Ballymena scouts meet Chief Scout Bear Grylls

While there, Bear and the young people from 3rd Ballymena Scouts took part in a range of activities including survival skills, climbing, Olympic Games and a charity fundraising fare.

The events were one of a number that Bear visited in Northern Ireland and Scotland at the weekend. The tour is part of his mission to encourage more adults to volunteer for Scouting, as well as celebrate the important role of Scouting in Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole. The journey comes as part of his plan to visit the whole of the UK during his term as Chief Scout, having previously visited many parts of England.

The weekend’s events showed what Scouting is all about, offering thousands of young people the opportunity to take part in adventure in the company of peers and trusted adults. The Scout Association is the largest co-educational youth Movement in the country. Recent figures have shown that membership has passed the 525,000 mark in the UK, with almost 10,000 members in Northern Ireland.

However, the Movement is in desperate need of more adult volunteers to ensure that more young people can join the adventure.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout, said: “It was great to visit Scouts in Northern Ireland. At every event I go to, I know I’ll meet young people taking part in the adventure that Scouting provides. It’s crucial though that more adults sign up as volunteers, to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to join.”

Rowan Armstrong, an Explorer Scout aged 15 from 3rd Ballymena, said: “It was great to meet Bear as he’s such a huge inspiration for me. Scouting’s all about adventure, so there’s nothing better than having someone like Bear join in.

“I love being a Explorer Scout – it’s built up my confidence, helped me make loads of new friends, expanded my horizons and allowed me to try so many brilliant things I would have otherwise never been able to do.”

Michael Balmer, a Assistant Scout Leader from 3rd Ballymena, said: “It was great to have Bear involved last weekend – the young people in my Group got really excited and can’t stop talking about it.

“Volunteering as a Scout Leader is one of the best things I’ve ever done: there’s nothing more fulfilling than helping young people get the most out of life. I’ve also picked up loads of day-to-day skills that I can use at work as well.”