Bermuda's boys aged eight to mid-teens will follow the call to Darrell's Island for a weekend of fun and games.

The event will bring together some 250 youngsters from cub packs and scout troops around the Island. Chaperoned by trained leaders, the Cubs and Scouts will sleep under canvas and experience the joys of outdoor life.

A non-stop round of activities, all designed to give boys a chance to compete on equal terms, will keep them busy from morning 'til night.

"Within the groups of boys there is inter-action, help and co-operation, teaching and learning,'' organiser Mr. Larry Burchall noted.

Scouts will also have an opportunity to work towards badges as they participate in orienteering and camp craft activities.

Apart from the obvious merits of bringing the various packs and troops together, the jamboree is designed to give their leaders a chance to know and inter-act with each other.

Joining in will be the Island's Chief Commissioner for Scouts, Dr. Vincent John, who enjoys taking a very active part in all the proceedings.

His Excellency the Governor, who is Bermuda's Chief Scout, is also expected to visit the camp on the second day, Dr. John said.

"His Excellency really takes a keen interest in young people, so we are looking forward to his visit.'' Island Guide Commissioner Mrs. Florenz Maxwell is also expected to attend.

"The last time they came they were very impressed,'' the Commissioner noted.

At least the boys won't have to cook for themselves this time, volunteers from the Bermuda Regiment will take over kitchen patrol throughout the Jamboree, and will also provide first aid services should they be needed.

One of the Jamboree's highlights will be the big campfire session on Saturday night when the various packs and troops put on skits, sing songs and tell stories.

"It is a very special time, and a fun time for the leaders as well,'' Dr.

John noted.

The campers' day will begin at 7.30 a.m., and before the planned activities take place, the boys must pass inspection of their tent sites.

"Everything must be neat and tidy,'' Dr. John explained.

Following an action-packed morning of scheduled activities, the boys will be given time after lunch to follow pursuits of their own choosing.

"It brings leaders together with ideas; we learn from one another,'' Dr. John said of this aspect.

Mr. Burchall, who with his wife is a cub pack leader, pointed out that all of the activities required resourcefulness and inventiveness, because no special equipment was brought to the Island.

One game, for example, calls for boys to cross an imaginary, pirhana-infested river, "rescue'' their colleagues on the other side and carry them back to safety, all without falling into the "dangerous waters''.

"It teaches them to plan and to think,'' Dr. John said. "Most of them make it, though of course some do "fall in''.

A tree trail, where boys crawl along a rope, is another.

"We give the boys a chance to do things they ordinarily get up to in an organised, safe setting,'' Mr. Burchall said.

Though admitting that age precludes participation in a few of the activities, the Commissioner admits he's looking forward to the Jamboree, and "really enjoys it''.

The Jamboree follows on the heels of a busy year for the local Scout movement, which has included jamboree training on Paget Island, a national campfire at Admiralty House, and the St. George's Day parade this weekend, which the Governor will also attend.

"St. George is the patron saint of Scouts,'' Dr. John noted.

The Scout movement was founded by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907. It was established here in 1910.

The stated aim of the Scout Association is to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potentials, as individuals, responsible citizens and members of their local, national and international communities.

This is achieved by providing an enjoyable and attractive scheme of progressive training based on the Scout Promise and Law and guided by adult leadership.

Boys have an opportunity to earn badges for a wide variety of activities, which are constantly reviewed and added to in order to stay current with present-day interests.

Although membership in the Cubs and Scouts is thriving here -- Dr. John estimates there are 12 cub packs and three scout groups divided into three districts -- new leaders are desperately wanted.

"Some of us aren't getting any younger,'' the Island Commissioner, who was once a Boy Scout himself, admitted. "We need more leaders, who should be 18 or older and have a strong sense of commitment.'' In October, Mr. John Cole will be coming from Gilwell Park, the Scouts' training centre in Britain, to train potential leaders, so anyone wishing to volunteer should contact Dr. John at 236-7065.

Cubs and Scouts meet once a week for about 90 minutes of instruction and activity, and new members are always welcome.

In addition to developing their own skills, Scouts gain a sense of community awareness by undertaking specific tasks for others during their annual Good Deed Week, such as cleaning windows at a rest home.

Thanks to Government's purchase of 10 acres of land at Hog Bay Park to preserve open space, the Scout and Guide movements have now been allocated a spacious campsite and have already been hard at work beautifying it.

"It is going to be a great project,'' Commissioner John said. "We want to reforest the area with cedars. We planted about 20 in November and they seem to be thriving.'' Of such activities, Dr. John said: "Scouting is a very positive experience.

Keeping Bermuda clean and making the boys conscious of the environment are all part of it''.

Beyond local shores, Scouts are looking forward to next year's World Jamboree in Holland, which some 20,000 to 25,000 youngsters are expected to attend.

"It is a very stimulating experience,'' Dr. John said. "Already, parents and children are fund-raising to send a Bermuda contingent, as they did for the last one in Korea.'' For further information on joining the Cubs or Scouts, please contact one of the following: Dr. Vincent John (tel. 236-7065 evenings), Inspector Bob Hay (tel. 295-1437), or Mr. Larry Burchall (tel. 295-7122 evenings). Cubs must be aged 71 to 101 , Scouts 101 to 141 or 15. Venture and Queen's Scouts are older.

PLANT ONE ON US -- Members of the 19th Bermuda Scouts and Girl Guides prepare to plant cedar trees at their Hog Bay Park camp site. The project is part of their reafforestation scheme for the 10-acre, Government-owned property.

YES, WE DO WINDOWS -- 19th Bermuda Scouts Daniel Burgess, left, and Kevin Dallas put a shine on Summerhaven's windows during Good Deed Week. Jobs such as this teach the boys about community service.