase on Perth and Kinross] ] There are 25 Groups and 5 Explorer units. [ [http://perthandkinross-scouts.org.uk/groups.html Perth and Kinross Scout Groups] ]

outh East Scotland Region

The South East Scotland Region was formed by amalgamating the four previous Scout Areas of Borders, East Lothian, Midlothian, and City of Edinburgh. [ [http://www.southeastscotlandscouts.org.uk/ South East Scotland Scout Region] ]

There are now ten Scout Districts in the Region:

*Blackford
*Borders. The old Area was 4 Districts: Berwickshire District, Ettrick and Lauderdale District, Roxburgh District, Tweeddale District. [ [http://www.borderscouting.co.uk Borders Scout Area] ]
*East Lothian. The old Area was 2 Districts: North - East Lothian District and South - East Lothian District
*Haymarket
*Inverleith
*Leith District [http://www.leithscouts.org.uk/ Leith Scout District] ]
*Midlothian [ [http://www.midlothianscouts.com Midlothian Scout District] ]
*Morningside
*Pentlands
*Portobello

The Edinburgh Scout Area was formerly 8 Districts: Blackford, Haymarket, Inverleith, Leith, Merchiston, Morningside, Pentlands and Almond Valley and Portobello. [ [http://www.edinburgh-scout.org.uk/ Former Edinburgh Scout Area] ]

Forth Region

The Forth Region was formed by amalgamating the three previous Scout Areas of Clackmannan, Forth Valley, and West Lothian.

There are now four Scout Districts in the Region:

*Clackmannanshire. The previous Area was split into Alloa and Hillfoots Districts.
*Falkirk, previously in the Forth Valley Scout Area. [ [http://WWW.forthvalleyscouts.org.uk Former Forth Valley Scout Area] ]
*Stirling & Trossachs, previously in the Forth Valley Scout Area. [ [http://www.stirlingandtrossachs.escouts.net/ Stirling Scout District] ]
*West Lothian. [ [http://www.westlothianscouts.org Former West Lothian Scout Area] ]

Clyde Region

The Clyde Region was formed by amalgamating the two previous Scout Areas of Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire. Greater Glasgow was a Scout Area that included the local government authorities of the City of Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire, along with parts of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire. [ [http://www.glasgowscouts.org.uk/index.html Former Glasgow Scout Area] ] Lanarkshire was a Scout Area covering Lanarkshire. [ [http://www.clydescouts.org.uk/ Clyde Scout Region] ]

The 28th Glasgow Scout Group's Hut was used to hold the Nazi Party Deputy Leader, Rudolf Hess, after his plane crashed in nearby Eaglesham.cite web | title = Rudolf Hess Flight | publisher = Secret Wiki - Scotland | date = 2006-11-24 | url = http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/RudolfHessFlight | format = html | accessdate = 2007-02-14] This Group is particularly active in international events, organising the Ukrainian Scottish Experience, which helps Ukrainian (a country which currently has no official Scouting organisation) children to visit Scotland and participate in Scouting during the Summer.

The 77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group is one of the few that caters for young people with physical disabilities. It has all four sections - Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network. [ [http://www.glasgowdisabledscouts.org 77th Glasgow (Disabled) Scout Group] ]

The 24th Glasgow Scout Group, is one of the largest Groups with five Beaver Scout Colonies, six Cub Scout Packs, two Scout Troops and an Explorer Scout Unit.

There are eight Scout Districts in the Region:

*Eastwood
*Great Western (amalgamation of Bearsden and Milngavie, North Western and Northern Districts)
*Kelvin Valley (amalgamation of Strathkelvin, North Eastern Glasgow, and Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Northern Glasgow Districts)
*South East (formerly Cambusglen and Easthill Districts)
*South Western (amalgamation of South Parks and Burrell Districts)
*East Kilbride and Hamilton District, formerly separate Districts. [ [http://www.ek-district-scouts.org.uk East Kilbride Scout District] ]
*Clydesdale
*Calder
*South Western

West Scotland Region

The West Scotland Region was formed by amalgamating the three previous Scout Areas of Argyll, Dunbartonshire, Renfrew and Inverclyde.

There are now five Scout Districts in the Region.

*Argyll previously split into Cowal, Kintyre, Mid Argyll, North Argyll Districts
*Dunbartonshire previously split into Clydebank / Kilpatrick, Lennox, Helensburgh Districts
*Renfrewshire
*Greenock and District [ [http://www.greenockscouts.org.uk/ Greenock Scout District] ]
*Paisley District [ [http://www.paisley-district-scouts.org.uk/ Paisley Scout District] ]

*Johnstone District ??
* [http://www.renfrewdistrict.org Renfrew Scout District] ??

outh West Scotland Region

The South West Scotland Region was formed by amalgamating the three previous Scout Areas of Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire and Galloway. The region covers the four Local Authorities of North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, and Dumfries & Galloway. [ [http://www.scouts-southwestscotland.org.uk/ South West Scotland Region] ]

There are now five Scout Districts in the Region.

*Ayrshire East District was formed in 2006 from Kilmarnock & Loudoun and Kylesmuir Districts.
*Dumfriesshire District was formed from the Dumfriesshire Area in 2008.
*Galloway District was formed from the Galloway Area in 2008. [ [http://www.gallowayscouts.org.uk/ Galloway Scouts] ]
*Kyle and Carrick District was formed in 2006 from Kyle District and Carrick Scout District.
*North Ayrshire and Arran District was formed in 2006 from Cunninghame North, Cunninghame South and Isle of Arran Districts.

Camp sites

The Scout Association in Scotland is responsible for three activity centres:
* Fordell Firs Activity Centre in Fife, just outside Dunfermline where the Scottish Headquarters is situated.
* Meggernie Activity Centre at Bridge of Balgie, in Glen Lyon, Perthshire.
* Lochgoilhead Activity Centre in Argyll.

The Templars' Park Scout Campsite in the North East Scotland Region, is located about 8 miles west of the city of Aberdeen, and is maintained by the City of Aberdeen Scout Council. The site has capacity for around 2,000 campers, as well as indoor accommodation. A number of Scouting activities are provided on site, including archery and pioneering, and there are also a number of local facilities providing other adventurous activities.

The East Scotland Region, formerly Perth and Kinross Area, jointly with Girlguiding Perth and Kinross, runs Graggan Scout Camp, located between the Braco – Comrie road (B827) and the Muthill – Crieff road (A822). [ [http://perthandkinross-scouts.org.uk/craggan.html Graggan Scout Camp] ] [ [http://www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk/information/info_perthkinross.htm Girlguiding Perth and Kinross] ]

In the South West Scotland Region there are: [ [http://www.scouts-southwestscotland.org.uk/campsites/campsites.htm South West Scotland Region Camp Sites] ]

*Craigshiels Outdoor Centre
*Culzean Camp Site, previously the Ayrshire Area Camp Site, is located 12 miles south west of Ayr within the Culzean Country Park, owned by the National Trust for Scotland. [ [http://www.mcintyre.demon.co.uk/ayrcamp.htm Culzean Camp Site] ]
*Gatehouse of Fleet Scout Hall
*Kirkdale Port Camp Site
*Boreland Camp Site, St Anns (near Beattock).

Kirkdale Port is the main campsite for Galloway Area Scouts. [ [http://www.gallowayscouts.org.uk/html/camping.html Kirkdale Port Camp Site] ]

Gang Shows

*Aberdeen Gang Show [ [http://aberdeengangshow.co.uk Aberdeen Gang Show] ]
*Dundee Gang Show [ [http://dundeegangshow.com/ Dundee Gang Show] ]
*Edinburgh Gang Show [ [http://www.edinburgh-gangshow.com Edinburgh Gang Show] ]
*Glasgow Gang Show [ [http://www.clydescouts.org.uk/page-gang_show.html Glasgow Gang Show] ]
*Greenock Gang Show [ [http://www.scoutingcentenary.co.uk/greenock-gang-show-2008/ Greenock Gang Show] ]
*Inverness Area Gang Show [ [http://www.invernessgangshow.net Inverness Area Gang Show] ]
*Stirling Gang Show [ [http://www.sandymatthews.com/scouts/sgs/ Stirling Gang Show] ]

ee also

Girlguiding Scotland

References

External links

* [http://www.theexplorerscouts.org.uk/ Scottish Explorer Scouts]
* [http://www.scout-network.org.uk/ Scottish Scout Network]