Staffordshire Guides - International Trip to Austria August 2008
 

In August 2008 a group of Girl Guides aged 13-16 went on an International Trip of a lifetime, to a place in northern Austria called Berg. They took place in a water themed fortnight with thousands of Guides and Scouts from around the world.

I was selected, after attending several International Selection Committees, together with a women from an Uttoxeter unit as a Leader on the trip, taking 11 Girls selected from Guide Units from across Staffordshire. Although the trip was for the girls Jo and I cherished and enjoyed every moment.

This was the 12^th Upper Austrian Jamboree, and amongst those attending were a further 145 Guiding and Scouting groups. Ten of which were from the UK, from this you can easily tell the participants are from a range of ethnic backgrounds. 

This meant the 11 girls would be mingling and meeting many new people of a variety of ages, and backgrounds. There were approx 3000 Scouts, Guides, Rangers from around the world taking part; and we are only 13 of them.

This is a great opportunity for anybody who gets the chance to partake in an international trip of any kind. The memories and friendships we made and developed will last forever.

We flew out on Monday 4^th August and came home late on the 15^th

Text below to be updated to report on actual trip.

The majority of what we know about the fortnight is that water is the main element of the Jamboree and that we are told that by when we return we will know more about water than we thought we could do and that we will appreciate it a lot more than we do now. During the last day we are lucky enough to have some time in Salzburg before returning home, so we are having a treat and going on the “sound of music tour”, of which the girls accompanying me are really looking forward to.  

However in order to go on this once in a life time guiding experience each one of us has to raise £700. to do this we have to use different methods to raise the money, whether that be sponsorships, donations, car boot sales or bag packing, each one of us has to raise that money. At the moment I have a quiz circulating of which I have included a link to for anybody who wishes to help by either having a go themselves or by trying to sell some.

My contact details are included on the quiz forms, or they can be left at the guide hut and I will collect them each week during the guide meetings. I’m also thinking of doing a car boot sale on the 6^th of June this however is only provisionally date and I will advertise once approved. If anybody has any ideas or knows of anybody who can help with any of my fundraising I would be extremely grateful no matter how small it may be, I can be contacted via my email address kayla4eva@hotmail.com .

I have also included a link to the Aqua website for anybody who wants to take a further look and keep updated with activities and upcoming itinerary www.aqua2008.at

Upon my return I will get some of the pictures and a further report onto the site for everybody to enjoy the experience as well.