Scouting activities can be found throughout the English region of the East Midlands. The largest number of Scouts and volunteer leaders in the region is linked to the Scout Association of the United Kingdom, while there is also a presence of traditional Scouting groups, such as the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association. The Scout Association administers the region through five Scout Counties, overseen by a regional commissioner, which largely follow the boundaries of the ceremonial counties they exist within although in Lincolnshire the former Humberside county is still used. There are also a number of Scouting clubs within Universities in the region which are affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation. Scouting organisations at every level of the hierarchy also own and operate campsites and activity centres in the area for the benefit of Scouts, Guides and other youth groups.
The Scout Association Counties.
Derbyshire Scout County.
Derbyshire Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association covering the majority of the administrative County of Derbyshire in England. The town of Glossop in the far North West of the county is not included in the Derbyshire Scout county but in the Greater Manchester East county instead. The county is led by a volunteer management team with a County Commissioner at its head, as of April 2021 Sue Harris, and supported by four deputies covering the core parts of the county: development, programme, support and training. There are also additional volunteer managers, assistant county commissioners and a trustee board to support the work of the county. It is divided into fifteen Scout Districts:-
Scouting has a long history in Derbyshire with the 1st Buxton, 2nd Chesterfield and 4th Derny (Derwent) Scout Groups being notable within the county as some of the founding troops of 1908. In addition, Olave Baden-Powell, the 'World Chief Guide', was born at Stubbing Court, Wingerworth, near Chesterfield and her husband, Robert Baden-Powell, the Founder of Scouting, wrote part of "Scouting for Boys" at the Izaak Walton Hotel in Ilam close to Dovedale in Derbyshire. Scouts in Derbyshire marked the centenary of Scouting in August 2007 at Sunrise ceremonies renewing their Scout Promise and included gatherings in Derby Market Place where 700 Scouts attended and screen Scout-made videos on the big screen there.
The county's badge, worn on the uniform of any member in the county, depicts a ram on a dark background. The Ram is a long-standing emblem of the city of Derby, initially through The Derby Ram folk tale, and the ram also forms part of the coat of arms of Derbyshire through a role as a bearer.
The county has a strong focus on activities and events and has county level clubs for activities including adventurous activities (archery, biking, fencing, bushcraft, rifle shooting, caving, hillwalking and climbing), water sports (paddle sports, diving and sailing), event support (first aid and communications) and teams in less conventional areas to run archaeology and creative sessions. Derbyshire villages are unusual in holding Well dressings during the summer. In 2005 the well at Whitwell had a theme acknowledging Peak 2005, Derbyshire's International Scout and Guide Camp at Chatsworth Park and in 2009 all of the wells in Chapel-en-le-Frith shared a common Scouting and Scout Badges theme to celebrate 100 years of Scouting in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
Derbyshire Scouts run a number of events for their Scouts. These include Activation, an annual activity day for Cubs, Scouts and Explorers; Big Shoot, a target sports competition held annually; the County Ball which is open to Scout Network and adult volunteers only and serves as a celebration and fundraising event; the David Lee Memorial Canoe Race, held annually on the River Dove; and the Rampage activity weekend for Scout Troops held annually. There are a number of events that are also open to members of Scouting and Guiding from outside the area including the Four Inns Walk and Kinder walking challenges in the Peak District, the Peak Camp and the Spring Bank camp.
Four Inns Walk.
The Four Inns is a fell race/hiking event held annually over the high moorlands of the Northern Peak District organised by Derbyshire Scout County. It takes place mainly in Derbyshire (though it starts in Yorkshire and, near the end, makes a short detour into Cheshire), in northern England. It is a competitive event over 65 or 35 kilometers without an overnight camp, although teams must be equipped to bivouac if the conditions are severe enough to warrant it. It was first held as a Rover Scout event in 1957, but is now open to other teams of experienced hill walkers and fell runners.
Kinder Walks.
The Kinder Extreme and the Kinder Challenge are a series of walks run annually as a hillwalking challenge for any member of Scouting and Girlguiding from across the country. Both walks are organised annually in the autumn and start and finish at Chapel-en-le-Frith. The Kinder Extreme walk has been running since 1967 on a 30 kilometre circular route that includes the peak of Kinder Scout and is open to older Scouts, Guides, Explorers and Scout Network. The Kinder Challenge is a smaller 16 kilometre circular route including some open landscape of the Peak District which was launched in 2008 for Scouts, Guides and Explorer Scouts.
Peak Camp.
The Peak International Scout and Guide Camp is a joint event from both Derbyshire Scouts and Girlguiding Derbyshire. It was first held in 1974 and since 1980 has been held every five years in the summer at the Chatsworth House estate. It is open to Scouts and Guides from across the world and contains activities aimed at these core age ranges with some activities for older sections Explorers and Rangers. The most recent event to run, Peak 2015, catered to 4,500 young people and 1,500 volunteer staff.
Spring Bank.
Held at the Drum Hill Campsite, Spring Bank Camp is an annual activity camp for Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides from both Derbyshire and across the UK. It includes a range of adventurous activities for approximately 1,500 young people and is well known for their evening challenges and competitions in addition to craft village.
Leicestershire Scout County.
Leicestershire Scout County is the Scout Association county covering the administrative County of Leicestershire. The county is led by a volunteer management team with a County Commissioner at its head, as of April 2021 Carol Black, and supported by four deputies and additional assistants to cover the different areas of the programme. The County is split into ten districts:
The 1st Market Harborough Scout Group is notable within the county as one of the founding troops of 1908. Scouts in Leicestershire celebrated the centenary of Scouts in 2007 with the events accompanied by a drive to demonstrate the Scouts' inclusivity and encourage especially girls and Muslims to join.
The county's badge, worn on the uniform of any member in the county, depicts a fox running to the left above a wooden log. The fox is an enduring symbol of Leicestershire, appearing in the logo and coat of arms for Leicestershire County Council, Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Leicester City F.C. and is believed to extend from the county's history with fox hunting.
Leicestershire Scouts run a number of county level activity teams to develop leadership skills in these activities and to allow a broad range of young people a chance to experience these adventurous activities. There are clubs for caving, mountain biking, rifle shooting, water activities (in particular sailing and canoeing) and a sub aqua club teaching scuba diving and snorkelling.
Sub-Aqua Unit.
Leicestershire Scout County run the Leicestershire Scouts Sub Aqua Unit (LSSAU), a Scout-based diving group providing experience in diving and snorkelling. Despite being based in Leicestershire, its membership is open to Scouts from across the UK and includes members of Girlguiding as well. It was formed in 1985 and teaches both scuba diving and snorkelling, the latter targeted at younger members such as Cub Scouts.
Lincolnshire Scout County.
Lincolnshire Scout County is the Scout Association county covering the administrative counties of Rutland and much of Lincolnshire. The county is led by a volunteer management team with a County Commissioner at its head, since 1 November 2020 this has been Amy Gilbert. The county is run from an office in Lincoln which provides support for Scouting in the counties. This includes support for growth in the County which saw the county win a national Scouting award in 2017 for growing membership by 12.5% over three years with 5,746 youth members and 2,129 volunteer leaders. The County is split into ten districts:
The county's badge, worn on the uniform of any member in the county, depicts the coat of arms of the City of Lincoln, a fleur-de-lis on a red cross on a white background contained within a shield shape on a green background.
Poacher.
Poacher is a major event, open to all Scouts and Guides aged 10 to 17 in all parts of the world, and is normally held approximately every 4 years in the county. It is a collaboration between Lincolnshire Scouts, Girlguiding Lincolnshire Scouth and Girlguiding Lincolnshire North as a week long international camping experience. Participants camp in Lincolnshire Showground, where many of the activities also take place.
Northamptonshire Scout County.
Northamptonshire Scout County is a Scout County of the Scout Association in the United Kingdom, covering the county of Northamptonshire. The county is led by a volunteer management team with a County Commissioner and a Chair of the Trustees at its head and supported by a series of other volunteers including three deputies. As of December 2021, the County Commissioner was Dean Smith and the Chair was Karen Tonks. The County is split into six districts:
The county's badge, worn on the uniform of any member in the county, depicts a red Lancastrian rose on a white shield with a light green chief containing two white Yorkist roses. The white and red roses along with the white field of the shield is common to some other organisations in the county and can be found on the coat of arms of the former Northamptonshire County Council and in the imagery of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service although none have the light green chief.
The county houses a number of activity clubs and groups including a Northampton Scout Amateur Radio Group which was formed in 1981 and regularly takes part in events such as Jamboree on the Air.
Nottinghamshire Scout County.
Nottinghamshire Scout County is the Scout Association County covering the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire. Its county office is based in Linby and is also responsible for Hoveringham Activity Centre. The county is led by a volunteer management team with a County Commissioner, as of December 2021 Steven Tupper, four deputies, trustees and additional volunteers as well as some paid staff to support the operations of the county. The County is divided into nine Scout Districts:
The 1st Nottingham (YMCA) Scout Group is notable within the county as one of the founding troops of 1908. The county's badge, worn on the uniform of any member in the county, depicts a large tree similar in appearance to the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest.
Student Scout and Guide Organisation.
There are six student associations at various universities in the region, each of which is affiliated to the Student Scout and Guide Organisation (SSAGO). These are De Montfort University Guides and Scouts (DeMUGS) covering De Montfort University, Derby University Guides and Scouts (DUGS) covering the University of Derby, Students of Leicester Universities Guides and Scouts (SLUGS) covering the University of Leicester, Lincoln University Guides and Scouts (LUGS) covering the University of Lincoln, SCOGUI covering the University of Loughborough and Nottingham SSAGO (SNoGS) covering the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.
Previously the Leicestershire universities shared a SSAGO club and a club used to exist at the University of Northampton
Campsites.
Derbyshire.
Derbyshire has several campsites and activity centres run by and open to Scouts and other youth groups. Many of these are located within or near to the Peak District National Park and vary in facilities on offer. These include Bell's Box in Hathersage, a ten bed bunkhouse owned by the 79th Sheffield Scout Group; Boarfold Scout Campsite in Charlesworth, a wooded site accompanying a open field run by Tameside South Scout District in Greater Manchester East County with a 24-bed indoor accommodation suite; Gradback Scout Camp in the upper Dane Valley and Spitewinter Scout Camp near Chesterfield.
Outside of the Peak District, there are other sites run by districts to enable Scout Groups to camp easily and practice