Karratha scouts bound for adventure at World Jamboree

Almost two weeks of hiking, kayaking and mountain biking through dense forest are in store for three members of Karratha’s scout group as they take on the world’s premier scout adventure camp in the US for the first time.

Karratha Scout Group leader Dani Hage and members Tristan Hage, 17, and Dylan Minogue, 15, have travelled to West Virginia to spend 12 days honing their scouting skills and meeting people from all over the world at the World Scout Jamboree.

Ms Hage said it would be the first time the Karratha Scout Group had taken part in the worldwide event, which is held every three years.

“The actual site itself is all in a big forest setting and it’s massive — we’ll probably be walking about 20km a day,” she said.

“This is the biggest it gets — to go to a world jamboree is a big thing for scouts.”

The World Scout Jamboree program features a packed schedule of activities including river rafting, scuba diving, mountain biking and BMX, hiking and rock climbing.

Ms Hage said the World Jamboree was a great place for teenagers to develop their practical and social life skills and become more independent.

“It’s all about life skills, and that’s what we teach them, but there is also a personal challenge aspect to develop as their own person,” she said.

“At jamborees (scouts) come out of their shell, the quiet ones start to get more confidence, and it gives them that confidence to think ‘well if I can do this, I can do anything.”

Tristan and Dylan said they were looking forward to the camp’s scout activities, meeting new people and visiting the US for the first time.

The World Scout Jamboree is on July 22-August 2 at Summit Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia.

The Karratha scouts are the only Pilbara scout group that will be attending the event.

While in the US the trio will also visit Washington DC, North Carolina, Texas and California.