SCOUTS and Guides from across South Gloucestershire and the former Avon area have an action-packed bank holiday weekend ahead of them.

Some 2,500 youngsters will be enjoying a wealth of activities at the Avon Scout and Guild Jamboree being held at Woodhouse Park, Almondsbury.

Camp Chief David Thomas said: "This weekend has taken a great deal of planning and dozens of adults in Scouting and Guiding have been busy working behind the scenes for months.

"Around 2,500 youngsters will be with us over the weekend, and we've had to hire additional fields and facilities to ensure we have everything they'll need

"In addition to the action-packed programme of activities on site, some of the youngsters will be using the facilities at the Scout and Guide Water Activities Centre in Bristol City Docks".

Neil Salter, County Commissioner for Scouting in Avon, added: "It is fitting that such a large event is being planned for our Woodhouse Park campsite in 2004. This year is the 50th anniversary of the first purchase of land at Woodhouse Park by the then Bristol Boy Scout Association.

"Over that half century it has grown in size, and thousands and thousands of youngsters have had the opportunity to develop their lives, and enjoy their selves at Woodhouse".

Activities planned during the weekend range from traditional Scouting and Guiding skills such as camping, fire-lighting, and camp fires to much more modern activities including photography and video Production.

Lesley Blanning, County Commissioner for Girlguiding Bristol and South Gloucestershire, said: "The youngsters of today enjoy their Guiding and Scouting just as much as their predecessors before them. The Scouting and Guilding 'movements' continue to provide a varied and enjoyable programme of activities".

Scouting is the UK's largest co-educational youth movement and guiding is the UK's largest youth movement. Worldwide, Scouting boasts 28 million members, and Guiding 10 million members.

Further information on joining Scouting is available from www.avonscouts.org.uk or by calling 01454 613006. For information on guiding, visit girlguiding.org.uk or call 0207 834 6242