Some Scouting history

After Dad announced his upcoming major award, I thought maybe I should check and see if there were any Scouting sites near me here in London. It turns out that Gilwell Park, original home of the Wood Badge training course, isn't too far away. I took a couple of trains, a bus, and walked a bit, and had a nice walk around the camp this morning. It's in a semi-rural area (from a nearby hill you can still see downtown London in the distance) and doesn't feel as rustic as something like Camp Grizzly, but it still had the feel of a a scout camp and had everything from parade grounds and bunk houses to a rifle range. Here's some pics.

The front gate

 Replica Silver Buffalo sculpture donated by the BSA

  The silver buffalo along with a post that indicates the distance to all past World Scout Jamborees

 I didn't know Idaho had a jamboree. I'm only 4200 miles from home.

Outdoor Christian chapel that is part of the faith walk. The walk includes meeting locations for Christians, Jews, Muslims, Catholics, and Hindus 

1000+ year old Buddah donated by the scouts in Thailand

  

 One of the parade grounds. A bit muddy now, but probably nice in the Spring/Summer

 The man himself

 I rather clever use of rebar, I thought. 

 Neckerchiefs and patches from all over the world line the ceiling in the gift shop (FYI, what we call a neckerchief slide, the Brits call a woggle).

 The Ideal Scout - also donated by the BSA

 Think they get a lot of international visitors?