AROUND 150 rootin-tootin Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from around West Wiltshire enjoyed a Wild West fun day out last Saturday.

The cowboy-themed games and activities took place at the Wild West Wilts Fun Day at the district’s Jubilee Woods Scout Campsite near West Ashton.

The event was organised by the ‘Magnificent Seven’ – the seven young Scouts and Explorers selected to represent the district as part of the Wiltshire contingent attending the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, USA, in the summer of 2019.

The Magnificent Seven are George and Will Lister from Whitley, Noah Mondal and Joseph Pearce from Bradford on Avon, Corey Gair from Warminster, and Mollie Nevill and Joshua Thorne from Trowbridge.

Each of the jamboree participants was selected for their teamwork, scouting skills, enthusiasm and ability.

They are now busy preparing for their adventure and raising the £4,000 each they need to pay for their trip and to support scouts from developing nations to enable them to attend too.

Alison Candlin, mother of 13-year-old twins George and Will Lister, said: “The Fun Day raised £700, but was also a fantastic day of sunshine and action.

“They did archery, panning for gold, a tin-can alley, firelighting, tepee building, had a water pistol shooting range, a Nerf-gun shootout at the OK Corral and much more – all finished off with hot dogs and a traditional campfire.

“Thanks go to Tesco Trowbridge and Waitrose in Melksham for their contributions towards the catering and also to all the leaders and parents who helped on the day and in the preparation.”

The ‘Magnificent Seven’ will join around 4,000 other scouts from the UK and a total of 40,000 scouts from all over the world at the 24th World Scout Jamboree, hosted by the Boy Scouts of America, Scouts Canada and the Scout Association of Mexico.

They will have opportunities to get to know and work with scouts from almost every nation, promoting peace and understanding, and will also learn more about sustainability and how they can bring home lessons to share in their own communities.

On top of that will be a whole range of fabulous activities, like white-water rafting, climbing, mountain biking and one of the longest and highest zip-wires anywhere.

Alison added: “Watch out for them bag packing and fundraising in your area as they work hard to reach their goal.”