VIDEO: Scouts meet Bear Grylls at Luton Hoo adventure camp

The TV survival expert travelled in style as First Luton Sea Scout Coby Doyle, 13,from Stopsley, treated the Chief Scout to a power boat ride.

Group Scout Leader Jo Merrick, Coby and fellow Sea Scout Hannah Thomas, 12, from Wardown, took Bear Grylls on a walk about around the camp to meet scouts who were busy building fires, rock climbing, kayaking and sailing on the lake.

Brave Scout Harry Smith, who hasCerebal Palsy, was presented with his Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct by Bear Grylls, who called him a hero.

Harry said: “It felt amazing. For him to appreciate what I’ve done – just for him to even know who I am, it was a great feeling, it really was.”

Bear Grylls is famous for his enthusiastic approach and his motivational leadership has inspired and encouraged a new generation of scouts.

He said: “These guys are brilliant. It’s always a privilege to spend time with them and I always think I sum up my job in about three words which is to encourage, encourage, encourage.

“The challenge for us is to get more and more adult volunteers. There are 35.000 kids on the waiting list to join the Scouts so we need more adult volunteers to join.”

Go to www.bedfordshirescouts.org.uk to find out more about the local Scouts, and go to www.lutontoday.co.uk to watch a video of Bear Grylls visiting Luton Hoo.