SCOUTS from South Zeal and Okehampton will be experiencing for themselves what its like to live out in 'the wilds' as they raise money for the ShelterBox charity.

The 1st South Zeal and 1st Okehampton Scouts are building their own shelters in the grounds of Wood House, South Tawton — thanks to owner James McDiarmid — on Saturday, May 8, to raise money for the Cornish-based charity, whose boxes have helped so many people who lost their homes in the recent earthquake in Haiti.

The scouts will be using tarpaulin as well as any other natural materials they find to shelter from the elements and 'sleep under the stars.'

A front-line ShelterBox aid worker, who recently returned from Uganda, will be visiting the scouts the evening before at their scout hut in South Zeal, to tell her stories of ShelterBoxes' recent work there and elsewhere around the globe to provide shelter for the homeless.

The scouts will have the opportunity to erect one of the ten-person shelters provided in a ShelterBox and find out about the local charity.

Nicki Glanville, one of the leaders of 1st South Zeal said: 'This is in preparation for the main sponsored fundraising event over the weekend, when the scouts will be building their own survival shelters in the woods, cooking their own backwoods meals over an open fire and learning other survival and bush craft skills.

'The main challenge being to spend the whole night on Saturday, May 8, in the woods, in the shelters they have built.'

In addition to their charity work, 1st South Zeal have also been trying to raise funds for repairs and much needed improvements to the scout HQ in South Tawton. Funds are also required for new scouting equipment.

If anyone would like to make a donation to ShelterBox or 1st South Zeal, please contact Bagheera or Skip on 01837 840574, who thank people for their support.

1st South Zeal Scouts are also taking part in Dragon Boat racing on Exeter Quay on Wednesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 26.