Category:History and Heritage

The first Scout troops in Africa were formed in Cape Town in 1908, the year after Baden-Powell's Brownsea Island camp that started the worldwide Scout Movement.

History of Scouting in the Western Cape

The Western Cape has a proud and colourful Scouting history and played a significant role in the origins of the Scout Movement.

The first Scout troops in Africa were formed in Cape Town in 1908, the year after BP's Brownsea Island camp that started the worldwide Scout Movement. The Western Cape therefore has a long and proud Scouting history, and the showcases an impressive collection of Scouting artefacts and memorabilia.

Western Cape Scout Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre is maintained by a small team of volunteers who meet once a week at the centre, tackling the ongoing task of sorting and categorising the vast archives and updating the displays. Much of their work happens at home where documentation is scanned and photos and slides digitised which are then collated and uploaded onto the Heritage ScoutWiki website.

Museum

The Museum exhibits include an impressive array of photos, uniforms, badges, Scouting books, memorabilia, and miscellaneous artefacts that chronicle Western Cape Scouting since the inception of the organisation. The exhibits highlight major Scouting events, camps, and both national and world Scouting Jamborees.

Library

Our Library contains over 4,000 books and is home to a wide collection of catalogued Scouting literature. A prized copy of Scouting for Boys, written by Baden-Powell and first published in 1908, can also be found in the library.

Historical Archives

The recorded history of Scouting is stored in the archives with publications like The Scout and The Scouter. Initially, record-keeping was done through newspaper cuttings pasted into scrapbooks and personal logbooks. There is also a large collection of documents, photos and 'slides' covering events such as local and international Jamborees, among many others.

Legendary Leaders

We have compiled written records of many notable Scouting leaders in South Africa.

See also

• A timeline of Scout Organisation in the Western Cape
• Western Cape Scout Regional Commissioners
• Western Cape Scouting History
• Western Cape Scout Groups - Atlantic Seaboard
• Western Cape Scout Groups - Cape Town City Bowl

History of Scouting in the Eastern Cape

• Eastern Cape Scouting History

See also

• Chief Scouts of South Africa
• Robert Baden-Powell
• Mafeking and the origin of Scouting
• Of Bullets and Boys

History of Scouting in Gauteng

• Kon Tiki in Gauteng/Transvaal

Gauteng Scout Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre is maintained by a small team of volunteers who meet once or twice a month at the Centre, tackling the ongoing task of sorting and categorising the vast archives and updating the displays. Much of their work happens at home where documentation is scanned, photos and 'slides' digitised which are then collated and uploaded onto the Heritage ScoutWiki website. We are looking for volunteers who have an interest in preserving the heritage of Scouting in the Gauteng region to assist.

Gauteng Museum

The exhibits at the Gauteng Heritage Centre at Gilwell, Florida, include an impressive array of photos, uniforms, badges, Scouting books, memorabilia, and national and world Scouting Jamborees.

Gauteng Library

The Gauteng Heritage Centre houses books for Cubs and Scouts, covering topics ranging from games to pioneering and camping through the decades. The library is a reference and browsing library and items may not be borrowed.

Chairman's Challenge

Chairman's Challenge is open to Scout Groups that have won the Kon-Tiki Gauteng competition and therefore qualify for a 5 km raft race down the Vaal River.

History of Scouting in other regions

These pages have not yet been populated and will be expanded in future.

• Free State Scouting History
• Gauteng Scouting History
• KwaZulu-Natal Scouting History
• Northern Cape Scouting History

Legendary Leaders

We aim to record the contributions of Scouters who have served the Scout Movement over the years. Former Scouters who would like to donate items or assist in identifying artefacts from time to time are encouraged to contact us.

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