Camporee 2025: Viking scouting in Merkenveld

This past weekend, Expat Scouts and Scouters from across Belgium gathered at Merkenveld for our 2025 Camporee—and what an incredible weekend it was – this time with the theme of VIKINGS!

We were blessed with fantastic weather throughout the event, with clear skies and sunshine providing the perfect backdrop for a full program of Scouting activities. The site at Merkenveld received high praise, offering a beautiful setting, excellent facilities, and convenient access for all attendees.

Our activity lineup—including cooking, pioneering, and orienteering—ran smoothly and kept everyone fully engaged. It was wonderful to see Scouts from various member organizations, such as 1st Brussels (British), Scouting America (325G), Danish Scouts of Brussels, Hungarian Scouts Association in Exteris, Finnish Scouts - Tuulihaukat, Swedish Scouts in Brussels, Polish, Italian, Spanish Catholic Scouts - Saint-Benoit, Czech, Slovak Scouts - BRUSK, 1st SHAPE Sea Scouts (British), and Sonian Explorers (British), working together, learning new skills, and, most importantly, having fun. 

One of the weekend’s highlights was witnessing youth from different countries connect, collaborate, and build lasting friendships.​  A special thank you to Flemish (FOS) Open Scouting for their continued support in our annual Camporee, helping to bring together youth from so many national backgrounds here in Belgium!

And of course, the campfire didn’t disappoint! Songs, skits, and shared laughter made for a truly memorable night under the stars.

We’d love to hear from those of you who attended—what worked well, what could be improved, and what you’d like to see next time. Please take a moment to fill out our quick Camporee Feedback Survey. (https://forms.office.com/e/n9B0b7UZZu)

Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and helped make this event a success. We can’t wait to welcome you back for our next Camporee, happening 25–26 April 2026. Mark your calendars!

Launch of our 2025 Camporee!

Expat Scouting in Belgium is organising its 2025 Camporee in Merkenveld on 5-6 April 2025. This beautiful youth centre in West Flanders includes 20 hectares of play forest, 10 hectares of camping meadow and is surrounded by 70 hectares of nature.The site lies in a quiet and wooded area, has a cozy courtyard, and an adventure pond.

We can reveal now that this year the theme of the Camporee will be Vikings! The Camporee sub-commission, spearheaded by British Scouting Overseas, are planning lots of fun activities linked to this theme so be prepared! There will also be a competition beforehand – ask your group leader for more information about that.

The official camporee will start Saturday at noon and end Sunday at lunchtime but the camp site is booked from Friday to Sunday, so it is possible to arrive already Friday, e.g., to drop off equipment and food or just to enjoy the site since some of the organisers will be present from Friday, and fridges and outside kitchens are available. 

The Merkenveld site is within walking distance from the station of Zedelgem, which can be reached by train from Bruges, see https://www.ns.nl/reisplanner/ . It is also not far from the E40 for those who need to bring equipment. Each group will organize its own travel (i.e. booking of the train).

For more information check out https://www.hopper.be/en/jeugdverblijf/merkenveld, contact your group leader for registration and more details, and watch this space!

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible for a fun weekend together!

Yours in scouting,

Joe Monk and Koen Schamp, on behalf of the organisers.

Expat Scouts join forces in autumn training

 This autumn the expat scouts in Belgium have been bettering their skills in several fields.

 

In September and October the British Scouts Overseas welcomed other expatriate scouts to two first aid courses, spearheaded by Helen Williamson and Jos Wittevrongel.

 

Anne-Mette Foreman thanking Julien Bamps of Les Scouts

Then, on 30 November our External Relations Commissioner, Henrik Söderman, arranged a training at the headquarters of Les Scouts in Brussels, on rights and obligations associated with expat scouting. This inspiring course - which led to a lively debate - was given by Julien Bamps of Les Scouts with whom we already have a fruitful dialogue.

 

Many thanks to both Les Scouts and the British Scouts for hosting!

 

Anne-Mette Foreman

Convenor, Expat Scouts in Belgium 

Meet other Scouts at the Danish Christmas Market!

Hungry for marcipan, mulled wine and carols?

Join the Danish Christmas market on 23-24 November, on rue Washington 27 in Ixelles.

The Danish Scouts are assisting at the event, and there will be a bonfire with ‘snobrød’ for kids, rolls baked over open fire.

Thank you for sharing the brochures with friends and colleagues.

And hope to see many of you there in a festive mood.

Anne-Mette, on behalf of the Danish Scouts

Invitation to join Danish Midsummer celebration

Have you ever joined a Scandinavian Midsummer celebration? The Danish Scouts in Brussels are assisting at a traditional summer solstice celebration organised by the Danish Church on rue Washington 27, Ixelles on 22 June 2024 - and you are welcome to join!

The doors open at 17:00 and there will be food and drinks to purchase, music, a bonfire and a playground for the kids. Dogs are not allowed.

Free entrance. 

Saint Benoit - Togo camp fundraiser

The older section of the Saint Benoit (Italian, Spanish, Polish scouting group in ESB) is holding a fundraiser 27 April at 20:00 for a camp they are planning in Togo. The concert will take place on Rue du Cornet 51, 1040 Etterbeek (near Schuman and Merode metro stations), and tickets are available here TOGO 2024 - Concert de Giacomo Lariccia (google.com)

Sonian forest scout day 24.02

Brussels environment has invited all youth movements to participate in a day of planting trees, blocking clandestine trails, and cleaning trash, in the company of the forest guardians and environmental experts who will share insights on how we can use the forest for scouting activities whilst protecting sensitive sites and being respectful of the environment. Pre-registration is necessary, with a 15 February deadline.

More information here (in French) https://www.foret-de-soignes.be/mouvements-de-jeunesse-pour-la-foret-de-soignes/

Practical details:

- Saturday 24 February 2024, 13.30-17.30

- Meeting point Hippodrome de Boitsfort, at the "betting village" between Chaussee de la Hulpe and the tribunes, Chaussee de la Hulpe 53, tram 8, boondael train station, bike parking available. 

- Wear appropriate clothing

Invitation to ESB 2023 Annual General Meeting

The fifth Annual General Meeting of the Expat Scouting in Belgium (ESB) will take place, as in previous years, during our Camporee in de Kluis on 6-7 May 2023.

We are particularly excited to welcome a new Expat Scouting Group in our midst, with the newly formed Latvian-Brussels group joining us at the meeting. Other highlights include a discussion on how to build on the 4 March training session by Guiding and Scouting in Belgium on rules and tips on scouting in Belgium, in English, for our expat groups. We'll want to identify our needs in concrete terms with a view to making a proposal to GSB for targeted support in English for our groups, on the basis of a note that is being prepared for the AGM.

All the leaders of the Expat Scout Groups are welcome to the General Meeting. In case of a vote, one person from each Scout Group can vote. 

The General Meeting will appoint the Expat Scout Council for the next year, and nominations can be submitted in advance via the contact form on this website. 

Welcome to the General Meeting!

The Expat Scout Council

You can find the agenda below, and the full invitation and AGM minutes in the members section of this website

A G E N D A

Sunday 07 May 2022

1. Opening of the General Meeting

2. Adoption of the agenda

3. Reports by the commissioners of past activities and future plans

a. Camporee, Danish Scouts
b. Training, 1 st Brussels
c. External affairs, Finnish Scouts
d. Communications, Swedish Scouts
e. Treasurer, BRUSK
f. Meetings convener, Danish Scouts

4. Approval on the way forward on the support from Belgian Scouting to Expat Scout Groups (External Affairs)

5. Summary of the plans for the next year

(Dialogue with GSB, Camporee 2024, Training by GSB, leadership and first aid, communications, twinning...)

6. Appointment of the members of the Expat Scout Council

a. Meetings convener up for re-election
b. Secretary, vacant, formerly held by BRUSK
c. Camporee, not up for re-election
d. Training, up for re-election
e. External affairs, up for re-election
f. Communications, up for re-election
g. Treasurer, BRUSK replacing Boy Scouts of America

7. Determination of the annual contribution fee

Proposal: 1€ per Scout, with a possible cap to 50€
Requested paid by 31.7, statutory deadline 31.12

8. Any other business

9. Close of the General Meeting

Voting delegates:

1st Brussels, British Scouts
BRUSK, Czech and Slovak Scouts
Danish Scouts
Finnish Scouts in Brussels
Hungarian Scouts in Brussels
YMCA Danish Scouts in Luxembourg
Swedish Scouts in Brussels
St Benoit, BC25

Guests, and potential members of ESB, to the General Meeting;

Latvian Scouts
Sonian British Explorers

Spring activities 2020

25-April 2020 1200-          4th ESB Camporee (de Kluis)

 

26 April 2020 0930-           ESB General Meeting (de Kluis)

 

06 June 2020 1400-           ESB Council meeting (Les Scouts,  Rue de Dublin

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES IN FEB/MARCH 2020

Herewith a reminder on the upcoming ESB activities in February-March 2020;

 

17 February 18hrs – CAMPOREE 2020 planning meeting at the Danish Church

 

17 February 20hrs – ESB meeting with Guides and Scouts Belgium (GSB) @Danish Church

 

07 March 0830 – First responder course for leaders

 

 

Upcoming activities in the Expat Scouting Community

After the Expat Scout Council meeting on 09 November, the following events got confirmed, open for all ESB members;

 

16 November 2019: 1^st Brussels British Scouts organize a barbecue and lighten up walk in de Kluis

20 November 2019: European Parliament day (from 1400hrs in the Parliament) (scout.org/europe)

6 December 2019: Game in the city of Brussels (21h00- midnight) BRUSK

17 February 2019: next ESC meeting (@ The Danish Church)

19 February 2020: Baden-Powell reception (scout.org/europe)

25-26 April 2020: Camporee at de Kluis