It’s Twins!

International Exchange Camps

Further to our Youth Conference in February where Explorers and older Scouts expressed a huge interest in taking part on exchange camps with Scouts abroad, we are a step closer to that reality.

Meeting with Members of the REA and the Mayor of Richmond

The District has formally joined the Richmond in Europe Association (see the website here) who exist to promote cultural, sporting and educational links across Europe and especially with our twin towns – Fontainebleau in France and Konstanz in Germany.

We are now in contact with the Scouts in those two towns and preliminary arrangements are now underway for, what we hope will be a long-standing relationship. Explorers and older Scouts from around the District will be able to camp with the Scouts in one of the towns and we, in exchange will show them the sights of London and perhaps share a trip down the Thames from our boating centre.

Konstanz

Konstanz is a university town which enjoys a stunning location on the banks of Lake Constance (Bodensee in German) with the Swiss Alps as a spectacular backdrop. The river Rhine passes through Lake Constance and leaves it, considerably larger, by flowing under a bridge connecting the two parts of the city. The Germany–Switzerland border runs edge of the city, demarcating it from the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen.

Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau lies south-east of Paris and is famous for its magnificent palace which was home to the French Royal Family for centuries. It was later home to Napoleon Bonaparte, who abdicated here in 1814, and Napoleon III. Fontainebleau is also famous for its extensive forest which has many cycling & nature trails.