The Camps Bay Scouts, a group with over a century of history, faced a heartbreaking fire in 2025 that destroyed their beloved halls full of memories and treasures. Despite this loss, the community quickly came together, offering support and helping the Scouts keep their spirit alive by moving activities to new places and creating digital archives. Their story shows how even after great sadness, hope, friendship, and courage can shine brightly, turning ashes into a fresh start. The Scouts’ unbreakable spirit reminds everyone that true strength comes from sticking together and never giving up.
The Camps Bay Scouts, founded in 1916, faced a devastating fire in 2025 that destroyed their historic halls. Despite the loss, the community rallied with support, preserving their heritage through digital archives and continuing Scouting activities in temporary spaces, embodying resilience and unity.
For generations, the night sky above Camps Bay came alive with the sounds and scents of adventure. Children’s laughter mingled with the sharp command of a scoutmaster’s whistle, while the smoky aroma of campfires drifted on the Atlantic breeze. These traditions, woven through over a hundred years of gatherings, fostered a deep sense of unity and purpose among the young members of the 1st Camps Bay Scout Group.
The roots of this iconic Scout Group stretch back to 19 May 1916, when a vision inspired by Baden-Powell took physical form on Cape Town’s western slopes. The founders saw beyond mere recreation; they built a home for values such as leadership, citizenship, and belonging. Over time, the uniformed ranks grew to include both boys and girls, all eager to earn badges of honour and embark on excursions up [Table Mountain ](https://capetown.today/table-mountain-a-precious-gift-to-cape-town/)or along the shores of Silvermine. Each outing offered lessons in knot-tying, cloud-watching, and above all, service to others.
The Scout and Cub halls quickly became more than shelters from wind and rain. Their walls, adorned with faded banners, framed photos, and an honours board listing generations of Springbok Scouts, radiated history. Anyone stepping inside became part of a living chronicle – one shaped by moments of laughter around the campfire, serious discussions about leadership, and the subtle shifts in South African society as Scouts quietly set examples of unity during troubled times.
That rich history met a sudden and devastating interruption on the night of August 26, 2025. Flames erupted with alarming speed, consuming both the Scout and Cub halls in a matter of hours. By dawn, the iconic twin buildings lay in ruins: a heap of charred timber, scattered ashes, and memories left smouldering beneath the debris. What vanished in the fire extended far beyond physical possessions – it was a blow to the collective memory and ambitions of an entire community.
News spread quickly, and grief rippled through the local and national Scouting world. Isabell Anders, who leads the Camps Bay Scouts, voiced sorrow and disbelief in a heartfelt message. She described the all-encompassing loss – from practical items like camping equipment to irreplaceable pieces of history such as the honours board that chronicled the achievements of Scouts across decades. Her words underscored the dual nature of the tragedy: logistical setbacks and a profound sense of cultural erasure.
Cape Town’s emergency services responded promptly, preventing the fire from leaping into the surrounding fynbos and averting an even greater disaster. Police and fire investigators marked the area off as they sifted through the remains, noting early indications of a suspected burglary that may have preceded the arson. As officials pieced together the sequence of events, the broader Camps Bay community rallied, their concern tinged with both sorrow and determination to help.
In the hours following the blaze, the outpouring of support proved remarkable. Media coverage, including local outlets like Cape {town} Etc, documented not only the destruction but also the swift, heartfelt response from near and far. Messages of condolence, memories, and offers of assistance flowed in from Scouting groups across South Africa and around the world. Wayne du Plessis, CEO of SCOUTS South Africa, issued a statement expressing solidarity and promising full support. His words echoed the longstanding tradition of mutual aid that lies at the heart of the Scouting movement.
The loss of the Scout halls struck a deep chord in Camps Bay, a neighbourhood known for its historic homes and sweeping seaside views. While the area’s glamour often draws the eye, the Scout Group has long embodied its quieter virtues. For countless local families, the halls represented a democratic meeting place – open to all, regardless of background, where effort and enthusiasm held more value than status. Here, volunteers, many of them parents or former Scouts, mentored the next generation, continuing a tradition that stretches back to Scouting’s earliest days as a counterbalance to urban pressures and social divides.
Throughout South Africa’s turbulent history, the Camps Bay Scout halls served as sanctuaries of inclusion and learning. Under apartheid, they occasionally provided rare spaces for young people of different backgrounds to interact, learn teamwork, and develop self-reliance. The lessons learned inside – responsibility, cooperation, and resilience – shaped hundreds of young adults who carried those values back into wider society.
In the fire’s aftermath, Isabell Anders called on the community to regroup and focus on practical steps forward. She made a direct appeal for monetary donations while insurance claims and investigations progressed, promising to share a list of specific needs once the situation became clearer. Though the halls stood empty, the spirit of Scouting filled temporary spaces – community centres, gardens, and borrowed venues – where leaders and members salvaged as much of the year’s activities as possible.
The absence of the halls resonated as more than an inconvenience. Scout buildings act as vessels of memory, their walls silently recording countless stories: a child’s first successful bowline knot, the camaraderie of late-night Morse code practice, or the relief of shelter during a sudden storm. Losing this physical anchor felt, to many, like the loss of a family album – a rupture in the chain of shared experience that binds generations together.
Yet, the spirit at the core of Scouting – adaptability, hope, and unity – propelled the response. Anders expressed gratitude for the wave of support, drawing strength from the same optimism that sustained the Group through wars, economic hardship, and the long evolution of South African society. Former Scouts began collecting photos, journals, and anecdotes, weaving a new digital archive to help preserve the Group’s story and pass it on to future members. This collective effort reflected global trends in heritage work, where communities heal and rebuild through storytelling and shared remembrance.
Finally, the fire brought renewed attention to the challenges of preserving local heritage in a changing world. In Camps Bay, the Scout halls stood as quiet reminders that history lives not only in grand buildings but in the everyday spaces where young people learn to trust in themselves and each other. As summer approaches, the Camps Bay Scouts face the task of rebuilding. They draw on the strength of past generations – and the unity of their supporters – to turn tragedy into an opportunity for renewal. Through every salute, shared memory, and act of generosity, the Group proves that while structures may fall, their spirit endures, lighting the way for those who follow.
In August 2025, a devastating fire destroyed both the Scout and Cub halls of the Camps Bay Scouts, which had stood for over a century. The fire consumed the historic buildings along with irreplaceable memorabilia, camping equipment, and an honours board chronicling decades of Scout achievements. Investigations suggested the fire may have been preceded by a burglary, but the community and emergency services responded quickly to contain the damage and prevent it from spreading to nearby fynbos.
Despite the tragic loss, the Camps Bay Scouts and the surrounding community came together rapidly to support recovery efforts. Activities were relocated to temporary venues such as community centres and gardens to keep Scouting alive. Volunteers and former Scouts began creating digital archives by collecting photos, journals, and stories to preserve the Group’s heritage. The response highlighted the resilience, unity, and enduring spirit of the Scouts and their supporters.
Founded on 19 May 1916, the 1st Camps Bay Scout Group is one of Cape Town’s oldest Scout organizations. Over more than a century, it has fostered leadership, citizenship, and inclusion among youth. The halls were not just buildings but living chronicles filled with decades of memories, achievements, and community milestones. During difficult periods of South African history, including apartheid, the Scouts provided rare inclusive spaces where young people of diverse backgrounds could learn teamwork and self-reliance.
Following the fire, former members and volunteers collected and digitized photographs, journals, and personal anecdotes to create a new digital archive. This archive serves to preserve the Scouts’ rich history and pass it on to future generations despite the loss of physical memorabilia. Such efforts align with global trends in heritage preservation, showcasing how storytelling and shared remembrance can help heal communities and maintain cultural identity.
Community support has been vital in helping the Camps Bay Scouts recover from the fire. Local families, former Scouts, parents, and even Scouting groups across South Africa and internationally have sent messages of condolence, donations, and offers of assistance. This collective solidarity reflects the core Scouting values of friendship, service, and mutual aid, giving the Group strength to move forward and rebuild.
The Scouts are focused on rebuilding both their physical infrastructure and their community activities. While insurance and investigations continue, they have appealed for donations to support reconstruction. Meanwhile, Scouting activities persist in temporary venues, maintaining engagement and spirit. The Group draws inspiration from their unbreakable history and the unity of supporters to transform this tragedy into an opportunity for renewal and growth.
If you want to support the Camps Bay Scouts or learn more about their story, connecting with local Scout organizations or following their online platforms is a great way to get involved.
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