After months of organising and fundraising, four Leaders (Becky, Claire, Alex and Paula), one Senior Section member (Laura) and two Guide Units (1st Boothstown and 1st Firswood) enjoyed international trips around the World!
We spent 10 unforgettable days camping in Yamaguchi, Japan at the World Scout Jamboree
Our biggest challenge in Japan was acclimatising to the heat and humidity – it was between 34 and 40oC every day and we were camping for 10 days.
Our roles on the camp were very different, but they all had a common goal; ensuring that participants (The Senior Section and Scouts) had a fantastic time learning about cultures and traditions from countries that they never dreamed of going to. The enthusiasm of the young women was fantastic and we feel honoured to have experienced that.
Our highlight would have to be the Opening Ceremony – you never really know what 35,000 participants and adult volunteers looks like until they are all in one place welcoming in the flags from all of the participating Countries. There was a massive buzz around the arena and when the United Kingdom was announced, the roar was electric and it made us realise what an incredible experience we were a part of and what a fantastic time we were having. Becky Patten, Claire Shakeshaft & Alex Hardiman
We went white water rafting and canyonning in Austria
1st Boothstown Guides and 9th Worsley Scouts travelled with JEKA to the Lechtal Valley in Stanzach, Austria and took part in some fantastic activities. We walked up the mountains, went white water rafting, canyonning, on a chair lift and a toboggan run. We experienced a traditional Austrian Tyrolean evening which included Austrian dancing. We tasted amazing local Austrian food such as cordon bleu and schnitzel – obviously, the chocolate spread seemed to be the camp favourite! Caroline Abbott, 1st Boothstown Guides
We volunteered alongside the Marwar Medical and Relief Society in India
Over the course of the project, we sanded, chiselled and painted away at the raw materials to leave a legacy of benches, desks and murals. We combated the issue of girls leaving school to use toilets and often not making the long return journey, losing out on vital education, by installing a water tank to provide sinks and flushable toilets. By the end of the trip the school children, most notably the girls who had lacked female role models, who once stood timidly observing our work from afar, were now scrambling to help us finish drilling those last few desk tops. Our efficient work left time to teach English and trade favourite games with the pupils. Laura Harris
We Segwayed through Budapest
I was Assistant Leader for the North West England Eastern Europe trip; when I was notified that I had been chosen, my emotions were all over the place, I was so excited, honoured, nervous and thought yes I've done it, another adventure in my life was just about to start.
With Jemma and Chloe, we led a group of ten young ladies through Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Vienna and Poland using as many different modes of transport as we could. My favourite country was Hungary and visiting Budapest. The city was so clean and they valued the benefits of tourism; it was so easy to navigate and enjoy everything it had to offer. I particularly enjoyed my first time on a Segway and the Guides complimented me on my ‘Segway swagger’!! Paula Hindley
