Scouts from Walney and Ulverston Jet Off for a cultural Adventure of a Lifetime

Scouts from Walney and Ulverston have flown off to the World Scout Jamboree in Japan. They joined 4,000 other Scouts from across the UK and 30,000 others from nearly every country in the world for two weeks of activities, fun and making new friends in the most truly international event on the planet.

The UK Scouts flew to Tokyo for three days in which the capital was taken over by the Scouts getting to know each other, seeing the sights and taking part in traditional cultural activities, before they travelled on to the Jamboree site near Yamaguchi City in the South of Japan by Bullet Train. During their time in Japan, the scouts are also spending time living with families in their own homes.

As well as being a fantastic opportunity for young people, the event is an amazing chance for adult volunteers to take part in activities and learn new skills that they can use in other aspects of their life.

The World Scout Jamboree includes seven days of activities, with modules based around Global development, Peace programme (based at Hiroshima), Exploring nature, Crossroads of Culture and City of Science (COS) The COS programme, deepens the understanding of advances in science and technology and the benefits and problems associated with science. This programme provides a venue for learning about the development of fuel cells and other energy sources for the future, ecological problems, and robotics and automotive technologies.

Speaking before he left for Japan, Clifford Warburton, 15, of Ulverston said “Going to the jamboree is giving me an amazing opportunity to meet fellow scouts from around the world and experience their culture and diversity. There is no other place or opportunity to get this experience and because I am in scouting I have been given this once in a lifetime opportunity.

I am so proud to be going as this will be the best experience of my life and to share peace around the world with fellow scouts… awesome!

Home hospitality is going to be amazing – I’m looking forward to home hospitality as it’s a unique experience to stay in traditional Japanese homes with a local family and learn their culture. I’m looking forward to Tokyo as it’s such an amazing city and also to meet scouts from all over the world”.

Teenagers James and Katherine Atkinson, brother and sister from Walney, are also out in Japan. Before they left for Japan, Deputy Mayor Anita Husband gave them a shield of the Barrow coat of arms to present to their Japanese home hospitality hosts.

Liz Atkinson, their mother, has been speaking to James and Katherine at the jamboree “they are having a great time in Japan, and really enjoying all the visits and activities. Katherine told me it is so hot (51°C) that her sunblock is melting! They have been busy making friends with scouts from other countries too, including the Botswana Solidarity Patrol."

Chief Scout, Bear Grylls said: “While lots of people know that Scouting is all about adventure, they often don’t realise that adult volunteers get to do just as much as our young members through their involvement. The World Scout Jamboree is a great example of this. Over the course of the Jamboree Scouts will be able to meet people from around the world, take part in amazing adventures and experiences and be challenged to think about global issues in a new light. That is why Scouting is one of the greatest youth movement on earth and why I am so proud to be part of it.”