SCOUTS are celebrating after being chosen for the adventure of a lifetime.

Eleven scouts and explorers from Mersey Weaver have been selected for the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, America in 2019.

This is the world’s largest gathering of young people and will be twice the size of the Olympics.

The educational event will see 40,000 scouts from more than 150 different countries come together for 12 days of international co-operation.

The gathering aims to promote peace, mutual understanding and to develop leadership and life skills.

Over the next 20 months the group from Runcorn, Widnes, Moore, Frodsham and Helsby will be fundraising to reach their £51,000 target.

Some of this fee enables young people from less developed countries to attend.

The group met up with youngsters from across Cheshire at a Jamboree launch at The Heath Business Park in Runcorn.

Matt Marnell, of 4th Runcorn, who will be part of the Cheshire leadership team accompanying the scouts, said: “It is a real honour.

“For the young people involved it will be an adventure they will never forget and set them up with skills for life.”

The scouts will take part in numerous training events and camps to learn how to work as a team – practicing skills and forging friendships for life.

The youngsters will take part in a Global Development Village and Model UN, giving them the chance to make lifelong friends from around the world.

As well as an adventurous activity, they will take part in community service projects to make the world a better place.

The scouts will also experience hosted hospitality living with families in either the United States or Canada before and after the event.

The Mersey Weaver group includes Lewis Gale from 8th Widnes, Gemma Eager from Aquila ESU, who lives in Widnes, Ollie Lavery from 1st Moore, Aaron Bennion from Beacon ESU, Ella Pickstock from 4th Frodsham, Grace Wheeler from 1st Newton and Kingsley, Katy Wakeman from 1st Helsby, Louie Bostock from 4th Frodsham, Jess McKay from Beacon ESU, Brendan Edwards from Cestrian ESU and Tara Jennings from Beacon ESU.