Southern Region Jamboree Weblog

Pulling Out the Nails…….

The credit for today’s title goes to Robbie Hill, Scoutmaster for Troop 217 from SC, Western NC, and NE GA. Since we made two rounds of visits to all of our units yesterday and two subcamps were going offsite today we decided to sleep in this morning (which basically meant getting up at 600AM instead of 530AM) and take the second van out to the site instead of the first. When Charles and I arrived we split up and I went to Robbie’s troop site for a visit and Charles headed off to visit another unit. Volcano subcamp was headed to the GDV (Global Development Village) about 1000AM. So after breakfast, T217 had their usual flag ceremony. At the end of each one, Robbie is given a random object without advance notice and he does a Scoutmaster Minute on the spot based on the object. This morning he was given a claw hammer. Here is what he said (in essence)….”Boys, you all recognize this hammer and know what each end is used for. If you pretend for a moment that the various cultures of the world are nails, before you came to the jamboree you had driven those nails in a board based on what you thought you knew about those people and cultures that are different from you. But all of a sudden, when you got to the jamboree, you found that you had to turn that hammer around and use the other end of the hammer to start pulling those nails out of the board because you found out that it wasn’t like you had thought at all. Keep pulling.”

And that, my friends, is what a world jamboree is really all about. Pulling out the nails of what we thought we knew about other people and cultures when we realize that other people are really much different than our stereotypes. We can only pray that we are doing and saying things to make them pull out the nails that represent us as well.

The weather continues to be fabulous. The BBC long range forecast says that we will have good weather and unseasonably hot (which means over 75 deg F) through Sunday and then we expect rain possible for Monday and Tuesday.

Also today our 10,000 visitors returned. Personally, I love seeing all of the Cubs and their leaders from the UK around the site. We all brought lots and lots of USA flags and pins and such and love to chat with the kids and give them gifts. I am meeting lots of interesting adults as well, including a gentleman who earned his UK Kings Scout awards (equivalent to our Eagle Scout) in 1937. He paraded in front of King Edward (the so-called uncrowned King). He was the one who gave up his throne to marry our Wallis Simpson. This gentleman was in his impeccable Scout uniform and very excited to be at the jamboree. I also met a gentleman who was one of the first four Queens Scouts in 1953 after Elizabeth II came to the throne. It is just incredible to chat with these people about their experiences.

I am sure that your scouts will have interesting stories to tell of the people that they have met as well, although the focus may be slightly different. But that’s okay…..they’re pulling out nails every day in their own way.

Larry Mahoney and I also had a very interesting chat with my new buddy “Stilz” from Switzerland (who knows my friends “Funy” and “Grizzly” from the 1995 and 1999 jamborees) about the differences in Scouting in the USA and Switzerland. Stilz might be the Swiss contingent leader at the 2011 WJ in Sweden and he is already trying to think through the many issues that must be resolved in leading a contingent on one of these events. We are encouraging our scouts to find out about Scouting in other countries as well. So far, the main comment that has been made to me is “why can’t Scouting in the US be coed like Scouting is in most of the other countries in the world?” It’s a good question and one that I think we must address as we approach our second century in 2010.

This jamboree has a new feature in the subcamps and that is a thing that is called “The Listening Ear.” It is a place that anyone can go and find someone who will talk with them about any type of problem. My hat is off to those who staff these areas since even though overall our jamboree is “utopian” there are always those who may be a bit homesick or just need someone to listen. We met one of the “listening ear” ladies at lunch today and she looked more than a little beat. I gave her one of our regional staff patches and I assured her that this badge had a special filter that if she held it up to her ear would block any negativity or complaints that came her way. That got her smiling so I bet that she is back on her post this evening with a brighter attitude.

Troop 219 from Central NC had the winning patrol flag for the Southern Region although I am not sure which patrol it was. Charles Holmes told me that the troop entry had won but I forgot to ask for more details. Maybe I will think about it tomorrow and report more.

This evening we had our second BSA reception for the rest of the unit leaders and IST members. Jack Furst, our contingent leader, reminded us that we only have a few days left and although things have generally gone very well, we need to make sure that we finish as strong as we started. The Southern Region is certainly committed to that goal.

I have enjoyed reading the blog comments and am very pleased that my daily “brain dump” has been interesting and helpful in keeping you informed. My wife Helen reminded me this evening that she knows how much I love these jamborees but eventually it will be time to come home. Yes dear, I know. And of course I will. Thank you for once again letting me go out and play with the boys.

Sayonara.

The Back Nine…….

For those who understand a golf metaphor, we have now made the turn and started the back nine. Our score for the front nine is spectacular and I have no doubt that the back nine will be just as awesome.

The weather forecast for today included the chance of some rain in the afternoon but clearing in the evening. No problem of course. We had one subcamp (Volcano) out on their community service project – Starburst – and the other subcamps were involved in on-site activities. Charles and I took the first bus to the site to start our rounds so that Larry and Greg could take care of some business in town before heading out. Given the intensity of the Centenary activities on Wednesday, we found most units moving at a “relaxed” pace this morning as they made breakfast and prepared for their day. This is the normal course of events that I have seen in past jamborees. Once we pass the mid-point everyone tends to kick back and “let it happen” and that’s a good thing.

Everyone without exception was absolutely overwhelmed with the events of yesterday. The food, the music, the dancing, and most of all the interaction of cultures that occurs on the mid-point sub-camp party day is often the ultimate highlight of a Scout’s jamboree experience. I asked at least 25 of our guys and gals if there was any way that they knew to explain what they have already experienced to their family and buddies back home. Each and every one had no idea how to do this. This is my fourth jamboree and I have not yet discovered how to do it either. I don’t mean to be “mystical” but it truly is a thing of the spirit rather than of the mind and perhaps that’s why there is no way to do it. So do your best to understand why your young person will have difficulty sharing this aspect of their jamboree.

Sadly, at our mid-day regional support meeting, we began to talk about our exit strategy. It seems that all of our units – regardless of their flight time – will be leaving the jamboree site next Wednesday at 400AM. Most probably, there will be little of no sleeping that night after the closing ceremony and dance/party breaks up around midnight. Our guys will have all day Tuesday to break camp, pack their personal gear, and begin saying their sad goodbyes with their new friends. Their adrenaline level will sustain them until they get on the bus and then most, if not all, of them will collapse in exhaustion as we make the drive to the airport. Don’t worry parents, it’s like this every time and they all make it.

Late afternoon, after a brief spat of rainfall (not enough to do anything more than settle the dust), most of units had the honor of a visit from Kent Clayburn, our Regional Support Chairman (my boss). Jack Furst, our National Jamboree Chairman (Kent’s boss); and Wayne Perry, the International Commissioner for the BSA. They plan to visit all of the units in each region and started this process with the Southern Region. They greeted and chatted with many of our guys and at the end of the evening they told me that we had set the bar high for their subsequent regional visits. In other words, our region rocks!!!

The jamboree is not without some good natured humor. One of our units is in a subcamp where there is a bit of disagreement about the sufficiency of the food distribution. All of our units insist that they are receiving much more food than they need and have no complaints. The unit leader for the troop from one country (whose name I will omit to avoid creating some type of international incident – let’s just call them “No-name-ia”) has been complaining every day that her scouts are not getting enough food, an opinion not shared by her peers or Scouts. So our guys set a food box out front beside their gateway with a sign that reads (more or less)….”40 No-name-ia Scouts are starving every day. Please contribute a loaf of bread to the No-name-ia Hungry Scouts Fund.” Everybody except the No-name-ia unit leader thought it was very funny. My prayer is that she will live long enough to get over it.

Once again the hour is late and I am tired. Greg has over 50 pictures to upload after I sent Hoke my blog to post so he will be up even later than me. Thank those of you who have taken time to comment on the journal entries. Your encouragement helps me to get my eyes open long enough to do it.

Bonsoir.

Happy 100th Birthday To Us!!!!!!!!!

Whew……even a few hours of sleep helps when you are pooped. I unzipped my bag a few minutes before 5 AM and when I crawled out of the tent there was already a lot of activity in Volcano subcamp and all around the jamboree site. The thermometer on the gateway at Troop 217 read 44 deg F but the sky is very clear and soon the temperature is already rising with the sun. Heavy dew soaks my shoes and socks on my walk around camp to see if our other troops are up and about and I find them all stirring. Volcano subcamp has a mobilization time of 645 AM to head to the arena for our 800AM ceremony. The surrounding camps have times on either side of this. The Scouts who decided to stay up all night are probably regretting their decision this morning but soon all will be well.

As Scouts begin to fill the streets and paths that lead to the arena, it is fabulous site to see the variety of uniforms and, by request, the lack of nationalistic flags. Only flags bearing the world crest of Scouting are allowed in the arena for our Centenary Birthday Celebration. I watched the four of our subcamps from the Mountain Hub parade by before joining them in the arena which is now almost filled to capacity with over 40,000 of us. Most are wearing a special issue yellow “SCOUTING SUNRISE” neckerchief that was issued with the morning food draw.

Finally the ceremony begins and we are treated to a live satellite feed from Brownsea Island – site of the first Scout camp in 1907 – where at that moment two Scouts representing each of the 157 countries participating in the jamboree have assembled to lead us in our rededication ceremony. The Chief Scout of the United Kingdom greets us and raises the same kudu horn used by B-P in 1907 to blow three blasts to call us to attention. In unison and each in our own language we repeat the Scout Oath of our organization with the Brownsea Scouts. Afterwards, a huge cheer fills the arena as we begin the Second Century of the Scouting Movement. As the saying goes…..it just don’t get no better than this!!!

For the next hour or so we are entertained with a fantastic program including a greeting from Chairman of the World Scout Bureau Herman Hui of Hong Kong who introduces Robert Baden-Powell who reads to us a portion of his grandfather’s final message to Scouts before his death in 1941. A beautiful song of fellowship written especially for the occasion interspersed with messages from each of the world’s major religions, the releasing of dozens of white doves who circle the arena swooping and diving, and the sight of the flags of the world now brought into the arena by Scouts of every attending country…..each of these is enthusiastically greeted by all of us. And truly that is the main point of this day…..because on this day, of all days, we are not US Scouts or UK Scouts or French Scouts, or Egyptian Scouts…….we are simply Brother and Sister Scouts.

As the closing moment of the ceremony, each of us is asked to see if we can get 100 of our fellow scouts to sign our special sunrise neckerchiefs. Immediately the scouts are on their feet and of course many start this task by asking the buddies in their unit to sign. But within a few minutes, the boundaries of “unit” are broken and scouts from everywhere are mingling and smiling and signing each other’s neckerchiefs in every direction. This activity continues throughout the day and it proves to be a great idea by the organizing committee.

After the Sunrise Ceremony, there are worship opportunities for all faiths before lunch. I wish that I could comment on this activity, but our Contingent Staff spent this time fulfilling a special commitment to the UK to assist in the cleaning of the toilets in the IST (International Service Team) area. Even Jack Furst of Dallas, our Volunteer Jamboree Chairman, was in there cleaning toilets and scrapping mud off the shower area floors with the rest of us.

The afternoon was dedicated to a jamboree wide celebration of food and fellowship. Most units presented some type of special food from their culture and many also dressed up in their native costumes. Some presented dances or games. As we walked about our subcamps, we were constantly greeted by smiling faces and welcoming arms literally begging us to make a visit, enjoy some food or drink, or join in an activity. We saw hundreds of our scouts eating, drinking, dancing, playing, and just generally having a great time. At this point in their jamboree experience, whatever lingering inhibitions that may have remained are evaporated like the morning dew.

We are truly now ONE WORLD with ONE PROMISE.

It is now 1150 PM and on that splendid thought above I will close my account for this day of days. Perhaps a bit more tomorrow on today….but who knows…..

A night at the jamboree site……

Well….I suppose that we should start with the morning. We are trying to make our morning rounds early to catch the units doing “off-site” activities before they bug out. It was a bit on the cool side this morning but still bright and sunny. The units in Volcano camp were doing “Choice” and “Aquaville” with a later start time so I caught them in the early stages of breakfast prep. Most of the boys from Houston (including their leaders) were still in their tents when I first stopped by. Plateau units had already bugged off to their Starburst (service projects) activity. Canyon and Glacier units were doing breakfast prep and getting ready for their on-site activities in “Global Development Village” and “Elements” respectively. All reports from all activities are very positive. There is the occasional facet that is not deemed “perfect” but it a rare comment.

Barry Smith from Troop 219 (Central NC) was inducted into the Baden-Powell Fellowship at a luncheon on-site and he and I were honored to meet the current Robert Baden-Powell (grandson of the founder) and to sit with His Majesty Carl Gustav the King of Sweden at lunch. (I know I have my royalty right on this one since I met him previously this past fall in San Francisco). His Majesty is a very active supporter of Scouting (a Scout himself in his youth) and has attended most world jamborees since he became monarch 50 years ago. He is well loved by most of his people and he really enjoys being a part of Scouting events.

As mentioned in the Monday blog I had decided to spend the night at the jamboree site in anticipation of the Scouting Sunrise ceremony on Wednesday. I dropped my sleeping bag and gear off at Troop 217 and then proceeded to the Troop 212 site to see if I could scrounge some dinner. To my delight I was in time as their chili supper was just being finished. There were several groups of Scouts and young ladies from around the world chatting around the site and a small group of Scouts (boys and girls) from a nearby German troop were on the way to join us also. I think that a group of the TN boys were also headed to the German site for their dinner. Both the food and the fellowship were excellent and I spent a delightful hour there.

After dinner I checked on the Scouts from Troops 205, 207, 208, 219 and 220 and found them in fine form. Some units were having troop meetings; others had already cleaned up the dinner dishes and headed off to “see the world”. I have certainly enjoyed my assignment as Regional Chairman, but being in the subcamp in the evening, seeing all of the fellowship activity and fun, reminded me just how special it is to be a unit leader and spend 24/7 with the scouts as they soak and bask in the world jamboree experience. Our “rookie” unit leaders finally understand what we “vets” have been trying to tell them. It really is one of those things that you cannot describe – it simply must be experienced in person.

When I arrived back at the Troop 217 site I found a handful of the Scouts and the Polish girls who are camped adjacent redoing the flag assembly to hoist the flags even higher above the campsite. These young ladies have been next door for several days but it seems that the 217 guys have just noticed how cute they are and decided to open international relations – so to speak. All very innocent, of course. SM Robbie Hill mentioned that one of the young men standing nearby (who shall remain nameless) seemed to disappear whenever allowed to visit a new found “lady friend.” So I took him aside and asked him what unit/country his new friend was from. He shared as how “they” were Spanish – but in two different units so as not to cause conflicts. How clever!

Being a little tired from some late night demands on Monday night I decided to turn in a bit early since our reveille on Wednesday is 500AM to draw our food and mobilize for the Scouting Sunrise Ceremony. It didn’t take me long to drop off although I was awakened several times by the chatter of the Polish girls who had decided to just stay up all night.

A brilliant full moon (or near full) filled the sky and there was a chill in the air outside for those who continued to fellowship and visit but I needed a bit of sleeeeeeep…….

Countdown to the Centenary…..

Let’s start with the weather…..which is simply spectacular. We are certainly prepared for rain and no doubt will be tested on this before our departure, but the weather today and in the near term forecast has no rain in sight. Let’s hope that this holds true at least through the Centenary Celebration on Wednesday.

As we walked around and visited each unit that was in camp this morning, it appeared that they were well-settled into a routine of cooking and camp life. We got no complaints from any unit that was not a simple solution. All of our unit leaders are simply wonderful and are taking the best care of our youth that anyone can imagine.

The daily program continued today and all reports from our units are fabulous. The Gilwell Adventure (off-site) attended by the units in Volcano Subcamp got rave reviews, and comments for all of the on-site program elements were great as well. Of course the continuing highlight for everyone that I see is simply the interaction with the youth of the world. Everywhere you look you see boys and girls from different countries talking, playing, and just enjoying being together. I know that it’s a simplistic thing to say, but I’ll say it anyway. If we could turn the world over to these 30,000 youth for about 2 weeks there would be no more political issues and strife on our earth. After every world jamboree my hope is renewed in the possibility of a better future for all of us.

Again today the jamboree site was absolutely full of visitors today. I especially enjoy talking with the cub scout groups and giving them gifts of USA flags and patches. They are so innocent and appreciative of the attention of an old Scouter from America. I wish that I had something for each and every one of them…..I probably gave out 300 flags just today. There will be visitors again tomorrow but not on Wednesday during our Centenary Celebration.

This evening we held a reception for one-half of our unit leaders and IST members (the reception for the other half will be on Friday evening). Each received a nice medallion and the thanks of our Jamboree Contingent Leader – Jack Furst from Dallas TX. Many of the larger world organizations hold these receptions and it is great fun to see all of the adults who paid “big bucks” to be a part of this effort on behalf of our youth.

There will not be a blog tomorrow (Tuesday) evening since I will be participating in the vigil ceremony for the centenary and then attend the sunrise service with our Scouts on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday night I will try my best to give you an account of these events and share the excitement of being here as we begin the second century of Scouting.

ONE WORLD, ONE PROMISE!

The Program Begins……

Our perfect weather luck rain out last evening and the rains finally came to the jamboree site. But by daybreak all that remained were some drops and within a few hours the sun came out and the heat began to rise. Unfortunately, some of the program areas got a bit flooded so there were some adjustments in the schedule for some subcamps. And there was good news and bad news from the units on the “rain-proof-ness” of the UK tents. Good news – the youth tents did not leak. Bad news – some of the adult tents did. Oh well. Better this way than the other way round, don’t your think? Best news – our leaders said “don’t worry about it – we’re tough.” God bless those guys.

Every youth that we met – without exception – gave us a great report about their experiences among the subcamps and program areas. Of course many of our guys are in love with the young ladies that they have met. There is certainly no clear cut opinion on which country has the cutest girls. I have heard Brazil, Switzerland, Italy, UK (of course), and many others mentioned. I had dinner with Troop 210 (Morency) – hamburgers and salad – and they were wired. Many Scouts were preparing to go to Sunday church services after dinner and then get back to the business of making friends, trading patches, and participating in a giant subcamp scavenger hunt.

The jamboree site was absolutely full of visitors today. I admit that I was very surprised about the number of international visitors – especially the young cub scouts. I saw at least 50 young Thailand scouts, a host of other Asian scouts, and thousands of UK Beavers and Cubs. We had a chance to chat with many of these visitors and they were so excited to be a part of the jamboree – if only for a day as a visitor.

Tomorrow our scouts continue with their regular rotation of program. Again some will be offsite at Gilwell, Splash, and Starburst (service projects). Others will spend the day on the jamboree site doing both educational and fun activities.

The weather forecast is for nice weather through Wednesday and that’s great (if it holds true) since August 1 is the actual sunrise service and anniversary party in the subcamps and later that evening in the arena.

A follow-up to my personal note from yesterday, it turns out that I am ignorant on my royals. My chat was not with Prince Charles (who is the Prince of Wales) but rather with his cousin Edward (who looks a lot like him) who is the Duke of Kent and the President of the UK Scout organization. It was still very cool to meet a member of the royal family even if he is not in line for the crown.