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Agoonoree camps are camps that enable disabled Scouts to enjoy a summer camp. Agoonorees are organised for Scouts all over the UK. These camps are usually held during the school summer holidays.

Since the Policy of the Scout Association is the inclusion of all young people; as a matter of principle it is desirable for any Scout with particular needs to attend their regular Group summer camp whenever possible. If this is not feasible, or if it is beneficial for a Scout to have two summer camps, then the Agoonoree Camps are there to help.

Agonoorees also enable the Scouts' carers to have a week off. This is important as a number of our Scouts' carers do not get significant respite care and therefore the time that is available when the Scout is safe at camp is very valuable to them.

The first Agoonoree was held as an experiment in the summer of 1947. The following year a full summer camp was held at Gilwell Park, and the Scout Counties of Greater London have been holding Agoonoree camps ever since. Originally in London one Agoonoree covered the whole Region until the mid 1960s, then the camp become two, with one for the Central and Southern Counties and another for the Northern Counties.

More recently still the camp has returned to being London wide and is now a joint venture organised by the Special Needs Groups in London. It must be stressed however that the camp is open to any member of the Scout Association in London who would benefit from a week at the Camp.

Other camps followed the London Agoonoree helped by their staff to start the ball rolling. For example, the Yorkshire Agoonoree has now been operating for more than forty years.

There are lots of suggestions about where the name Agoonoree comes from. One is that it was invented by Dutch Scouts and is derived from the Greek word agoon which means a struggle or contest. The oree was taken from the word Jamboree to make it sound Scout-y. There is no factual basis for this claim!

Different Agoonorees around the country are organised differently, this section is based on what happens at the London Agoonoree, but most of the othe Agoonorees have a similar set up.

The London camps are held at a different location each year and move around the country. The locations are usually schools or well equipped sites that can offer such vital facilities as dormitories, for those who are unable for medical reasons to sleep under canvas, and showers or baths for those that need frequent washing. Campers are encouraged to sleep under canvas if at all possible, using camp beds or inflatable mattresses if required; where this is not an option, the indoor facilities are used. A combination of sleeping arrangements is also possible, for instance tent one day and dormitory the next. As far as possible the camps are modelled on traditional Scout lines. The participants live at camp as any Scout would - eating, sleeping, and playing together.

The camp is staffed by a large number of helpers from Explorer Scouts and Scout Network to Leaders and past participants. This group includes general staff for duties such as cleaning and rubbish disposal, companions and supporters, cooks, quartermasters, a nurse for immediate medical needs and entertainments staff to supervise the daily programme of events.

Programme

The programme will be familiar to anyone who has been on a Scout camp. It usually includes a hike, an outing, activities such as backwoods cooking or sailing and a campfire.

Each day begins after breakfast with Inspection and Flag break, followed by an activity that usually runs until lunchtime. The afternoon could be one or two sessions/activities followed by an evening meal and an evening activity. Other programme items include daily kit inspection and washing up!

Sometimes the participants enjoy visits from local performers or craft specialists to enable the campers to widen their experience and skills.

All events are geared to ensure that every participant gets the maximum enjoyment and benefit from the experience.

Eating Arrangements

Most meals are cooked in a central kitchen by the catering team and then collected by the Patrols. On some occasions Patrols cook their own meals. Patrols do their own washing up!

Finance

The camps are funded by camp fees, donations and fund raising events; coupled with the support of the many Scouts and Scout Leaders who give their time and effort to staff the camps. Obviously, the costs are high and in order to allow as much access to those who need them extra funds are always being sought.

Participants

The camps are generally open to all members of the Scout Association with particular needs: Scouts, Explorer Scouts or Network members. They also welcome offers of help from Explorer Scouts, Network Members and Leaders who wish to help with the camp, either directly with the campers or as part of the service crew. The number of campers varies from year to year.

There is more information about including disabled Scouts on nights away activities on the Nights Away pages.

If you would like more information about Agoonorees and camps for disabled young people, please contact the Special Needs Office at Gilwell Park.

Links

Some Agoonorees and Scout camps for young disabled people have their own web pages:

• Glasgow Disabled Scouts http://www.glasgowdisabledscouts.org/
• London Agoonoree http://www.agoonoree.org
• Yorkshire Agoonoree http://www.malpas.karoo.net/index.htm

Many thanks for helping put these pages together go to Nick Devine and his team from the London Agoonoree and Paul Route and the members of the Yorkshire Agoonoree.