Nineteen young Scouts and two adult volunteers from across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire have welcomed the new year with great excitement as they begin their journey to the World Scout Jamboree in Poland! Each have been selected by Scouts Cymru to represent Wales with the UK Contingent at the global event in the summer of 2027, where they will gather with 40,000 of their counterparts from the worldwide Scouting family from over 150 different countries.
Their journey began at a thunderstorm-drenched scout centre in South Wales in early November as the young hopefuls woke early and stumbled from their tents into the morning mist, ready for a weekend of building new friendships, tackling challenges and facing tests of skill, teamwork and communication. Expectations were high as, to represent Wales and the UK on the world scouting stage at the World Scout Jamboree, is a huge responsibility and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As the selection weekend progressed, the adult leaders were impressed by the tenacity and resilience which the scouts demonstrated; their smiles and enthusiasm evident despite the challenging weather. The task of selecting the members of the two Welsh units of the UK Contingent was not an easy one and all who took part in the selection weekend should feel very proud for taking that first step towards an international Scouting experience.
For the nineteen young scouts from the Clwyd area who were chosen to attend the World Scout Jamboree following the selection weekend, the adventure starts here! All will spend the next 18 months preparing themselves for the trip of a lifetime – they will participate in several preparation camps, fundraising activities and a series of online sessions with their units to become a tight-knit team, learning from each other’s strengths and understanding how to support each other and work together. They will also gain an appreciation of the scale of the event and how it may feel to interact and engage with over 40,000 scouts and guides from every corner of the globe.
The World Scout Jamboree 2027 will mark 120 years of Scouting with the theme of ‘Bravely’, inspiring the young participants, aged 14-17, to be the changemakers of the future. The experience will include exciting adventurous activities; cultural exchange; developing international friendships and teamwork; celebrating the diversity of the scouting family; environmental conservation and global issues; leadership skills and focus on self-care and wellbeing. It will be held on the breathtaking shores of the Baltic Sea, near Gdańsk. This remarkable event embraces what it means to be a member of the worldwide Scouting family and is an incredible opportunity for personal growth and adventure.
Jay Livingstone of Blaze Explorers, Flintshire, explained that “I hope to share my experiences at the event to influence other young people, such as those currently in the Beavers group which I support, to continue their journey through scouting and, hopefully, to take part in a World Scout Jamboree when they are older”.
Harry Briffa-Whitham of Wrexham commented “ I applied for the World Scout Jamboree because it is an amazing opportunity to learn about different cultures and meet new people. I like to explore new places and I am looking forward to the adventure!”
Jacob Jones, the Scouting District Lead for the Vale of Clwyd, stated that he is “really excited to ‘bravely’ attend the World Scout Jamboree in Poland as one of the Unit Leaders”. This will be his first international event with Scouts and he hopes to inspire future generations and show that “anything is possible with a bit of determination and enthusiasm”. His fellow Unit Leader, Dan Campbell, said “Our focus in Clwyd is simple, to support young people and give them every opportunity to grow their skills for life. The Jamboree allows Scouts from all over Clwyd to experience the very best of Scouting on a global stage. Leading Unit 4 for Wales is a privilege and an exciting adventure!”
The World Jamboree is like the Scouts Olympics, but instead of countries competing for medals, they work together to make the world a better place. We wish all of the World Scout Jamboree participants and leaders from across Wales and the UK the best of luck as they embark on their journey along the road to the World Scout Jamboree, making lasting friendships and developing skills for life along the way. We can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
