Scouts in Switzerland

Written by Ellie FS, Upper Sixth:

This summer, the Lancing College Minerva Scout Unit travelled to Kandersteg, Switzerland (KISC). This campsite is part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement and over 3000 Scouts from all over the world go there each year. While we were there, we got to meet Scouts from California, Alabama, Georgia, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark and Finland.

During our six days in Switzerland, we explored Oeschinensee (a lake in the Oeschinen valley), Blausee (a crystal blue lake near the river Kander), and a small mountain hut where we stayed overnight with an American Boy Scout unit from Alabama. Our activities included the ZipWire Adventure Park in Adelboden, natural rock climbing in the Via Ferrata climbing area, woodcutting, sawing, an international BBQ, and community campfire where we exchanged scarfs, badges and performances.

All the scouts involved had a fantastic time and particularly enjoyed meeting and trading scarfs/badges with other scouts from all over the world. The trip was a great success thanks to Dr Bustin, Mr Cooper, Miss Barrett and Ollie Faragher who organised the adventure and looked after us while we were there.

It is important to point out that this was the first international Scouts trip to Switzerland organised by the College since 1947. The current Minerva Unit was started in 2020, but Lancing College has had a long association with the scout movement dating all the way back to the 1930s. Prior to the modern unit, the College was previously the home to the 2nd Lancing Scout Troop from the 1930s until the 1960s. During their time, the 2nd Lancing Scout Troop undertook a parallel trip to Kandersteg, Switzerland in 1947 as shown in the school’s archives. This has allowed the current scouts to reconnect with the rich history and legacy of their predecessors while creating a new shape for the modern Minerva unit.