BROWNSEA Island has opened its doors on what promises to be one of its busiest and most exciting years.

The Poole Harbour idyll is gearing itself up to be the focal point of worldwide Scouting's centenary.

One hundred years ago Robert Baden-Powell held the first experimental camp with 20 boys from mixed backgrounds.

As the climax of its celebrations, on August 1 this year at sunrise, 300 young people representing all 216 Scouting countries will renew their promises on the island.

"It's going to be absolutely amazing," said Jon Grimes, 19, a Southampton Scout and part of the PR team organising the centenary celebrations.

"During the year Scouts from all over the world will be popping in for a weekend and just enjoying the serenity of the place and the calm and the activities which are on offer," he said.

The ethos behind the Scouting movement had not changed in the past 100 year, he said, but the activities and equipment has.

There will be four special camps held during the summer and one will be a replica of that first camp, with participants sleeping in bell tents, and being roused at 6am for exercises.

Whale hunting using logs has been replaced by activities such as canoeing and kayaking in Poole Harbour.

However the 10,000 Scouts booked in as day visitors this year and the 4,000 who will be camping, will find a new Baden-Powell Outdoor Centre with a heritage centre, and for the first time proper toilets and showers.

A month into the job, the National Trust's new Brownsea Island property manager Angela Cott, is relishing the demands of her new job.

For the past eight years she was managing director of a social enterprise supporting rural business in Shropshire.

"For me personally it's a huge challenge," she said.

"It's my first time in the National Trust and I'm learning an awful lot about how they work.

"To drop into this and what's happening this year, I'm really excited about it."

The island opened to the public on March 24 and while it is undeniably Scouting's year, Angela and visitor services manager Graham Crane are keen to point out its many other attractions from cheeky red squirrels to the Dorset Wildlife Trust managed nature reserve.

"Most of our visitors come to appreciate the peace, wildlife and tranquillity of the island," said Graham.

Last year 116,000 people crossed over from Poole on the ferries and in 2007 they are expecting to clock up 120,000.