Fingers crossed for 36 scouts dreaming of a trip to Japan.

Hundreds of Scouts from across the region have their fingers crossed that they will be one of 36 teenagers representing North Wales at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree taking place in Japan in 2015.

David Morris, Rod Clarricoats, Jim Butcher and Gill Clarricoats

The Jamboree takes place every four years and is a huge camp for over 30,000 Scouts aged between 14 and 18 from almost every country in the world. The event started in 1920 as a result of the First World War when founder Baden-Powell wanted to bring the world’s youth together to encourage peace.

One of the Unit Leaders for North Wales, David Morris, sees a direct comparison:

‘The world today is a pretty troubled place. Clashes in cultures, struggles for democracy, global poverty and environment concerns are in the news every day.’

‘I think it’s vital that young people are at the heart of the answers to these issues, and the Jamboree brings together kids from across the globe.’

Activities at the Jamboree will encourage the Scouts to work together and think about issues facing the world. Alongside this there will be plenty of adventurous activities, cultural events and water sports.

The camp in Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi City, takes place for 12 days, and as well as this the participants get two days exploring Tokyo and also will live with a Japanese family for several days.

The 36 Scouts who will make up the North Wales Unit will be selected in November during a camp which picks out those who work well as a team, are enthusiastic and get along well with others.

Mr Morris, a medical electronics technician from Wrexham, said,

‘Our task now is to make sure every Scout who’s eligible knows about it and gets their application in. Anyone born between 28 July 1997 and 27 July 2001 can go and we’ll be holding launch nights to tell them and their parents all about it.’

David is one of four volunteers who were themselves selected from across Wales. They all work full time and have to raise the cost of their fee, as well as helping the young people.

The other adults are Gill Clarricoats, a school IT technician and her husband Rod, a tanker driver, both from Llanelli and Jim Butcher, a retail performance consultant from Wrexham.

‘Helping reduce the cost of the Jamboree through fundraising is going to be one of our main jobs over the next 18 months. The fee is £2,995 per participant and leader, but we hope that with the support of people out there we can fundraise £1,000 of this so that we can make the Jamboree available to as many young people as possible.’

‘It will be a life-changing event well worth every penny. What’s important now is that everyone who’s eligible finds out about the Jamboree and gets their application in.’

For more information on the Jamboree, visit www.clwydscouts.org.uk/japan