A CARDRONA scout has been picked to go to America to represent the south east of Scotland.

Charles Munnis, from the Cardrona Scout pack, will fly the flag for the region at the World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia in 2019.

The 13-year-old, who attends Peebles High School, will be one of five scouts from the Borders to cross the pond for the month-long event, which involves more than 50,000 Scouts aged 14 to 16 from around the world every four years.

The youngster, who started Scouting at the age of six, will join 36 Scouts and four adult leaders from throughout Scotland.

They will spend a few days in either New York or Washington DC, followed by 10 days of camping at the Jamboree in West Virginia.

After the event, Charles will spend one week in ‘home hospitality’ with the family of a fellow Scout in America or Canada, before finishing with a few days on a campus with the rest of the UK contingent.

Mum Lynsay Munnis told the Peeblesshire News: “I’m thrilled for him and very proud that he has been selected. Charles loves the great outdoors and Scouting suits him to a tee.

“It’s a brilliant organisation to be involved with and we are very grateful to the Scout leaders in Cardrona for their time and leadership which allows our children to have these opportunities.

“The next year and a half, on the run up to the event in July 2019, Charles will be attending many training camps in Scotland, where he will get to know his fellow selected Scouts.

“They will receive training which will prepare them for the various aspects of the trip, which will include everything from how to stay hydrated and survive wearing a kilt in hot, humid weather to brushing up on Scottish Social Dancing.

“But mostly Charles will be fundraising. So he will be doing a lot of home baking, car washing, fence painting, grass cutting etc.”