During a visit to Kandersteg, already a well known holiday destination, the Chief Scout of Switzerland, Walther von Bonstetten, discovers a derelict Chalet on the banks of the Kander river. Lord Baden-Powell and von Bonsetten’s decided to work together on the creation of an International Home for Scouts in Kandersteg... and the rest is history!
In 1923 a disused chalet in Switzerland on the banks of the river Kander was purchased for a "permanent Scouting Jamboree" and the life of Kandersteg International Scout Centre began.
Over a million Scouts and Guides have visited KISC since it was founded by Baden-Powell and have lived its values on their return home to make their world a little better than they found it.
Throughout 2023 we will be celebrating 100 years of KISC inspiring young people to create a better and more peaceful world, through a series of events and activities which bring young people together from around the globe.
We have a range of events that will enable you to join in the centenary celebrations.
Kander100 Jamboree
Kander100 is a once-in-a-lifetime camp for young people from around the world and is the highlight of the KISC 100 Centenary celebrations; a camp bringing together Scouts and Guides in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
We will inspire, challenge, and educate young people through high adventure, international friendship, and sustainable development.
The camp will take place over 10 days, from 28th July to 7th August. In a world faced with critical challenges, Kander100 will show the world what is possible when young people live and work together without borders.
Expression of interest for this event will open at 10 am CET on 1 February.
KISC100! Challenge
Our KISC100! Challenge is an opportunity for Scouts and Guides around the world to take part in KISC and win a trip to Kander100.
Full information on the competition, including how to enter, is available at 2023.kisc.ch/challenge. You should share details of the competition with your Scouts / Guides. You could hold an activity as part of your group’s meetings!
Entries close on Founders Day (22 February 2022).
Open Call for Volunteers
We are recruiting a team of remote volunteers to get involved from wherever they are in the world. From Fundraising to Graphic Design, we have a variety of remote roles open for applicants. This is an excellent opportunity to get involved in making 2023 the most exciting year in KISC’s history.
We encourage you to share these opportunities with your NSO and local groups so nobody misses out.
Further information on volunteering opportunities to celebrate the KISC centenary is available at 2023.kisc.ch/volunteer. More positions will become available in future so make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated.
Other Events
We have a range of other events throughout our Centenary year, including:
Welcome to the Centenary, December 2022 – 1 January 2023 The centenary year will start with an unforgettable opening ceremony. With each country flying their flag, a parade will mark the beginning KISC 100 and celebrate the world of scouting that we have built together.
Global Online Event, February 2023 - March 2023 This online event will be a symbol of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. It will bring the magic of KISC virtually, reaching countries and Scouts we’ve never been able to engage with before.
Members Centenary Weekend, 26 May 2023 – 28 May 2023 We will be communicating details of this event directly to members of the KISC Association. Networking, socialising and celebrating will all be key parts of the programme.
See you in 100 years, 31st December 2023 A chance to welcome the next 100 years of the Permanent Mini Jamboree. Every celebration must come to an end, but the closing of the year will not be a Goodbye, rather a “See you soon” to everyone who visited and supported throughout the year. More information will be shared in late 2022.
Registration for all of these events will be available soon on our website. If you want to receive updates on the centenary celebrations (who doesn’t), then please join our newsletter at 2023.kisc.ch/newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Finally, you can support KISC by making a donation to the Centre, or a specific project in our Centenary.
If you have any questions or require further guidance on how to participate or volunteer during 2023, please contact Alhassan Soltan, KISC 2023 Project Director.
We can’t wait to see you at the celebrations of the World Scout Centre!
