The next World Scout Jamboree will be held from 1st to 12th August in 2023 in Saemangeum, Jeollabuk-do Province – Korea. This is the second time the Korea Scout Association will be the Host, as the 17th World Scout Jamboree was held in the country back in 1991. It will also mark the 100th anniversary of the Korea Scout Association, a milestone we will all celebrate together in 2023.

Whilst it might seem a long way off planning is fully underway for the 25th World Scout Jamboree, taking place in Korea in 2023.

Locally, we have our Regional (Unit 8 aka The Comhla Coos) Contingent Leadership Team together led by Steven Maclennan, Unit Leader. South East Scotland Scouts are proud that we will be taking 3 patrols totalling  27 Explorers (or will be Explorers at the time of departure) with a mix of males and females from across the Region alongside one GirlGuiding Scotland patrol and leaders. The following Districts will be going: Pentland – 8; Craigalmond – 4; Braid – 8; Borders – 4; Midlothian – 1; Edinburgh North East – 2;

So what have the team been up to?

* There have been leaders weekends planning the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff that makes it all happen.

* The badge has been released (see below).

* In September the team had a training camp where all 6 Scottish World Scout Jamboree Units camped at Fordell Firs alongside the UK (Scottish) IST Members each following their own programmes. Over 300 Young People and Adults were on site over the weekend getting to know one another and preparing for South Korea.  

The Units programme was a mixture of hands-on practical learning and fun activities as the unit members mixed between all 6 Scottish Units and gave back to the site via a Site Services project.  They had a Communications Master Class delivered by the Scouts Scotland Staff team, Mental Health input from the Scouts Scotland Inclusion Commissioner, an update on Food Prep and Hygiene, and they made great use of the Slip and Slide allowing some downtime to ‘play’ slip and slide rounders. Other bases included a team-building challenge and sumo suits and pillow jousting. We even had chop stick practice!!

The Friday Night opened with a campfire ably prepared by the IST and each unit took a turn to lead some songs and chants with the IST opening and closing our Campfire.  On Saturday they welcomed a number of guests including the Chief Commissioner for Scotland and Regional Commissioners who did a sterling job helping to serve everyone lunch! The evening culminated in the long-awaited and much-anticipated badge reveal of all 6 WSJ Units and the UK (Scottish) IST. On Sunday our Scouts reflected on our previous Patron HM The Queen and held a renewal of our Scouting and Guiding promises with time dedicated for the Units to come together and plan their next camps, events and programmes.  Check out the photos below.

What’s next?

We look forward to sharing more news about the Comhla Coos, their fundraising and amazing stories. We all wish them well with their planning as the excitement builds with 2023 just around the corner.