Around twenty Islanders will head to South Korea in summer 2023, to attend the 25th World Scout Jamboree.

The group will include 18 young people (all aged 14 to 18) and 4 adult volunteers.

The Jamboree is a skills, cultural and adventure festival and sees scouts sharing skills. 

One big party, involving members of the organisation from around the globe, it will be held in SaeManGeum, in August 2023.  

It will be largest scout camp to be held since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with over 40,000 young people from almost every nation on earth taking part, including 3,240 young people from every corner of the UK. 

Isle of Wight County Press:

Harry Taylor, an Island Explorer Scout, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity and I’m really looking forward to meeting so many different Scouts and learning new skills."

In preparation for a 'roarsome' time, the UK's group has adopted a logo featuring a Siberian tiger - the national animal of Korea - and they have named it ‘Chingu,’ which means friend. 

Between now and July 2023, the young people will attend training camps and team building events, preparing them for living on the hot and humid site.

The cost of attending the World Jamboree and the associated training is £3,995 per head and Island Scouts are busy fundraising, with aim of achieving £44,000 by August 2023.  The rest of the cost will be met through personal contribution. 

Lily Blake, Island Explorer Scout, said: "This is a huge but exciting undertaking for all of us - a once in a lifetime experience.  We have a lot of fundraising to do and hope the Island will support our efforts." 

Dave Simpson, County Commissioner for Isle of Wight Scouts said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for these Scouts and one of the largest contingents we have sent to a World Scout Jamboree.   

"Anyone wanting to support our Scouts to enable them to get to the Jamboree is encouraged to contact us."