The 26th World Scout Jamboree will take place in Gdansk, Poland in July/August 2027.  

World Scout Jamborees (WSJ) are fantastic events, and their impact on those who attend can be, in some circumstances, life-changing. Many young people and adults return from Jamborees exhausted but elated!

Hereford & Worcester will have one unit (36 Young people ages 14-18yrs plus four leaders) attending the 2027 WSJ in Poland along with the Units from all other UK Counties/Areas.

This means we only have 36 available spaces and we need to ensure fairly and appropriately who gets to go. We also know that if you aren’t selected, this shouldn’t stop any Explorer (or Explorer to be) from missing out. So, we will offer another trip at the same time involving 3 weeks of touring via interrailing across Europe and hopefully visiting the jamboree as a Day visitor. Participants can also choose just to come on the inter-rail trip as well in 2027 and not apply for a place in the jamboree youth unit.

Who is eligible for the World Scout Jamboree?

To participate as a young person in the World Scout Jamboree Poland 2027, individuals must be between 14 and 17 years old at the time of the event, which takes place from July 30 to August 8, 2027. This means they must be born between July 30, 2009, and July 30, 2013. This date range is the same for the inter-rail trip too.

Selection Process for both WSJ 2027 Unit and The County European Tour 2027

1. Application forms will go live on June 1st and close on July 31st, 2025. Each application will require a payment of £10 to attend the Selection Camp (this is for both the WSJ selection and the interrail trip). The County is heavily subsidising this event, and participants will need to pay a food contribution. Those on free school meals or who are young carers do not have to pay. If there is another financial hardship case, you can also make this known on the application for review for the £10 fee.
2. There will be roadshow tours on these dates to explain the options for the WSJ and for the European Tour:
   • 10th June – Bromsgrove (Location TBC)
   • 25th June – The Malverns (Location TBC)
   • 8th July – Worcester (Location TBC)
   • 11th July – Hereford (Location TBC)
3. All applicants will receive joining instructions for the 2027 Jamboree & Tour Event held at Kinver
4. 27th & 28th September – Selection event at Kinver Campsite, Kinver, DY7 6HR
5. 1st October 2025: WSJ Participants offered places
6. 5th October 2025: European Tour places offered

Selection Event

Join us for a dynamic two-day camp at Kinver, filled with engaging team activities, Scouting challenges, and informative sessions designed to showcase what’s involved in attending the WSJ or participating in the European Interrail Tour.

It will be held at Kinver Campsite. Depending on the number of attendees, we are considering paying for coach transport from Hereford City and The Malverns. We can not guarantee this at this stage, as it depends on various factors. When applying, you need to be able to get to Kinver, either independently or in local groups.

World Scout Jamboree Applicants— Scouts aspiring to join the WSJ must demonstrate solid Scouting skills learnt from the Scout and/or Explorer sections during the weekend. Our leadership team will facilitate supportive discussions if there are any concerns about suitability.

Successful WSJ candidates from the weekend will be entered into a ballot. Those selected will receive an invitation to the Jamboree. Scouts not selected will automatically be offered the opportunity to join our exciting European Tour.

European Interrail Tour Participants – For Scouts exclusively interested in the European Interrail Tour, the weekend will include similar team activities and discussions tailored to the tour’s itinerary and commitments.

Waiting List and Ongoing Support – We will maintain a waiting list for the WSJ in case spots become available due to dropouts. Additionally, we are committed to supporting Scouts transitioning to new teams if they choose to join the European tour following the selection weekend.

We look forward to an incredible weekend of Scouting adventure and camaraderie!

What will be the costs?

We do not know the exact costs for the WSJ or the Interrail Tour. Those going on the jamboree will receive £250 grant from the County. Those going on the Interrail Tour can apply to the County’s international fund. Other grants are also available within Scouting and external bodies, and full support will be provided.

The WSJ’s cost consists of two parts. The first is the Scouts Hereford & Worcester preparation fee, which has been set at £600 (subject to any significant changes made by the UK Contingent, who are organising the travel, insurance and attendance). This is where our Jamboree unit covers the cost of training events, local kit (e.g. T-shirts/hoodies), group equipment, etc.

The UK contingent will set the main Jamboree fee for UK Participants and confirm this cost to Counties. This will include the Jamboree site fee, travel, accommodation/food, most activities etc. We will not know this until after the Summer 2025 but is likely to be around £3,000 – £4,000.

The fee for the interrail trip will be set by County. We suspect a minimum of £1750 to £2500, depending on markets, currencies and approaches. We will aim to make it as cost-effective as we can.

How do I apply?

You can submit your application here: https://form.jotform.com/scoutshw/wsjeurope2027

We will ask you for your:

• Participant Name
• Date of birth
• Notification Email
• Contact Address
• Medical and Dietary Details
• Neurodiverse and disability statements (these are so we know what the best support we can offer can be put into place)
• Parent or Carer Contact Details
• £10 Card payment (unless exempt)
• Picture / Headshot
• Either a video, a podcast or a written answer up to 500 words to this question:
  • What do I think is great about an international adventure with Scouting? Explain what is exciting, scary, and what you want to get out of it.

Top tips for your answer:

• Be honest with your answer, be simple, be kind and be truthful.
• Think about what you will see, hear and experience on the journey?
• Who do you think you will meet?
• What do you think you will be able to tell your future self after your adventure?
• How has your scouting journey so far helped you?
• Try to avoid the use of AI (ChatGPT etc). It is better coming from you!

Details on this page are subject to change; any major revision will be highlighted.