Group History
October 2013 to May 2014
1st Prague Scout Group was first registered on 24th February 2014 and its first official meeting was held on the 22nd May 2014.
The group had been in development since October 2013, when former UK leaders Matt Lightfoot and Simon Burgess, who were both living in Prague, separately contacted British Scouting Overseas Area Commissioner – Peter Dawes.
Then on 20th November 2013 at 8pm, they got together to start the process of forming the group at the Trilobit restaurant (Palackého 715/15, Praha 1).
During the process of setting up the group, a number of international schools showed interest in hosting Scouts but in the end, Riverside International school was chosen. An open day was held on 15th May 2014 where 35 interested Beaver and Cub age young people and their parents attended.
So on its registration date on 24th February 2014, 1st Prague joined groups from a number of countries around the world in the British Scouting Overseas district called ‘Rest of the World’. The group originally only had Beavers and Cubs in one section and was based at Riverside Primary School, Sedlec, Prague 6.
Leaders at the first meeting were, Simona Gabrisova (BSL), Matt Lightfoot (CSL), Kevin Power (ACSL) and Simon Burgess (GSL).
Scouts and leaders at the first meeting 22nd May 2014.
May 2015
Founder member Matt Lightfoot, Cub Scout Leader, left the group to return to the UK. In July he was awarded the Area Commissioner’s Commendation for his contribution to the formation of the group. He was presented with his award at the 2015 World Jamboree in Japan by the UK International Commissioner, Dan Wood.
November 2015
Following changes to the districts in British Scouting Overseas, 1st Prague left the ‘Rest of the World District’ and joined the newly formed ‘Northern Europe district.
May 2016
1st Prague Scout Group attended Intercamp for the first time in 2016 in the Czech Republic from 13th to 16th May. Subsequently, the group has attended Intercamps 2017 in Germany, 2018 in Belgium and 2019 in The Netherlands. During this time the group built a fabulous relationship with two German BSO groups 1st Bielefeld and 1st Guttesloh which continued until both groups were forced to closed.
September 2018
We officially started a separate Scout Troop on a Tuesday evening based at Riverside School, Hradcanska.
June 2019
Following the 2019 Intercamp in The Netherlands leaders drove a 7.5-ton lorry with camping equipment donated by the 1st Bielefeld Scout Group in Germany.
At the group, AGM held in the Scout Insitute in the Old Town Square the group launched its Explorer Unit. The event was attended by The US and UK Ambassadors to the Czech Republic as well as District Chairman Chris Garrett and his wife. At this event, Commissioner’s Commendations were awarded to 3 members of the group leaders and our first Silver and Gold Chief Scout’s Awards were given to young people in the group. We were also pleased to start our involvement with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
August 2019
Group Vice President Matt Lightfoot and Cub Scout Leader Chris Wait attended the 2019 World Jamboree in North America as part of the international service team. They were joined as visitors by our youth members M Roberts, N Roberts and executive member Chris Roberts.
September 2019
The Beaver and Cub sections move from their original home to a new location at Park Lane International School, Mala Strana. This allowed them for the first time to be truly split into two different sections. The Explorer section held its first meetings in Riverside Schools.
March 2020 to June 2020
The COVID 19 pandemic closed down face-to-face Scouting in the group from 11th March 2020 to the 25th June 2020. During this time the group went online and produced some fantastic innovative programmes using GoToMeeting as a videoconferencing platform.
June 2020
The group restarted face-to-face Scouting but due to the pandemic was unable to return to the schools. From June to October, the group ran an outdoor programme.
October 2020 to April 2021
The COVID 19 pandemic again closed down face-to-face Scouting and we went back online. We managed to have a couple of activities in December 2020 but then were forced online until 13th May 2021.
July 2021
Following the restart in May the Group started hastily organised its first large-scale group summer camp. This saw 50 young people from all sections and 20 leaders enjoy a 7 day camp in Frantiskov in Southern Bohemia.
October 2021
On the 5th October, we opened our second Cub pack on Tuesdays at Sokol Praha Vršovice – Vršovické náměstí 111/2. We named this new pack The Wolves and called the current Thursday pack The Bears.
Also in October, we moved the Thursday Cubs and Beavers to their new home at Sokol Kampa, Újezd 450.
GROUP APPOINTMENTS
Founder Leaders 22nd May 2014
- Simon Burgess
- Matt Lightfoot
- Simona Gabrisova
- Kevin Power
Group Scout Leader
Simon Burgess – 2014 to present
Group Chair
Gina Hearn OBE – 2014 to 2018
Alastair Hammond – 2018 to 2019 (acting Chair)
Eleanore Hammond – 2019 to present
Beaver Scout Leader
Simona Gabrisova – 2014 to 2016
Jenny Kysela-Heikkinen – 2016 to 2020
Chisato Hashizume – 2020 to present
Cub Scout Leaders
Matt Lightfoot – 2014 to 2015
Allison Forster – 2015 to 2017
Chris Wait – 2018 to present (Bears, from Sept 2021)
Simon and Jo Storey – 2021 to present (Wolves)
Scout Leader
Manon Frot – 2018 to present
Explorer Scout Leader
Alastair Hammond – 2019 to present
