A CROSSGATES teenager is preparing for a "once in a lifetime" trip after being selected to attend a World Scout Jamboree in South Korea.

Blair Cran, 14, is one of 3,240 young people that have been selected from the UK to join 50,000 other youngsters taking part in the event in August next year.

The Beath High pupil was one of 36 selected from around 140 applicants after a selection camp in Forfar in December.

“We did a lot of activities and were put into groups and each activity was run by a leader,” explained Blair. “The leaders were scoring how well you did with things like communicating, if you included people, how well you interacted – it was to see would they want to take you to Korea. It was quite a shock to find out I had got in.”

Having found out about his selection just days before Christmas, Blair is now looking forward to the adventure.

“I am really excited,” he said. “The chance to go to the other side of the world will probably be a once in a lifetime opportunity. It will be great to see the different cultures and there will be lot of things to do.

“The World Scout Jamboree happens every four years and people who have gone say it is brilliant. The site is being built at the moment in the western part of Korea. Every single country except North Korea sends Scouts. It is a huge event.”

Blair started his Scouting when he joined Beavers at the age of six or seven. He is a member of the 46th Fife Scouts’ Phoenix Explorer Group.

Between now and July 2023, he will attend training camps and team building events to prepare for living on the hot and humid site in SaeManGeum, Korea.

“We have done a lot of camps and I am also going to an international camp at Blair Atholl in the summer. That will give me a good idea of what Korea could be like. I am probably looking forward to the different activities most and seeing the different cultures and what it is like in Korea.”

Mum Kath said: “I am just really proud of him that he has made it – his group scout leader David Kennedy is very proud as well."