Traditional skills will be on show when Guides and Scouts take to the water at this year's Royal Norfolk Show to demonstrate their raft-building technique.

But it's the modern relevance of those age-old accomplishments, like knot-tying and square-lashing, which the young people will highlight when they stage four demonstrations on the Countryside area lake.

Two teams of Scouts and Guides will compete to build and paddle a raft made from poles and empty barrels. The first team to build the raft, paddle across the countryside area lake and retrieve a flag will be declared the winners.

'It may seem like a light-hearted bit of fun,' said Mike Clemo, development officer with Norfolk Scouts, 'but the skills of team-building, leadership and competitiveness are just what employers are looking for in young recruits. Being in Guides or Scouts can provide life experiences and personal achievements which help young people to stand out in a crowd.'.

Both organisations have a long history of helping young people to aim high and achieve personal goals, often in the face of difficult circumstances.

Many Guides and Scouts become Young Leaders or Adult Leaders, gaining further qualifications and demonstrating a firm commitment to volunteering and community work.

Scout and Guide leadership qualifications are also recognised by many training, leadership and management organisations.

Being in Scouts or Guides has always been about joining in with adventure and challenge. This year's Norfolk Scout and Guide show stand has a Fire, Food and Fun theme, and can be found in the Countryside area.

There will be demonstrations of camp cooking on open fires, with tastings of camp doughnuts, campfire twists, haybox cookery and pizzas from a camp oven. There'll be a graffiti dragon for visitors to sign and lots of dragon-related crafts for youngsters.