Inuvik (July 06/01) - This will be a campout like no other.

On Tuesday the 1st Inuvik Scouts left town on the field trip of a lifetime. They arrive today (Thursday) in Prince Edward Island for the 10th Canadian Scout Jamboree.

Along with the 16 scouts and two leaders from Inuvik will be about 12,000 other people. That makes for a lot of campfires, and untold numbers of roasted wieners and ghost stories.

The jamboree runs from July 7 to 13. The Inuvik Scouts arrive home July 15.

During a meeting last week at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school, the scouts seemed a little talkative, as if their minds were literally thousands of miles away.

"The kids seem to be very excited," scout leader Dave Tyler confirmed with a laugh.

"We're just so impressed at the level of maturity and how much they've developed this past year," Tyler said.

"We're very confident about their ability to go to this camp and participate and enjoy it to the fullest. It's really been a growth experience for all of them, and us as well."

Tyler said there were times when it looked doubtful the group would be ready. The last two scouts won the necessary badges to qualify for the jamboree just last week.

"There were other things we were looking for you can't measure," Tyler said, citing the ability to work together and to take on more responsibilities.

The scouts have been raising funds over the past year for the trip. They sold popcorn and ran numerous bottle drives.

Other town groups and businesses also helped out.

Canadian Jamborees are held once every four years, so that every scout has a chance to take part in one.

The members of the 1st Inuvik Scouts include Travis Larocque, Josh Tyler, Daniel Fehr, Graeme Reid, Ryan Lennie, Chad Larocque, Noel Cockney, C.J. Haogak, Kenzie MacDonald, Mitchell Park, Scott Jackson, Kyle Campbell, Kevin Campbell, Jorden Villeneuve, Mathew Anderson and Clark Groepper.

Assistant scout leader Alan Fehr is also going along, but scout Sacha Van Nieuwenhuizen is not taking part because of other commitments.