Sixteen youngsters and three leaders from the Falcon Explorer Scout Unit in Dunstable have just returned from a 10-day trip of a lifetime to a Bavarian Scout Jamboree in the foothills of the Alps. Planned by the English Scouts at last year’s World Scout Jamboree, the Bavarian adventure gave them a unique chance to make friends with over 1000 fellow Scouts from countries as far afield as Slovenia, Lithuania and Mongolia.

Spokesperson for the group, Tom Rochester (17) said, “We camped in the rain in a small town called Schangau about three miles from the Austrian border overlooked by the Zugspitze Germany’s highest mountain. There was a fairy tale castle nearby and hundreds of other Scouts to meet from all over Europe in a huge Jamboree eatery called the Oasis.

“Our German hosts provided us with a partnergroup of three girls called Lina, Anne and Toni. As camp organiser I had been talking with them on the internet for months so it was great to finally meet up and put a face to a name.

“None of us was used to continental breakfasts so we seemed to spend a lot of time snacking. On a visit to Munich for sightseeing and shopping our first stop was a Burger King for lunch.

“One day we went to Schloss Neuschwanstein, the fairy tale castle. We were told the King who built it was mad and we agreed. Only a madman could have dreamed up something so crazy and amazing.

“There were sports events, water activities and a gang show episode when three of us taught 1000 foreign campers the Hokey Kokey.

“But the best time was the climb up the 9000 foot snow covered Zugspitze mountain and a cable car trip down. We all had these crazy Blues Brothers sunglasses and trilby hats which made us look like detectives.

“All of us learnt so much and loved every minute of it. We’ll have to do it again.”

Before the Bavarian adventure, Tom had another thrill of a lifetime. With fellow Explorer Scout Amy Brunsdon from Reading, he was invited to present Top Gear celebrity Stig with a special Scout award during a recording of the programme. Tom said, “The most amazing episode was when we were asked by the director to smash a plastic chair over Stig’s head. It was all part of the mad things that go on at Top Gear.” The recording was shown one the last programme of the series before the Summer Break.

You can read Tom's Blog on his experiences with The Stig and in Bavaria at: http://blog.bedfordshirescouts.org.uk

[Back to News Front Page]

Sixteen youngsters and three leaders from the Falcon Explorer Scout Unit in Dunstable have just returned from a 10-day trip of a lifetime to a Bavarian Scout Jamboree in the foothills of the Alps. Planned by the English Scouts at last year’s World Scout Jamboree, the Bavarian adventure gave them a unique chance to make friends with over 1000 fellow Scouts from countries as far afield as Slovenia, Lithuania and Mongolia.

Spokesperson for the group, Tom Rochester (17) said, “We camped in the rain in a small town called Schangau about three miles from the Austrian border overlooked by the Zugspitze Germany’s highest mountain. There was a fairy tale castle nearby and hundreds of other Scouts to meet from all over Europe in a huge Jamboree eatery called the Oasis.

“Our German hosts provided us with a partnergroup of three girls called Lina, Anne and Toni. As camp organiser I had been talking with them on the internet for months so it was great to finally meet up and put a face to a name.

“None of us was used to continental breakfasts so we seemed to spend a lot of time snacking. On a visit to Munich for sightseeing and shopping our first stop was a Burger King for lunch.

“One day we went to Schloss Neuschwanstein, the fairy tale castle. We were told the King who built it was mad and we agreed. Only a madman could have dreamed up something so crazy and amazing.

“There were sports events, water activities and a gang show episode when three of us taught 1000 foreign campers the Hokey Kokey.

“But the best time was the climb up the 9000 foot snow covered Zugspitze mountain and a cable car trip down. We all had these crazy Blues Brothers sunglasses and trilby hats which made us look like detectives.

“All of us learnt so much and loved every minute of it. We’ll have to do it again.”

Before the Bavarian adventure, Tom had another thrill of a lifetime. With fellow Explorer Scout Amy Brunsdon from Reading, he was invited to present Top Gear celebrity Stig with a special Scout award during a recording of the programme. Tom said, “The most amazing episode was when we were asked by the director to smash a plastic chair over Stig’s head. It was all part of the mad things that go on at Top Gear.” The recording was shown one the last programme of the series before the Summer Break.

You can read Tom's Blog on his experiences with The Stig and in Bavaria at: http://blog.bedfordshirescouts.org.uk

[Back to News Front Page]