Southern Region Jamboree Weblog

The Yanks have landed (or the Rebs if you like)…..

It would be hard to overstate the excitement level of our guys and gals as they loaded the buses this morning for the ride from Hertfordshire to the Jamboree. And I can assure you that I was just as excited as they were!

The first five buses left the university about 805AM and at approximately 903AM our first wave “hit the beach” at the jamboree site. Even as we drove up to the unloading area there were dozens of scouts from all other the world waving and smiling and shouting greetings to us. At the unloading area a representative of the subcamp received the unit and guided them to their campsite. There, they collected their patrol equipment and tents and camp set-up was started.

Larry Mahoney, Greg Taylor, Charles Holmes and I proceeded to get our check-in accomplished and at about Noon we began to walk around the five subcamps to check on the progress of our units. The scouts from the UK came in a day early to set up their camps so that they could be proper hosts for their guests and as we walked about many countries were in the process of setting up and getting to know each other. Every troop we visited was doing very well, overcoming the usual “nits and lice” problems associated with setting up brand new equipment, and their excitement was in abundance. In several campsites we saw scouts (usually female) already introducing themselves to our guys and laughing and chatting as they worked to make their home for the next 12 days.

My personal experience makes this my fourth world jamboree and I can honestly say that “day 1” of this jamboree is the absolute best one that I have seen. The UK systems were working well and the cooperation and willingness to solve any and all problems was unsurpassed. Kudos to the organizing committee and all of the UK staff for a job well done!

At 500PM we held a brief unit leaders meeting to ascertain the status of our acclimation and all present were pleased with their progress and reported nothing but good news. Our region support group was basically unneeded at this point and that’s a good thing.

Greg Taylor intends to post some pictures of our fabulous day as soon as possible and I know that you will enjoy seeing the results.

Tomorrow our scouts will spend the morning getting to know their subcamp companions before heading to the arena area for the opening ceremony which will begin shortly after noon. Afterwards, some more time in the subcamp and then in the evening a grand party for everyone in the jamboree. It should be a wonderful day…..perhaps an absolutely smashing day!

Stay tuned!