Cubs visit Glossop's twin German town for a long weekend

Cubs from the 3rd Glossop Scout Group spent a long weekend visiting their counterparts in Bad Vilbel, Glossop’s twin town. The two groups undertook joint activities, played games and learnt what life was like for children in each of the two countries.

Bad Vilbel has been Glossop’s twin town since 1986 and is located in the Wetterau region of Hesse, north of Frankfurt. The scout group in Bad Vilbel is Pfadfinderstamm Graue Biber and has headquarters in a woodland. This was the first time a group of cubs from Glossop had been to visit, and it is hoped that the relationship between 3rd Glossop and Graue Biber will lead to annual exchanges.

The cubs from Glossop, aged 9 to 11, were accompanied by three adult leaders and a young leader. They had one ‘English’ day during which English food was served and activities included teaching the Germans to play cricket. The rest of the joint camp was organised by the German leaders. The cubs particularly enjoyed ‘Chaosspiel’ – a game with lots of different activities and consequences – night time singing and German sharing lunch.

George, one of the Glossop cubs, said: "They have a lot more ceremonies than us,” while Raphael from Bad Vilbel noticed: “In England they can earn badges, but we don’t do that.”

Glossop cubs had been learning German since January and this helped them to communicate.

Although the cubs said it was difficult to communicate and that made it different to other camps, Theo, a Glossop cub said: “That made it better, more exciting.”

On Sunday a group from Bad Vilbel Twinning Committee visited the camp and brought welcome gifts of soft drinks made from local mineral water. There was time for a sightseeing tour around the town and a trip to the swimming baths at Bad Nauheim (twinned with Buxton) in the afternoon. The cubs also visited a bakery where they got to sample some local products before flying back to Manchester on Bank Holiday Monday.

Some of the funds for the trip were raised by the cubs themselves, and it was also subsidised by Glossop Rotary Club and UK German Connection as well as group reserves.

The 3rd Glossop Cubs have already been invited to join Pfadfinderstamm Graue Biber at a county camp in 2026 and it is hoped a group from Bad Vilbel can visit Glossop next year.