It's An Outdoor Adventure With the Scouts for Duchess Kate at Gilwell Park!

The Duchess of Cambridge travelled to Essex this morning to visit Scouts’ headquarters at Gilwell Park.

The Duchess became involved with the Scouts shortly after the royal wedding, when she volunteered with them in Anglesey on a private basis - spending time with the group and hosting a BBQ on the beach for them. Since leaving Wales, the Duchess has carried out several engagements with the organisation. The Duchess was credited with an increase in flexible volunteers, with Scouting Magazine writing that Kate's involvement was "a boost not just to the Beavers and Cubs in north Wales whom she will be supporting directly, but to all of us across the UK who are trying to recruit new adults." A former Brownie, Kate has previously said she "very much hopes" George, Charlotte and Louis will get involved when they are older. Her Majesty the Queen is the Patron of The Scout Association, I expect it will passed to Kate in the coming years.

Kate was greeted by representatives from the organisation and young Scouts. 

Kate admired one young boys badges.

Simon Perry reports:

'The royal mom, 37, told young leaders of her hope that her kids will follow in her footsteps, as she was Brownie as a young girl and has acted as an adult volunteer.

“She said she would like them to go into the scouting community because she loves what it stands for — that it’s a very open and inclusive way into life,” said 14-year-old Lauren Noble, who helped show Kate around. “She said it would be a great thing for them to get involved in.”

Noble joined the Duchess of Cambridge as she arrived and admired the youngsters’ badges. “She said it was very impressive that they’d done so much at such a young age and how many skills they could learn.”

“She said she’d like to get her children involved and how you learn so many skills for life in the scouts,” said Patel. “I talked to her about the mosque and how important it is for religion and scouting to blend together and how we have to learn about each other’s religions and be united with each other.”

“She emphasized how important it is to understand each other and learn about each other’s religion and cultures,” the teen added. “She is really humble. I was nervous — we all were — but she was a normal humble human being. She made us feel comfortable.”

The royal visit also celebrates the site’s 100th anniversary year.

Gilwell Park has a fascinating history steeped in efforts supporting the Scouts: "Gilwell Park estate was purchased in early 1919 by William De Bois Maclaren, a publisher and Scout Commissioner from Rosneath, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. During a business trip to London, Maclaren was saddened to see that Scouts in the East End had nowhere suitable to have amazing outdoor adventures. Maclaren bought the estate for the Scout Association. P.B. Nevill, Scout Commissioner for the East End first took his Rover Scouts to begin repairing the estate on 17 April 1919 and it was officially opened on 26 July 1919."

More from Scout Adventures:

'Gilwell Park has become the worldwide spiritual home of Scouting. It is sung of round campfires, remembered by many and is a place of pilgrimage for Scouts from around the globe. Its grounds are scattered with structures, sculptures and statues gifted by international Scout organisations, each of these has a tale of worldwide friendship to tell which resonates with Scouts today.

Gilwell Park also has a fascintating pre-Scouting history, the earliest reference dating from the 1400's sitting on the edge of the Royal Hunting Forest the Park the first known building was a medieval hall. The site has also known infamy and scandal with its links to Dick Turpin and transformation into a regency pleasure palace. During the Second World War the site was requisitioned due to its strategic location overlooking Enfield's reservoirs and armaments factories. This occupation left its mark, the 'bomb-hole' pond created during an air-raid now hosts canoeing, kayaking and raft building activities.'

The White House today serves as a versatile event venue and hotel. Catering for weddings, events and of course outdoor enthusiasts. All income generated goes directly back into supporting Scouting in the UK.

Spring sunshine at Gilwell.

Each year, the Park welcomes thousands of Scouts, schools and youth groups to develop their character skills, including taking the initiative and tenacity; employability skills such as leadership, teamwork and problem solving; and practical skills like cooking and first aid.

Kensington Palace said: "Last year, the Scouts unveiled twenty pilots in England to explore the potential of providing Scouting to children between the ages of four and six. Research has shown that the first five years of a child’s life are more pivotal for development, and for future health and happiness, than any other single moment in their lifetime. What a child experiences during its earliest years shapes the development of the brain and influences interactions at school, work and in society. The new pilot will see Scouts test its exciting programme of activities – which currently reaches 473,000 young people between the ages of 6 and 25 in the UK – to younger children, equipping them with the life skills and values of teamwork, leadership and resilience."

Following independent research, the Scout Association found the earlier children access non-formal education, the more positive the impact of their prospects. They also consulted global groups providing similar models as Scouting to very young children including the Squirrels, for 4-5 year olds, in Northern Ireland and found feedback overwhelmingly positive.

The focus on early years ties in nicely with Kate's focus in the area.

No visit would be complete with a visit to the den. Kate said "It's very waterproof, isn't it".

The photo of the day!

People reports:

'The den had just been built by the youngest Scouts, the Beavers. They had tested whether it was water proof – and the results were almost a complete success.

“Three trials were dry, one was wet! We are very proud that it was three quarters there,” says Frankii Newbury, the early year’s pilot project leader. “[Kate] got straight in there with one of our Beavers and checked it out. It was wonderful and the Scouts absolutely loved her. The highlight was the Duchess, smack bang in the middle of it all, getting in a den — braver woman than I am.”

The youngsters discussed creating the den.

Kate's RHS 'Back to Nature' garden features a rustic den and focuses on the joys of outdoor play throughout childhood.

Kate joined a number of sessions with young children currently taking part in the pilot scheme, including activities to improve communication and teamwork, such as boat building.

 And balloon rocket assembling.

Kate very much enjoyed participating.

Time to get the paints out...

Kate chatted with young Scouts about their experiences.

A group of Scouts aged 14 to 18 showed Kate a number of Gilwell Park’s iconic features, including the famous Gilwell Oak, named UK Tree of the Year in 2017.

Before departing, The Duchess planted an oak sapling to mark the 100th anniversary.

Scouting’s founder, Robert Baden-Powell used the Gilwell oak tree as an analogy for the growth and development of Scouting.

A group shot.

Following the visit, the Scouts tweeted: "From all of us at the Scouts, thank you so much to HRH The Duchess of Cambridge for visiting Gilwell Park today to learn more about our early years pilots and how Scouts helps young people develop."

It was an incredibly fun event, Kate's expression in the photo below sums up her outdoor adventure with the Scouts.

The video below has great footage from the den.

The Duchess chose several familiar pieces for the visit.

Kate wore her trusty Barbour Ladies Waxed Defence Jacket. The military inspired jacket is described as "Traditional Barbour wax, in a versatile field jacket. Flattering and easy fit. Perfect for outdoor adventures. 100% cotton Barbour Tartan lining." Kate has had the piece since at least 2012. It originally retailed for £199 before selling out. Below, Kate sporting it in 2017 for an engagement in support of the Royal Horticultural Society's Campaign for School Gardening.

Kate wore her mahogany J Crew Mockneck sweater. The piece is discounted in a number of colours from $80 to $50 on the J Crew website.

Kate wore her See by Chloe Leather-trimmed suede ankle boots. Described as: "See By Chloé's combat-style ankle boots are perfect for balancing the prettiness of floral dresses and floaty skirts. Made from dark-brown suede, they have tonal leather trims and logo-embossed heel tabs, and are set on a chunky tread sole."

Kate's Closet discovered Kate's UK Scouting scarf is the official UK Adult version.

And accessorised with a new pair of earrings. I'll update when/if they are identified.

In other news, the Duchess had a private meeting with Sir Keith Mills, director of the Royal Foundation yesterday. Tomorrow, George and Charlotte will commence a lengthy break, until the 24th April, from Thomas's Battersea and Willcocks Nursery. I expect the time will be divided between London and Norfolk. I imagine we'll see an engagement announcement or two before the end of the week :)