Our History
The 1st Ripley Scout Group was founded in 1909, just two years after the Scout movement was created following Robert Baden-Powell’s experimental camp on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour. The Ripley group grew quickly in popularity with many local boys joining the movement and following Baden-Powell’s “Scouting for Boys” handbook.
The Ripley group’s members gave valuable service in the local community during the two world wars. Following the second world war the then Group Scout Master, Stu Paice a local chiropodist led the groups Wolf Cubs, Scouts and Rover Scouts which thrived giving the boys of the village many opportunities to camp, canoe, hike, and develop the skills and comradery the Scout movement looked to develop in the boys.
The group would meet in the corrugated iron clad building just off the High Street right through till the late 1970’s when the land was sold off by the owners. The group then moved to the former village fire station which had been purchased by Stu Paice in 1961 and was left to the Scouts in his will. The fire station was not large enough to house all the Scouts so in the 1980’s the Group Scout Leader Tony Wallis and the groups supporters raised the funds and constructed through volunteer labour the current headquarters adjacent to the old fire station.
In the early 2000’s Ripley Scouts became fully co-educational, and the first girls were welcomed into the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.
The group continues to offer young people the opportunity to develop the skills for life through active involvement in a programme of inclusive activities which wherever possible take place in an outdoor environment. Our modern scout group looks provide young people of any gender, race, or background regardless of the child’s physical ability the opportunity to make new friends, have amazing adventures and learn new skills in a fun and exciting way through the balanced programme of activities.
History shows - there’s a Scout adventure out there waiting for all young people.
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