Chimera Network are part of the Bucks Scout Network and we are a highly active section of the Scouting movement for 18–25 year olds based in South Bucks. Mainly located in the Great Missenden area, but have many members in the surrounding area and also off at uni, so we are quite diverse in our meeting places!
You may find us: climbing up a crag, squeezing down a cave, hiking across the moors, scrambling up a mountain, paddling down some rapids, chilling at the bowling alley, drinking down the pub or sleeping under canvass. If any of this gives you the urge to find out more then keep reading!
There’s more information belown about us and our history and plans or or click on the links for our photo’s, upcoming events or write ups on past events.
Have a look through our Photo Gallery or at
our up coming events on the Diary Page
or at some of our past events:
Bucks Scout Centenary Camp 2007
North Wales 2010
After carrying out a survey of all Scouts and leaders in 2000, the Scout Association decided it would re-arrange scouting in the UK. Age groups were shortened and new groups invented. Venture Scouts (16–25) was replaced by Explorer Scouts (14–18) and Scout Network (18–25). The changeover process began in 2003…..
Chimera Network was founded in 2004 by a group of older Venture/Explorer Scouts from Misbourne Sea Scout Unit who felt that they couldn’t possibly be apart from each other, or grow up enough to not be scouts.
After having a few discussion meetings, there was a loose form to the group, but no name- this was to be the topic of hot debate for at least a year, with ‘Chiltern North Sea Scout Network’, combining the district we all hailed from and keeping the ‘Sea Scout’ theme from our Explorer Unit, ‘Chiltern North Network’, and ‘Chimera’ being the main contenders.
The group at this stage, under the guidance of mountains ‘expert’ Pete T, never really took off. This was mainly due to the new format being ‘untried’ so no-one really knew what to do, and also members left for university. There was the occasional meet down a public house, but no real strategy or formalisation came about until 2007 when it was decided to make a real go of things.
When Soph P and a couple of others (who were nearly too old for Misbourne Explorers) were approached to organise the main entertainment at the upcoming Bucks Scout Centenary Camp. After a couple of phone calls and a little discussion, we decided to use this event to re-launch our Network hub. An organisational team was set-up and Chimera Network was re-born.
Easter 2007 saw the first formal camp, and first formal event of Chimera Network. Finally with a name, and with a remote sense of identity and vision, a group of a fair size descended upon Chalfont Heights for a weekend of celebration and merry making.
The next big event was the Bucks Scouts Centenary Camp. The county showground outside Aylesbury was hired, and Chimera organised and ran the main stage. We grabbed this opportunity by the horns, not only due to the wealth of knowledge relating to sound and lighting within the hub, but also because it meant we could get ourselves known in the county and publicise the fact we exist.
Although the latter half of the weekend was a complete washout, it was a great success, with the Chimera crew of Nick P Soph P, Dan E, Andy P and Ollie B battling gale force winds and almost biblical rain to produce an awesome array of live music, DJ sets and perfect light displays that festival organisers would be proud of.
In the summer, another weekend camp was organised, again at Chalfont Heights. Much the same as the previous camp, a more social event than anything else, for all members to meet up and catch up after being in various parts of the country and world either at university, travelling, or working.
On the camp it was decided to form an executive committee that would effectively run the group. The first, and founding, exec consisted of Nick P as Chair, Nick R as Vice-chair, Andy P as Treasurer, Harry as Webmaster, and Jimmy G as Secretary.
As this was another success, Easter 2008 consisted of a reprise of the last 2 camps, and a plan was put in place to organise the first Chimera expedition- to the Irish Republic. This historical event was attended by Soph P, Nick P, Andy P, Dale, Nick R, Bollen, Matt H and Harry, and their names will be forever embedded in the history books.
Scotland 2008 with Misbourne Unit was attended by a few Chimera members, and then things went a little quiet until the autumn of 2009. Although plans were loosely formed throughout the year, nothing ever became set in stone, and with other commitments the group seemed to be repeating the flop of 2004. This was until Misbourne invited us, and other county Networks, on their annual winter trip to Scotland. This got the members excited, and with much interest Chimera started to fly.
Fundraising events that have been our main source of money for subsidisation of trips became more readily attended, and with a new website, designed by Harry, that was echoed throughout the county Network websites, Chimera became the force it is today.
Membership is at an all time high, and with the aid of ‘roadshow’ evenings at Explorer unit nights to make older scouts aware of our presence, we can only grow further.
It’s amazing to think that as I write this, it has been 5 years since our preliminary network discussion evening and the first basis of what we have now. Here’s to another glorious five, and many more!
Brazier, 2009
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