The SCOUT TROOP.

The Troop meets on Friday evenings in the Scout Hut at Bournemouth School. Scouts and Sea Scouts are all  mixed up in the patrols. During the Summer Term our meetings tend to move to our boating base, Perch Pool, under Tuckton Bridge.

Boys can join the School Scout Troop at any time during their School Life. The Venture Unit caters for older member from 15½. Many members join at the start of Year 7 but we now have "Operation Quickstart" in action which means that boys can try out Scouting or Sea Scouting in the Troop once they have been accepted for a place in the School and are at least 10½ years old. There are many advantages in this; they get to know a number of Bournemouth Schoolboys, they have the chance to take part in our Summer Term activities such as Field Day and spaces may still be available on our Summer Camp or Expedition. Potential Sea Scouts also get a summer's boating whilst September joiners arrive just as the boats are laid up for the winter.

In addition to the weekly meeting, the Troop takes part in a wide range of activities. There is a Field Day activity in each term - and during School Time. There are Patrol Camps and expeditions, Night activities and competitions, Swimming Galas, wide games, and Boating. Many of these are organised at District Level so you soon meet up with some of the other 1,000 Scouts of Bournemouth.

Each year there is a Summer Camp or Expedition. These alternate between a relatively cheap traditional camp (this year in the Cotswolds with various water activities). Our 1999 'camp' was at the Scout Activity Centre at Hawkhirst on Kielder Water in Northumberland. In 2001, we returned to the Midlands  for another Canal Expedition, piloting 70' narrow boats on a 100 mile cruise. A popular camp site is at Corf on the Isle of Wight where our own boats cruise from Poole to moor alongside the pier.

As a School Troop we help at lots of School events. We provide refreshments at Parents' Evening, at Sports Day and for school productions. We are also involved with civic events such as the annual Remembrance Day service. We provide stage crews for the Bournemouth Competitive Music and Dance Festival. We also help  with an annual Fete at our local Cheshire Home.

We are always very much involved with the Bournemouth Gang Show and have been making films since 1961.