Two Semiahmoo Peninsula youth are getting ready to head to the southern hemisphere for the Scouts 2025 Australian Jamboree.

Akshay Mohan and Caitlyn Skleryk, members of the 6th Peace Arch Scouts group in South Surrey, will be volunteer youth leaders at the international event.

Scheduled for Jan. 6-15, 2025, in Queensland, Australia, the trip “promises an unforgettable experience to represent their community on a global stage, and forge connections with Scouts from around the world,” a release said.

The two teens will be among more than 1,100 volunteers and more than 10,000 youth and adult participants from more than 30 countries. They will travel with the Canadian contingent — which includes 37 youth and parent volunteers from provinces across the country — including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

This will be the second international Scout Jamboree for them both. They previously attended the Finland Scout Jamboree in the summer of 2022; both have earned recognition for their leadership, citizenship and commitment, the release noted.

In today’s interconnected world, events like Scouting Jamborees play a crucial role in bringing together youth from diverse cultures, promoting understanding, and fostering global unity, it continued.

“The Jamborees serve as a platform for Scouts to engage in cultural exchange, share traditions, and build lifelong friendships, strengthening the values of peace and cooperation.”

Mohan and Skleryk have been fundraising for a year to help cover the costs of the trip.