SCOUTS from across Oxfordshire have spoken of their excitement at being selected to attend next year’s World Jamboree in Sweden, as they launched a drive to raise funds for the adventure.

Thirty-six Scouts from the county will form part of the British contingent at the annual event, which will bring together 32,000 young people from 299 countries.

Between them, they have to raise £100,000 to fund the trip, and to help pay for fellow Scouts from poorer countries to attend.

Scouts in South Oxfordshire held their first big event to help raise funds last weekend – a huge car boot sale and fête in North Moreton.

Beth Bowler, 13, from Fletcher Road, Cowley said she was “over the moon” when she found out she had been selected for the trip.

She said: “It’s going to be amazing. We get friendship, experience, responsibility and it helps us become more mature.”

Laura Pearson, 13, from Meadow Way, Didcot, added: “My mum screamed when she found out I was going.

“We’re all looking forward to meeting new people.

“We know we’ll be camping next to the Australians and Americans, so there isn’t going to be a language barrier.

“And we are helping to pay for Scouts from Third World countries.

“A Scout leader told me about the last Jamboree, where there was a boy who had never even left his village in Zimbabwe before.

“When he came here, it was the first time he had ever seen a tree.”

She added: “Everyone has this stereotype of Scouts just tying reef knots all the time, but we do much more than that.

“We go to Laser Quest, go out on midnight exercises, and we’ve tried rock climbing, hiking and archery.

“We’re up for anything which has a sense of adventure.”

Scouts were chosen for the trip after being assessed on a camping weekend earlier this year, when they were given marks for friendliness, leadership, and teamwork.

The 36 from Oxfordshire will be aged between 14 and 17 during the Jamboree, which runs from July 27 to August 8, 2011.

The event, held every four years in a different country, attracts Scouts from more countries than participate in the Olympic Games.

Organisers have remained tight-lipped about the activities lined up for theJamboree.

Jack Bellerby, 15, from Stanford-in-the-Vale, said: “They are trying to keep everything a surprise.

“We know there’s a lake there, so I’m hoping there is going to be some water sports.”

The Scouts have to organise all their own fundraising, with concerts, fêtes and sponsored events planned over the coming months to help reach the £100,000 target.