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26th June 1999

Over 100 scouts from across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire will join well-known Met. Office BBC TV forecaster Helen Young for a day of discovery at The Met. Office's Meteorological Research Unit at Cardington near Bedford on Saturday (26th June 1999).

The event marks the launch of The Met. Office's sponsorship of the Scout Meteorologist badge. The badge will give thousands of young people across the UK the chance to learn more about the nation's favourite topic of conversation - the weather.

Throughout the day the Scouts, aged between 10 and 15, will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities, including learning how to measure rainfall, temperature and pressure. Met. Office BBC forecaster Helen Young will also explain how worldwide weather observations have made their way onto our TV screens.

The day is designed to introduce the scouts to the six areas of activity needed to achieve the Meteorologist badge. These include keeping a daily record of weather for at least a month, understanding how to use weather instruments and learning to read weather charts.

The Scouts will discover more about the extreme weather conditions experienced across the globe, with video footage of hurricanes, tornados and tidal waves. They will also come face to face with The Met. Office's giant tethered weather balloon, which when filled with 680 cubic metres of helium, can measure weather conditions up to a height of 1800 metres.

According to The Met. Office education spokesperson Peter Clarke, educating young people about the weather is a responsibility The Met. Office takes seriously. "Weather is a subject that captures imaginations. Young people are fascinated because it's live, always occurring, and ever-changing. We are able to tap into this imagination to get across how the weather comes about and how it influences our daily lives, from the clothes we choose to wear to the food on supermarket shelves.'

"The aim of this event, and of the Scout Meteorologist badge, is to increase young people's awareness of the importance of weather, and if we're lucky, inspire some to choose meteorology as a career when they're older."

Richard Butler, The Scout Association's National Commissioner, who will make a special visit to the event, said: "Scouting thrives on adventurous outdoor activities on land, water and in the air. An understanding and respect for the weather and climatic change is essential if our Leaders and young people are to continue to enjoy such activities in safety. We're extremely pleased to have The Met. Office's support not only for their sponsorship of the badge but also because they are offering to make available to our 600,000 Members a whole range of resources which will help to keep Scouting fun, exciting and safe."

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Issued on behalf of The Met. Office by Prowse & Co. Ltd

For media enquiries contact:

The Met. Office Press Office - 01344 856655 Prowse & Co Ltd: Colin Hallmark - 01372 363386

For further information contact: Public Relations (Public.Relations@Scout.org.uk)