Brownsea 22 is a hands-on youth leadership program teaching Scout skills through practice and patrol competition. I have been involved since 2014, serving in multiple leadership roles to guide scouts in camping, cooking, hiking, orienteering, pioneering, and wilderness survival.
A unique hands-on approach designed to teach youth leadership skills through the actual practice and use of Scout Skills, including camping, cooking, hiking, nature study, pioneering, orienteering, and wilderness survival. The program emphasizes patrol method, leadership exercises, and skill-based competition.
Participants must be First Class Scouts or above, aged 13–16, and have attended at least a one-week summer camp. Scouts and parents/guardians must attend a pre-program meeting where questions are answered and skills are assessed.
The Brownsea Troop consists of 32 scouts who live and act as First Class Scouts, sleeping in tents and preparing meals by the patrol method. The program is led by a staff of junior leaders and adult Scouters, many of whom are Eagle Scouts. Mr. Kenneth Reardon serves as Brownsea Scoutmaster.
I have been involved with Brownsea 22 since 2014, first as a Scout, then as staff in roles such as Guide, Senior Guide, and currently Assistant Scoutmaster. I have helped run the program at four different camps, contributing to the development of scouts and leadership training. The program did not run in 2020 due to COVID.