After a intensive section event involving interviews along with team working and problem solving activities; we are delighted to announce that 10 Scouts have been selected to represent Mersey Weaver at the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, USA.
Aaron Bennion, Beacon Explorer Scout Unit
Ella Pickstock, 4th Frodsham Scout Group
Gemma Eager, Aquila Explorer Scout Unit
Grace Wheeler, 1st Newton and Kingsley Scout Group
Katy Wakeman, 1st Helsby Scout Group
Lewis Gale, 8th Widnes Scout Group
Louie Bostock, 4th Frodsham Scout Group
Melodie Buckley, 12th Widnes Scout Group
Ollie Lavery, 1st Moore Scout Group
Tara Jennings, Beacon Explorer Scout Unit
We are sure you will join the District Team in wishing them the very best in the challenge ahead and offer as much support as possible to both the contingent members and our two adult leaders, Matt Marnell (4th Runcorn, ASL) and Oliver Chambers (ADC Adventure & 4th Frodsham Scout Leader) who are going as part of the Cheshire contingent leadership team.
Over the next 20 months, the participants will have to work very hard as a team to fundraise the approximate £51,000 to attend the once in a lifetime experience. In addition, they will go through an intensive training programme that will ensure they make the most of their time away and set them up with many competencies that will be useful in future careers. While at the Jamboree, they will spend 12 days of international cooperation on the Summit Betchell Reserve with 40,000 other Scouts from over 150 different countries. They will learn and gain an understanding of different cultures, languages and religions. Either side of the Jamboree, participants will be pushed out of their comfort zone and stay with a host family either in the United States or Canada.
We would like to thank and recognise those Scouts and Explorers who were not among those selected. Every single one of you are to be commended for having the motivation to put an application forward and for your hard work and effort at the selection event. As we explained on the day, the competition was very fierce with over 30 applications for just 10 places. You were a great credit to yourselves, your Units/Groups and Mersey Weaver Scout District. We would encourage you not to be in any way disheartened and to apply for the next international opportunity.
Update 1
We have subsequently gained an extra place and pleased to announce that Brendan Edwards of Cestrian Explorer Scout Unit will also be joining the contingent.
Update 2
Due to personal circumstances, both Gemma Eager and Melody Buckley regretfully have decided to withdraw from the contingent however we are also pleased to announce that Jess McKay of Beacon Explorer Unit and Jared Hodgkinson of Aquila Explorer Scout Unit have joined the unit. We wish Gemma and Melody all the best with all their other Scouting endeavours.