by Amie Shearer and Sean O'Hare
IN APRIL 2005, Chalfont Heights Scout Camp began a large campaign to obtain the freehold of the camp.
And now thanks to a £500,000 donation from the PACCAR Foundation Europe the camp has succeeded in its two year campaign.
Chalfont Heights Scout Camp, in Denham Lane is used by 25,000 scouts, youth organisation members, students and special school pupils each year from across the Chilterns and South Bucks, the country and even from abroad.
And the success of the fundraising mean that modernisation of the camp can now go ahead. Major fundraising continues thoughout 2007, with plans to update the leaders' huts, introduce a toboggan run, bouncy castle and high ropes course.
Chalfont Heights Campaign Manager, Margaret Amos said: "The people of Buckinghamshire have been wonderful in their support; Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, HM Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and Cheryl Gillan, MP for Chesham and Amersham are all patrons of the Chalfont Heights Camp Site.
"But help doesn't stop there; the camp's neighbours, Gerrards Cross Golf Club, Pinewood Studios and the local Rotary Clubs have also been very encouraging."
News of the success came just as scouting across the world was celebrating 100 years since Robert Baden-Powell blew his kudu horn at 8am on Brownsea Island to signal the opening of the world's first scout camp.
And this week nearly 500 scouts, cub scouts, guides and brownies gathered at the camp to commemorate the occasion.
The Sunrise Ceremony began and ended as tradition would have it; with a visiting German Scout blowing a kudu.
Across the world, 216 countries and territories also took part in what was a global renewal of the vows of commitment to Scouting's values.
At Chalfont Heights, the Scout Promise was renewed in seven different languages; English, Welsh, Irish, Australian, Georgian, German and Russian and a breakfast of bacon rolls and fruit juice was served to smiling faces after the ceremony.
Mrs Amos, added: "The celebrations were a great success and it is amazing to see the effect that the organisation can have on young people.
"As well as adventure, fun and friendship, they learn, among other things, to challenge themselves, think for themselves and learn by doing.
"Times have changed but the freedom that scouts provide young children is one thing that hasn't changed."
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