Our History
How long has Scouting been going?
Scouting first started in 1907 when our founder, Robert Baden-Powell (that's him on the right), took 20 boys aged between 11 and 15 to Brownsea Island in Dorset for a camp. It focused on new skills and adventure - something we've kept hold of ever since. Three years later there were over 100,000 Scouts having fun right across the UK and the world.
Word started to spread because before you know it more and more people wanted to join in. In 1916, Wolf Cubs were added for younger boys (Cub Scouts today) and in 1920 Rover Scouts were added (these ages are now catered for by Explorers and Scout Network). Much later, we added Beaver Scouts to the family in 1986 and Girls were invited to join all sections since the 1990s.
Today, there are over 40 million scouts that can be found in nearly every single country in the world. An impressive legacy, I think you'll agree.
Find out more at the Scout website here.
Does Girlguiding also have a long history?
Absolutely! Did you know that at the first Scout Rally in 1909 some 'Girl Scouts' came along asking to be let in? They were determined to have their way and they got it as in 1910 Girl Guides started, led by Agnes Baden-Powell, Robert's sister, and later by his wife Olave (seen on the left).
Just like the Scouts, it was so good that the younger sisters soon wanted to join in the fun. Rosebuds started in 1914 (renamed to Brownies the following year) with Senior Guides starting in 1916 (now Senior Section). Rainbows was the final addition in 1987, bringing a splash of fun and colour to the movement!
Guides is so popular that over half of all girls and women born in the UK have been in Girlguiding at some point in their lives. Even the Queen has been a Guide, having been invested in 1937. There are some 10 million Guides in the world today all enjoying it as much as the first Guides did all those years ago.
Find out more at Girlguiding's website here.
What about locally?
There have been Scouts and Guides at Netley Marsh since the 1960s. Back then we were the 28th Romsey Scout Group and the 1st Netley Marsh Guide Company, a joint group of both Scouts and Guides. Since then there have been a few changes - we became the 6th New Forest North Scout Group in 1983 because the Romsey district was getting really big (we were some way from Romsey after all).
By the end of the 1970s the idea of joint Scout and Guide groups was going out of fashion and both Scout and Guide HQs changed their rules to say all groups had to separate. Then, as now, we thought this was a real shame. Since then we've always kept a really close working relationship and took our current structure of a Scout Group incorporating the Guiding sections as well. Our executive committee consists of both Scout and Guide leaders and all money raised is used to maintain our campsite and our equipment which is used by all sections.
Today we're thriving, always ready to get stuck in. You can always find us at Netley Marsh Carnival and the Steam Rally each year - just look out for the smiles on our faces and the glint in our eyes!