The CMC is organised by Centre Managers for Centre Managers and the participants are required to run workshops during the Conference and in this respect the CMC is a unique event. Roughly 20 years ago 4 very enthusiastic Centre Managers came together to organise the first edition and the past 10 editions have seen a constant growth in participants and importance of the event.

Guide & Scout Centres are valued differently within their respective National Guide and/or Scout Organisations and either receive a lot of support of just the bare minimum. We believe that the role of Centres, irrespective of their size, will become more important for Guiding & Scouting all over the world. Due to the constant increase of restrictions on the free use of the green space, the slow and steady reduction of the available green area space and the foreseen urbanization of Guiding & Scouting, Centres will become an increasing focal point to allow our members the experience in the nature available, as it is a very important aspect of the Guiding & Scouting programme as designed by B-P.

Many topics, from ‘a vision for your centre’ to ‘how to recruit and retain volunteers’, from ‘legislation and its effects’ to ‘how to keep the guide and or scout spirit alive’ have been discussed formally and informally and it has become clear that for the next CMC we certainly have enough topics to fill even more days if we want to. It was great to see the interaction between all the participants on a constant basis during the CMC and the motivation and drive shown by all while creating an ideal Guide and or Scout Centre.

Looking at the evaluations the Planning Team believes that all have had a great time and that the programme offered enough topics for debate. And that in the past 4 days everyone had plenty of opportunity to fulfil the promise of the logo of the 10th CMC to really eXchange, eXplore and eXcite themselves and the others and that we have reached the aim to leave here revigorated and revitalised with new ideas or confirmed in the direction chosen for your Centre.

The real challenge is to really use these new ideas and find ways to implement them in the coming months at the Guide and or Scout Centres. We hope it is being made a priority and we hope to see all and even more Centres at the next event.