30 Explorer Scouts and 9 Leaders returned from The Gambia on Saturday to a packed hall of family and friends, following a very successful expedition to Soma and the Kaira Konko Scout Lodge.



Watch the Gambia expedition video at http://youtu.be/Kff_jKciqr0

Led by the Magellan Explorer Scout Unit based at Copythorne, and involving Explorers and Leaders from New Forest North and Itchen South, the two-week expedition combined community development projects along with cultural exchanges and visits.

Telling their own stories at the reportback, the Explorers highlighted how they had found the Gambians to be very friendly and welcoming, as well as much happier despite have less in the way of material goods. For the expedition’s own “Gambia-style” video, watch http://youtu.be/Js5OCeXlqIo

Hampshire Scouting has been visiting The Gambia since 1989, through a Scout Active Support Unit and many expeditions, and has helped the local Scouts to create the Scout Lodge – http://www.kairakonko.com