World Scout Jamboree

Participant Questions and Answers

With over a year to go until the Jamboree the specific details are not yet available and will be confirmed to the units nearer the time. Below we have provided answers to questions you may have, and we have provided as much information as we can at this point.

If there are any questions that you cannot find answers to on this form, please e-mail

International@surrey-scouts.org.uk

Where and when will the 26th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) be?

The World Scout Jamboree will be held from 30^th July to 8th August in 2027 in Gdańksk, Poland, with some time either side for travel and UK Contingent events.

What is a World Scout Jamboree?

The World Scout Jamboree is a bit like the Olympics’ – it is held every four years at different locations around the world. Scouts from every Scouting nation (about 226 countries and territories) attend for an event to share fun, adventure, world issues and friendship.

Approximately 40,000 Scouts are expected at the next event. The Jamboree lasts for 10 days, and on top of this is sightseeing and other activities to form a trip approximately 2-2.5 week expedition. The World Scout Jamboree is one of many exciting international events for Scouts.

Who can apply to go as a participant?

To apply to be a participant you must be born between 30^th July 2009 and 30th July 2013.

What happens if I was born outside of these dates?

If you were born after these dates, you will be eligible for the 27th WSJ in 2031. If you were born before these dates then you should look at other international activities, such as Roverway, or the International Service Team for the Jamboree.

What is the Jamboree theme?

The theme of the 26th World Scout Jamboree is “Bravely”. The organisers aim to inspire young people to act courageously for the future of humanity and the planet.

What makes a Jamboree special?

The Jamboree is not just a huge gathering of Scouts and Guides from all around the World, it is more than that. Scouts from around the world living, working and having fun together. When a member of the United Nations visited the Jamboree in Japan (2015), he described it as “the way the world should be”. It is truly a special place where Scouts can share their cultural and national backgrounds and words cannot do it justice.

What is a Jamboree campsite like?

A Jamboree is the size of a small town, once everyone arrives there will be tents as far as the eye can see!  It can often take as long as one hour to walk from one side of the site to another, particularly if you keep stopping to say hello to Scouts from all over the world! Your unit will be allocated a small area to camp in, this is where you will sleep, cook and relax for the duration of the camp.

What will a typical day be like at the Jamboree?

You will normally go to activities as a whole Unit, or sometimes in your Patrol of 9 Scouts and 1 Leader. There are a huge variety of amazing activities in a typical Jamboree programme, too many to list here!

In the evening, after the duty Patrol has cooked dinner (maybe with some visiting Scouts from another country), there is still lots to do on site. You might choose to go badge swapping, trying to find the rarest badges out there. Or, you might join in some of the evening entertainment, watching a traditional performance from another country or even getting up on stage yourself!

What are the ceremonies?

It wouldn’t be a Jamboree without the Opening and Closing Ceremonies! It is quite incredible to have Scouts from all over the world sat together in one field.  The atmosphere is electric and it is likely to be a very special part of your Jamboree experience.

What is the pre and post Jamboree programme?

The UK Contingent typically organises a 2-3 day experience for UK Scouts just before or after the Jamboree. We don’t have any details yet for this for 2027, but as an example, the UK Contingent to Korea Jamboree spent 3 days exploring the sights of Seoul and in USA 2019, units went to New York and Washington DC.

Can I join the expedition late or leave early?

Each Jamboree unit will leave the UK and return to the UK as a whole unit. It is not possible to join late or leave early.

I have additional needs / disabilities, can I still go?

The ethos of the Jamboree is that it should be open and accessible to everyone of the correct age. As a result, every effort will be made in to accommodate young people who are differently abled wherever and whenever reasonable adjustments are possible. This may be simple physical or environmental changes through to more complex adjustments, including allowing a carer / helper to attend. Whilst these can cover a wide range of requirements, obviously this is a very complex area. We would suggest that if you have any particular questions relating to personal adjustments then please contact us on international@surrey-scouts.org.uk

Fundamentally, all participants in the Jamboree, young person or leader, must be aware that it is a long expedition, mainly camping overseas, with a wide range of activities. It is loads of fun, but it will also be very tiring at times and can have an element of stress relating to logistics, cultural differences and time zones.

Can you accommodate special dietary requirements?

Most dietary requirements can reasonably easily be catered for, as long as you are prepared to be as flexible as possible. Dietary requirements based on religion, and for example Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten Free are routine. The WSJ itself will be set up for these. However, all participants need to be aware that access to particular foods whilst travelling can be more challenging, so a degree of flexibility is appreciated. Other dietary requirements will need more work to be achieved. If you have any concerns, then please contact us on international@surrey-scouts.org.uk

What faiths and cultures are represented at the WSJ?

Essentially, ALL. The event is aimed at everywhere in the world that has Scouting, and this includes all faiths and cultures. At the Jamboree, you could be queuing for an activity and talk to somebody from virtually anywhere in the world. A lot of the activities are aimed at interaction with others. At the WSJ, there will be chances to learn and join in with other faiths and beliefs. With the ethos of the Jamboree being open to all, the Surrey WSJ will be open to applicants from all faiths, no faith and cultures.

What is the UK Contingent?

The UK Contingent is the name for all of the participants, leaders and the International Service Team who will attend the event from the UK. The entire contingent will contain about 4,500 people!

What makes up a Jamboree unit?

A Jamboree unit is made up of 40 people; this is 4 leaders and 36 participants organised into 4 patrols. The UK contingent will include 72 units.

How many Jamboree places does Surrey have?

You will be allocated to one of 2 Jamboree Units from Surrey. Each Unit consists of 36 Scouts and 4 Leaders from Surrey. Each District is allocated a certain number of places, this varies depending on how many eligible Scouts/Explorers are in each District. We normally try to make sure at least one other person from your District is in the same Unit as you.

Do I have to be a Surrey Scout to apply?

Yes, you must be a member of a Surrey Scout Troop or Surrey Explorer Unit or a Surrey Young Leader to apply. If you Scout elsewhere, you will need to apply through that County.

What happens if I move away after being selected?

Providing you join Scouting at your new location and are prepared to travel back to Surrey for all training events etc., then you should be able to continue in the Surrey Jamboree Unit. It is not normally possible to move Jamboree unit to a more local one.

How much will the Jamboree cost?

The Jamboree fee is made up of two separate amounts.

• UK HQ WSJ Fee. UK Contingent Management Team has released a “Not More than” price of £2,990. This amount covers all costs from when the unit assembles at a UK Airport, until their return, compulsory uniform items and some kit, such as a water bottle and a bag, are usually included in this.
• Surrey Scouts Training Fee. £250. This is the cost of training and pre-jamboree activities in Surrey prior to the WSJ. Each unit usually has between 6-10 events (being evenings, days or weekends) to prepare for the WSJ.

The total fee cost in Surrey is £3,240.

Are there any other costs not included above?

There may be a few other items such as

1. All participants will require an individual valid passport in their own name with 6 months expiry from date of return to the UK after the WSJ.
2. Visa’s may be required for the countries being visited.
3. Compulsory and voluntary Vaccinations may be required for the countries being visited.
4. Some kit will be required (such as sleeping bags, mats, footwear etc.)
5. Travel and transport to all training events and departure / return airport.

The young people in each unit also often wish to have some unit kit, maybe extra hoodies, badges, or any additional items that the unit would like but are not in the budget. The money for these extras will be funded through unit fundraising events/activities that all members of the unit are expected to attend.

Am I allowed to fundraise to pay for the Jamboree?

Absolutely, most Scouts fundraise to help raise pay their Jamboree fee, fundraising is considered an important part of the Jamboree journey. In the past participants have fundraised their entire Jamboree fee. Essentially, if you work hard at your fundraising, you are more likely to raise more money. If you sit back and let others do it, you are less likely to raise the money. Fundraising can be done individually, in small groups, as part of an Explorer Unit / District, or with others going on WSJ.

Do the Surrey unit leaders help fundraise?

The main role of the Jamboree leaders is to form the Jamboree Unit and help the unit bond and prepare for the expedition. They will help with fundraising ideas, and will encourage the unit to talk and chat about what is working and what is not working for the members of the unit. The leaders may also be offered fund raising activities that they then share out to the unit, and of course, the leaders also need to raise their own funds as well. However, the leaders are NOT responsible to fund raise for you, or to organise any fundraising. Ultimately, this is down to you.

Do I have to pay all of the money at the start?

No. We have to stage payments to meet the commitment to pay Scout HQ between now and the WSJ. Once we know the HQ payment schedule, we will set the schedule and publish it. All participants will need to keep to this schedule.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

If you are offered a place on the WSJ after the selection process, you will need to confirm your acceptance with a non-refundable deposit. If you are struggling to pay the deposit, please talk to us.

Can I claim any grants to attend the Jamboree?

Yes, there are a range of funds and grants that can be applied for.

1. It is always worth approaching your Group / Explorer Unit / District, as they may have funds in place for this type of event.
2. UK HQ have a Jamboree support fund
3. Other private trusts and organisations – Round Table, Rotary Club etc.

Some of the above are open to all, some can have restrictions (such as location, purpose, financial situation) etc.

What happens if I need to withdraw after paying the deposit?

Refunds of money paid will only be given if we can refill your place on the Jamboree, less the non-refundable deposit, less the cost for training / equipment received or ordered, less the cost of changing names charged by HQ, and any discount needed to be given to fill the place (potentially at short notice). If money has been fundraised, then under charity commission rules, we may need to return this money to the original source of the funds. If this is not possible (for example it was a bag pack), then it may need to be kept and used for a suitable comparable alternative purpose. Monies will be refunded in the following order (after costs)

1. Any HQ Grant
2. Any County Grant
3. Any District Grant
4. Any Group Grant
5. Any other organisation Grant
6. Any untraceable funds donated (such as bag packs) donated to Surrey International fund
7. Any remaining funds returned to source

You may still need to pay money in to go towards refunding grants / cover costs.

What happens if I need to withdraw close to departure?

We will always try very hard to re-fill the place. However, this may be very difficult – especially at short notice. Depending on the reason for withdrawal, there may be insurance cover (for instance, a broken bone or a major illness / death in immediate family). However, we reserve the right to insist on payment in full, even if you do not attend.

How will money for the Jamboree be handled?

All payments will all be made to your District. No funds are to be paid directly to any Jamboree leader.

Can I claim gift aid on fundraising?

Unfortunately, the Jamboree does not qualify for gift aid, therefore, no gift aid can be claimed / reclaimed for Jamboree payments / fundraising.

Will everyone in my unit be from Surrey and will I know them?

Yes, the units will be made up entirely from Scouts and Explorers from across the County. You may not know any/many people at the start of the journey. However, in the build-up to the Jamboree you will have a number of training events to get to know your unit. Many Scouts tell us that by the time they go to a Jamboree their unit has become like a second family.

How are the leaders selected?

The unit leaders have successfully completed a selection event, an interview and submitted references.

All the unit leaders are leaders from across Surrey.  They will be with you every step of the way, from organising the preparation camps to the Jamboree itself.

How many training weekends will there be, and do I have to go to them?

Surrey units usually have around 6 to 10 weekend meet ups (alongside additional day meetings and fundraising events), but this will depend on the unit, and we will be looking for you to attend all of these so that you can bond with the others in the unit. If you have other weekend commitments, such as a sports team, you need to discuss with your coach/instructor the time away that you will need, before you accept a Surrey jamboree place.

Where will the training weekends be?

It will be down to the Unit Leadership team to decide on the locations. Most will be within Surrey and spread out to try and make journey times fair over time.

Will the cost of travel to training weekends be included?

No, it will be down to yourself to travel to / from the training weekends, sharing of transport is encouraged.

How do I apply?

We have reviewed our participant selection process and we have decided to select participants via a district based random ballot. A lot of thought and feedback has gone into this new process, we think you will agree this will be fairer for every qualifying Scout in Surrey.

To fully understand this process and the reasons behind the change please click HERE

There will be information meetings in November 2025. Go to the youth participants sub section to find the link to register for the meetings. You should attend one of these meetings to ensure you fully understand what it is to join a unit and attend WSJ.

The link to the WSJ Surrey application form will be shared at these meetings.

There are a lot of questions on the application form. What if I don’t like writing?

The application form is to help you decide whether a Jamboree is for you (there are lots of other adventures). You can get help with your form, but you should do your best to think about your answers carefully, but it won’t matter if your spelling and grammar are not the best!

When will I know if I have a place?

We aim to do this as quickly as possible after the selection process, but it may be several weeks.

Do I have to apply via my Group / District?

No! All applications go direct from the person applying, to the County WSJ Team. All applicants will be entered into the District ballots

What will my District expect from me?

As a member of your Group / District within the Surrey unit, you will be expected to attend certain events to represent the Jamboree, particularly, after the Jamboree. An important part of your role will be to spread the message about International Scouting, by getting out and talking about your experience to younger Scouts across the District.

Do I need to use social media?

Whilst it is not compulsory, you will get the most out of the unit team building by joining in on social media. The unit will normally decide on one social media platform to use (can be a Facebook group, WhatsApp group etc.). Normally, there will be one social media channel which is supervised / monitored by the leader team. Participants then usually setup their own independent channels which are not monitored. Official Communication will be via E-mail and/or the one monitored Channel.

What is OSM?

OSM stands for Online Scout Manager. It is a web based system that enables Scout leaders to communicate easily with all leaders and participants / parents, of the Jamboree units. It allows you to update your own information (such as contact addresses, telephone numbers, medical information, doctors contact details etc.). Surrey units will be using this to manage its information, and we will be able to issue information on training weekends and fundraising events via OSM, and you will be able to confirm attendance. It will save a massive amount of paperwork flowing in both directions, which reduces costs.

Is there another expedition if I am not successful?

We are expecting a high number of applications, far more than we can accept onto the WSJ.

At the WSJ Information evenings we will share alternative international opportunities and if you give us permission we will contact you about other opportunities as they arise

Is there an option of being a reserve if I am not offered a WSJ place?

Yes, everyone who applied will be on the reserve list, in the order that results from the ballot. If a place becomes available the Surrey International Team will offer the place in accordance with the outcome of the ballot.

Will I have a say in which unit I am placed in?

No. Once we have received all of the acceptances of places against the offers, the Surrey International Team and unit leaders will place everybody into the units. This will be dependent on a variety of factors, in order to achieve factors such as a good age distribution, sex distribution etc. Whilst you may know some others in the unit in which you are placed, it’s a fantastic chance to make new friends!

Will I need any vaccinations?

Quite possibly yes. You will need to have any vaccinations which are compulsory for the countries you are visiting, or mandated by the Jamboree organisers. you will be informed what these vaccinations are by your unit leaders

Who has the final say?

All places in the Surrey WSJ units are granted by permission of the Surrey County Commissioner. At any time, and for any reason, an individual’s place may be withdrawn by the County Commissioner. The financial consequences of this, will follow the What happens if I need to withdraw after paying the deposit.

Who can I ask another question to?

There are lots of people who will be able to help you:

• Your Scout/Explorer leader
• Your District
• Previous Jamboree participants