Our trip has officially begun.

3 coach loads of Scouts are now on their way to Belgium. It was an early start so we’re expecting lots of naps (and that’s mainly the leaders), but so far everyone is buzzing!

Nine advance team members left this morning to make sure everything’s set and running smoothly for our big arrival tomorrow afternoon. The countdown is on!

A huge amount of preparation has gone into making this trip possible. The core team has been hard at work, planning every detail and coordinating the logistics down to the minute.

We hosted two Parent & Scout information evenings to help everyone feel ready and informed—one of these sessions was recorded and is available to view on the OLP site.

The fantastic Andy & Steph duo has also carefully labelled and folded 474 T-shirts and 158 scarves, packaging them up with badges and hand sanitiser for every participant.

On Sunday 24th August, 158 Scouts and Leaders from across Surrey will set off to Belgium for a three-day journey of exploration, learning, and remembrance—with a little chocolate tasting along the way!
During the trip, the Scouts will visit Bruges and Ypres to deepen their understanding of World War I and take part in meaningful remembrance ceremonies.
Highlights of the trip include visits to the Passchendaele Museum, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Ferme-Olivier Cemetery, Essex Farm, and Hill 60. A particularly special moment will be participating in the iconic Menin Gate parade.

This unforgettable experience begins bright and early with a 6am departure. We’ll be documenting the trip every step of the way, so be sure to follow along here in August.