Ten Terrace Venturers are off to the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan as part of the 30,000 scouts from 161 countries.
Susan Fleming, Timothy Zettler, Aurora Peden, Nathan Archer, Joshua Evans, Briana Greer, Brittney Preston, Chelsey Loset, Megan Bellamy and Brandon Kirkwood are going along with their advisor Paul Fleming, who will be their patrol leader overseas. The 10 are part of the 350 Canadians going and of those, 300 are scouts and 50 are leaders, says Greer.
“I’m excited,” she says. “It won’t hit me until it’s a reality.”
Before the Terrace youths go to the jamboree next week, they are having a pre-jamboree in Hong Kong to adjust to the culture starting tomorrow, June 23, to the 28th. After the jamboree, several of the scouts will stay in a Japanese scout’s home, part of scouting’s Home Hospitality Program
Greer, 16, is the Terrace patrol’s spokesperson and will be one of two spokespersons for the Canadian contingent, which will mean providing daily updates at the pre-jamboree, the World Jamboree and broadcasting on Scouting Radio.
Greer began in Beavers and went on her first trip as a Cub with leader Fleming. She plans on continuing with scouting and becoming a leader.
“Thanks so much to him,” she says, adding that Fleming is the reason that they can go on these trips.
At pre-jamboree, they will visit Man Mo Temple, Cat Street, Victoria Peak, Stanley Market, Ngong Ping 360 and Po Lin Monastery from July 23 to 28.
Then they will go to Kirara-hama, Yamaguchi July 28 to August 8 and then those in the home hospitality program will head to Tokyo August 8 to 10.
Greer knew for four years about the trip and helped fundraise along with the rest of her patrol.
Fundraising during the last two years raised $65,341.37 for the trip thru raffle tickets, flower orders, Drive 4 Ur Community With Ford, sandbagging, the Polar Bear swim, helping at the speedway gates and concession stands.
Plus donations were received from the United Church, Independent Order of Foresters, First Terrace Rovers, Sunset Kennels, Order of Royal Purple and the Skeena Valley Cruizers.
Thirteen scouts, two venturers and four leaders from here who are not going to the world jamboree went to the Pacific Jamboree in Victoria last week.
Greer will blog, tweet and post on her Facebook page while away. Follow her on Twitter @BreeeGreer and on Facebook at Briana Greer.