Gwrych Castle is most famous these days for being the location of the 2020 and 2021 series of reality TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here.
But way before the days of Bushtucker trials and celebs cooking around campfires, the Grade I listed 19th-century country house was chosen by one of Wales’s original adventure-loving organisations, the Welsh Scouts Council (as ScoutsCymru was formerly known) as the location for the very first Welsh Scout Jamboree.
The Welsh Scout Jamboree of 1949 saw Scouting members from across Wales come together in Abergele, Conwy, for a festival of learning and fun, to make new friendships and develop skills for life.
And now, 75 years later, Gwrych will once again open its doors to the Scouting community with the 2024 Abergele Jamboree taking place on in the castle grounds on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July.
AberJam, as it is affectionately known, invites members of the Scouting community and the general public to a day filled with family-friendly activities in to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the landmark Scouting event taking place in Wales.
Organised by the Eryri a Môn Scout Area Team, which oversees Scouting activities for more than 800 members in the Area, there’s a full programme of entertainment over the two days.
The Ardudwy Knights will re-enact historical battles while their falconer introduces birds of prey, and Animal Encounters will bring along an array of interesting creatures to meet. Visitors can try their hand at archery, space hopper jousting and orienteering, as well as creative activities in the craft tent. Bushscout will be demonstrating traditional Scouting activities such as knife and axe handling, while Scoutadelic will be on site with a range of fun activities.
Saturday will see team building challenges from the British Army, while visitors on Sunday will have the chance to learn more about the North Wales Police Cyber Unit.
Many Scouts will be attending the event with their groups, but the event is open to the public, whether they have a connection to Scouting or not.
Tickets to AberJam are priced at £15 per day or £20 for the weekend, with the cost also including admission to Gwrych Castle. Here, you can take a guided tour around the historical house, including visiting the main courtyard which was used by the I’m A Celeb campmates, where you’ll see the famous telephone box and the lookout, as well as The Clink, which has been left exactly how it was on 2021 series.
Those attending AberJam will get a special limited edition blanket badge, designed by Logan Whiteley, a Scout from 6th Colwyn Bay Scout Group, paying tribute to the very first Welsh Jamboree by using the same colours as the original event.
Rowena Brett, Deputy Lead Volunteer for Eryri a Môn and part of the AberJam organising committee, said: “We are excited to welcome the Scouting community from across North Wales and beyond, as well as members of the public, to the beautiful grounds of Gwrych Castle for a day of family fun and festivities. We had been looking to organise a fun day in the area for some time and when we realised the significance of this year being 75 years since the very first Welsh Jamboree taking place at Gwrych, it just seemed perfect.
“The Scouting community has worked really hard to pull together a wide range of activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy, and we are very grateful to staff at the Castle for working with us to see our plans to come to life.”
For more information on AberJam, including how to book tickets, click here.
For any queries on the event, please email AberJam@eryriamonscouts.org.uk
AberJam is also looking for volunteers to help at the event. Get in touch via the email address above for more information or you can fill in the form here.
