Nine scouts from West Lothian have just returned from the 24th World Scout Jamboree that was held in West Virginia.
Scouts from all across Scotland attended selection weekends over the past two years to earn their place at the jamboree. 55 from West Lothian entered to win a place but in the end only nine of them were chosen.
They all came from different groups within West Lothian: Howden Howlers (Livingston), Catwelders (West Calder), Sea Scouts (Linlithgow) and Black Bitches (Linlithgow). In preparation the scouts attended numerous training camps in Scotland plus one surprise camp in Holland joining up with dutch scouts to share activities over the past two years.
The jamboree lasted 12 days from July 22 to August 2 and there was 45,000 other scouts and guides representing 152 countries from around the world. At the jamboree there was a massive opening and closing ceremony which the youngsters compared to an Olympic ceremony. All the countries flags were paraded through the crowds onto the stage area then the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and bag pipers escorted the ceremony hosts on stage.
Surprise guest Bear Grylls then abseiled onto the stage to welcome everyone. There was lots of entertainment, live music, a light show, dancing and a stunning fireworks display at the closing ceremony to hand over to the 2023 hosts, South Korea.
Activities over the twelve days included mountain biking, skate-boarding, longest zip line, fishing, scuba diving, cultural diversity days visiting other units from around the world to learn about their units, archery and high ropes.
Each attendee from Scotland was required to fundraise nearly £4000 part of which was allocated to allow scouts and guides from further developing countries to attend. Without the assistance of the more well off countries these young people would not have been able to attend.
The Scottish Groups were also sponsored by DC Thomson, Oor Wullie and all their unit badges had Oor Wullie on them designed by each unit to represent which part of Scotland they came from. Fundraising consisted of individual and unit/group fundraising which involved them bag packing, marshalling at different running events including Edinburgh Marathon weekend, selling Oor Wullie merchandise and easyfundraising links being used by friends and family.
During the coming months all the young people will be re-visiting local units in West Lothian to tell the next generation of beavers, cubs and scouts about their experience encouraging them to apply when they are old enough.
