According to the Scout Association website, the 25th World Scout Jamboree will take place from 1 to 12 August 2023, in Saemangeum, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea. This is the second time the Korea Scout Association will be the host, as the 17th World Scout Jamboree was held in the country back in 1991.
The 25th World Scout Jamboree experience will enable young people to realise their dreams, make friendships with people from different cultures, and take part in a safe, inclusive and sustainable programme. The programme is designed around several core elements: Scouting for Life, Smart and Scientific, Safe and Secure, Sustainability, and ACT, (Adventure, Culture, Tradition). But what has that to do with Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom No 8500 based in Bryn Hall, Wigan?
In George W Kerr’s piece ‘Freemasonry and the Scout Movement’, first published in the ‘Ontario Mason’, he stated that it may be surprising to many members of the Craft that there is any relationship between Masonry and Scouting. The one, being for men, and the other for our youth
However, to the large number of male scout leaders, many of whom hold a similar attitude to life as do the Masons and possessing the same basic aims, the similarity can easily be recognized. Arrowhead Lodge of Freedom, an amalgamation of two of Wigan’s long-standing lodges, encourages leaders and members of youth organizations to develop their ethical and moral behaviours, gained in organizations such as the Scouts, Boys Brigade and Sea Cadets through Freemasonry and through their membership to be able to support youth organizations in the area and when the 25th Scout Jamboree in South Korea made the agenda, the members of the lodge decided to help.
And so, after a lodge meeting, Adam Richardson, Unit 53 Assistant Leader of the Greater Manchester West Jamboree Unit, was invited to give a presentation during the festive board with those members of various Wigan Scout Groups that will be attending. These included; Tom Marston – 3rd Hindley Explorers, Sean Staunton-Unsworth – Bispham Explorers, Charlotte Fern – 1st Golborne Explorers, Olivia Duncan – 1st Ashton Explorers, Elise Pennington – 7th Wigan Explorers.
Adam was able to explain where the donation from the lodge would be spent. Each member of the trip has to raise £3,500 plus ancillary items and there is a fund for those members that can’t afford some of the kit required. Adam said that there were a number of training camps to be held in the coming months. Adam explained that two members of the team had not been able to attend the festive board. These were; Lucy Duncan – 1st Ashton Scouts and Oliver Craven – 1st Ashton Scouts.
After an excellent presentation and question and answer session, Adam thanked the lodge and WM Rodney North, himself a past Sea Cadets Leader, thanked the group and wished them luck on their 2023 adventure, requesting that they come back to the lodge and tell the members how the whole Jamboree had gone. Adam thanked Rodney and the lodge for their support before leaving the festive board.
By Ian K Dawson, Wigan Group Publicity Officer.