Lapwing Lodge Outdoor Centre is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Sharp as our new Centre Manager, following the decision of long-serving Warden, Ross Dunbar, to retire.
Ben, 37, has worked in outdoor education and adventure activities for over a decade. His experience ranges from crisis care programmes and canyon guiding in New Zealand to private guiding for celebrities. He has worked across a huge variety of settings, including outdoor education centres, the O2 Arena in London and five-star hotels in the Highlands of Wester Ross. In recent years he has managed off-ground activities for a national group of family entertainment centres, overseeing technical inspections, instructor training and the construction of off-ground activities.
In the short term, Ben is keen to spruce Lapwing up and add even more fun for visitors and volunteers, with a particular focus on increasing the number of volunteers and getting more young people involved. His long-term vision is to develop Lapwing Lodge into an Activities and Adventure HQ for the whole of West Region Scouts, using the facilities, equipment and skills on site to support not only those who visit Lapwing but Scouts across the region. This includes ambitions such as Great Glen canoe expeditions, bike-packing trips, support for King’s Scout and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions, and delivering training and assessments to help local leaders gain activity permits, so that all of West Region can benefit from Lapwing Lodge.
Our Warden Ross has more than 50 years of service as an adult in Scouting both at Lapwing and as a member of 3rd Barrhead Scout Group, where he has held various roles over the years, including many years as Group Scout Leader.
Stephen Allan, Lead Volunteer of the Lapwing Lodge Support Team, said:
“Ben brings a remarkable breadth of experience from across the outdoor and adventure sector and we are delighted to welcome him to Lapwing Lodge. His passion for developing opportunities for young people and supporting leaders fits perfectly with our vision for the centre and for West Region Scouts.
“At the same time, we owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Ross for his decades of commitment, care and hard work. Lapwing Lodge simply would not be what it is today without him, and we are sure that when he steps away in early 2026 he will remain part of the Lapwing family.”
Ben added:
“I am absolutely thrilled to be taking on the role of Centre Manager at Lapwing Lodge. It is a fantastic centre with huge potential and a special place in the life of West Region. I am really looking forward to working with our volunteers, leaders and young people to make Lapwing an even more welcoming, exciting and adventurous hub for Scouts from across the region.”
