1921 till today
The history of our troop dates back to July 1921.
As a few young craftsmen and workers came together. The first Boy Scouts section in Echternach was founded.
Under the leadership of Father Daubach, and Mr. Bern Kieffer as the first Scout leaders, the troop counted 20 members. Shortly after, in August 1921, the young troop organized its very first summer camp.
Ten years after, in August 1931, the first clubhouse was inaugurated with a great ceremony. This log cabin, located between Echternach and Weilerbach, was known to be the most beautiful in the area.
The log cabin in Weilerbach
However, the troop did not use this house for long. In 1940, Mayor Christian Stock, during the German occupation, ordered the dismantling and transportation of the log cabin. After the war, the troop struggled. Various locations were used for meetings, but building a new log cabin was out of question at that time.
In November 1945, the Troupe St. Willibrord published its very first troop newspaper. 150 copies were printed, 50 were sold at tle local „Burg“ bookstore.
In 1952, a group of Senior scouts formed an “Amicale des Anciens Scouts L.S.” under the name “Les Vieux Trappeurs,” with the goal of raising enough funds to provide an new meeting place.
In 1957, the scouts moved to the Passage des demoiselles.
Camp 1957 in Lellingen
In 1966, the time had finally come. On the initiative of the president, Mr. Jérôme de Jong, and Father Waldbillig, the Troupe St. Willibrord obtained its own chalet.
The old CFL shed in Beaufort should be rebuilt. To make this project a reality, the “Comité Protecteur de la Troupe St. Willibrord” was founded.
Inauguration of the Chalet De Jong – Beaufort 1968
In 1978, the Troupe St. Willibrord, together with the Protection Civile, revived an old tradition in Echternach: the first “Buergbrennen” (bonfire) was organized!
Over the years, there have been many exciting activities, including national and international camps, festivals, and theater perfo mances.
Summer camp 1988 Bordeaux
In 1989, the troop supported the MBORO development project in Senegal. Five leaders from Echternach joined 122 others scouts from Luxembourg in Senegal.
At the end of July 1991, 11 explorers and leaders attended the famous Jamborette camp for the first time, an international summer camp near Haarlem (NL).
In 1992, the troop was going through a sad time. Mr. Philippe Buijs (spiritual leader and CaraPio leader) passed away.
On July 5, 1992, the large „Wëllefcher“ rally took place in Echternach, with 1,200 children participating.
National Wolf Cub Rally Echternach 1992
In 1996, under the leadership of Carlo Gillen, the Troupe St. Willibrord celebrated its 75th anniversary. To mark this event, the association organized an exhibition at Hihof, an open day, and a rally around the lake of Echternach.
In 2005, the first bonfire called „Buergbrennen“ on the „Fisherman’s Island“ by the lake was lit.
2005 was also the year of the „Biber“! Due to the high demand, Simone Modert and Josée Schilling launched this new branch, allowing the troop to take care of children from the second school cycle (Cycle 2) onwards. Naturally, this new branch needed a meeting place! The „Biber“ finally got their spot in 2006 in the newly renovated „Grommes House“close to the lake of Echternach.
In 2007, the Troupe St. Willibrord, the Escher Juppen, Kiem, Äisch, and Steinfort troops, organized a large camp in the legendary Gilwell Park near Chingford, London. Around 75 boys and girls were able to pitch their tents not far from B.P.’s “White House.”
In 2011, the press took an interest in our Vizfest with a hobby market. Here’s a short report.
In 2015, the AvEx and CaraPio went together to the JuJuCa Camp, organized by the Escher Juppen in Kandersteg (KISC) Switzerland.
In 2017, the entire troop, with all its sections, took part at the large international GoUrbanCamp, with nearly 3,500 guides and scouts from all around the world.
TODAY, we want to say a big T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U. to all the people who founded, supported, and passionately maintained our troop.