World Jamborees: 2007 Report
2007 - 21st World Jamboree, Hylands Park UK
27 July - 8 August / Participants 41 431 / Countries 155 / South Africans 174
Report by Andre Foot
It's truly beyond imagination to realize that in 1907, a man took a few boys camping and 100 years later the lives of 30 million in 226 countries around the World changed forever. 76 Excited Scouts and Adults took off from Cape Town on 19 July, met another 98 to make 174 from SA at Jo'burg, then set off for Amsterdam via Cairo.
Schiphol Airport Netherlands came to an absolute standstill on Friday as Shosholoza resounded through the entire building announcing our arrival. Our Dutch hosts were there to meet us and with luxury coaches whisked us off to Buitenzorg Scout Centre just outside Baarn. After refreshments, in bursts of rain, camp was set up by our 4 Troops and adult support team.
Later the evening, more of our contingent were collected, having gone via London.
Pre Jamboree activities in the Netherlands
Home Hospitality in Holland
Netherlands was to be our 'shakedown' time, where we would work and build together for a week on team spirit as well as prepare for the actual Jamboree. Next day, pairs were collected at camp for home hospitality, spending the weekend in various towns around Baarn. Some of us were bussed up to Friesland for some sailing with the Sea Scouts, before being collected there by our host families. Brian F and I had the privilege to stay in Stiens in the north of Friesland and 9m below sea level. Later when I asked a Nederlander who would want to buy land below sea level, the reply of "God made the world, but the Dutch made Holland," gave me a better understanding. During our stay with Webrandt and his parents, we experience true Dutch hospitality, explored his town and were treated to an amusing evening of 'Fierljeppen' - Friesland's International Sport of pole vaulting over a water mass using a 20m light weight pole, with many landing in the water in the process.
Back in Camp and Sightseeing
Sunday saw everyone back at Camp with all the host families for a massive 'braai' and eat as much as you like food festival. Here we presented a carved ostrich egg and contingent scarves to the Dutch Scout Association and Commissioners. Monday and off to Amsterdam, first a bumpy-noisy ride on restored and preserved museum trams, passing many sights along the 5km route. Lunch at the vast open Amsterdamse Bos, before touring the eye-opening City of Amsterdam on foot in the rain, what hadn't as yet been seen and more, was now definitely seen. Tuesday and many Dutch games and skills by half in camp with a tour of the Scout Museum on site. The afternoon half returned and the rest set off to do community service of wall painting at Sherpa, a handicapped centre an hours walk away. Some great wall paintings were produced by many of our Scouts, now permanent at the centre.
Wednesday off for a day with the Friesland Scouts ("Friesland Bopper" – is the best), stopping at the home of the Royal Commissioner to the Queen Mr. Ed Naples for refreshments, welcoming and contingent scarf presentation, before proceeding to Leeuwarden for a day of 'Elfstedentocht' (11 Friesland Cities) skill games and fun, ending with a campfire and returning via the huge Afsluitdijk wall, keeping the North Sea out of Friesland. Did you know the windmills in Holland are there to pump the groundwater out of the land and into the sea - thus keeping the water level of the land under control. Thursday was spent walking around the heavily populated flat community of Huntum, east of Amsterdam and home to poor.
An evening campfire with Scouts of Baarn brought our visit to an end, and packing commenced in the rain for an early departure next morning.
The Jamboree
Settling in at Jamboree campsite
Friday 27, wet tents and high spirits got us to Schiphol, plane across to Heathrow, luxury coach to North Weald for registrations and arrival at Hylands Park with 41 000 plus other Scouts, the logistics and efficiency was mind boggling as we settled in at our various sites and explored the huge terrain.
Saturday saw the SA Pavilion (promoting SA and SA Scouting) set up by our Adult support team, who took turns running the Pavilion thereafter.
The Official Opening
At 12pm the main arena started filling with singing, chanting, greetings, bands, flags and jubilant laughter as country after country contingents turned up for the opening ceremony, a truly amazingly awesome sight seeing so many Scouts gathering in one place. We were treated to music, a Walt Disney movie past, Knights parading on horseback, and a message from Prince William, followed by the Duke of Kent with a message from the Queen. One World One Promise came to the fore as Scouts united, the language barrier seldom noticed as greetings, smiles and welcomes were exchanged like true brothers and sisters. The Chief UK Commissioner Peter Duncan Officially opened the Jamboree at 2.30pm.
Jamboree Programme
Over the next few days, various programs were followed by each Troop and or sub-camp as per the jamboree program designated to each. Over 400 busses transported 10 000 off the jamboree site daily to and from other activities. There was the Gilwell Adventure, a day at Gilwell Park filled with skills and games, from leatherwork, signaling, go-cart races, wood-burning, in fact, whatever you can imagine Scouts doing and more - it was provided there! Then there was Splash, a day of every imaginable water activity. Learning by doing, various community projects outside the site on Starburst, Energise to burn off energy in various challenges offered, making something from Trash, Global Development Village of solving world problems and team participation events, Making music - starting a band, badge / item swapping. Then there was still Sub-Camp activities, friendship games, challenges, dress-ups, dancing and lots-lots more, there was just so much on the go all the time, the camp was alive 24/7 with something going down all over - and the busses just kept rolling in and out.
Wednesday 1 August, our 100 year Birthday was another very special day, a National Scout Holiday in camp. Starting with an awesome Sunrise Ceremony on Brownsea Island with Jarred Dewar and Kelsey Micklethwaite representing SA, spectacular main arena events, worship services provided for all denominations, an afternoon of International food tasting by each country (we laid on Koeksusters which proved very popular) and a massive evening birthday bash provided by many international artists… (I just remember Madonna - the rest drove the kids absolutely wild, but were unknown to me).
Then on with the program again until Tuesday 7 August, when packing up was the order of the day and ending with a wet closing ceremony to beat all others with a fireworks display seen and heard as far as Chelmsford and beyond.
Home hospitality in the UK
Wednesday the 4 SA Troops set off in different directions to Hertfordshire, Finchley, Kent and South of London. I joined Umfolozi and went South to the South London Scout Centre at Dulwich in Sydenham for true British home hospitality. Here Roger, Charles, Dave and their team treated us like royalty. We stayed in the bunkhouse (no more tents) where we rested on the first day, they cooked for us, took us on daily tours by train to London for walking tours, bus tours, up the London Eye, mixed with South London Scouts, let us loose in London for shopping, up the Thames by boat to Greenwich and on the last night surprised us with the roar of motorcycles and pizza deliveries to the site, ending in a very talented karaoke evening. We heard much later with great disappointment that some of the other Troops didn't do half of what we did, one Troop apparently spent 2 days on a farm!
It was a sad farewell on Saturday 11 August departing from the South London Scouts, then the long journey home to the Cape via Cairo and Jo'burg to get back on Sunday 12 August.
For many the first time out of SA, the first time on an aeroplane, the first time at such an enormous Scout event, the first time… it was a lifetime experience for each and every person in attendance, with many memories brought back, friends made, experiences had - to last a lifetime.
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| SA Contingent Badge Right breast pocket |
World Jamboree Badge Above right breast pocket |
Africa Southern Zone Badge Above left breast pocket |
SA National Flag Badge Above Left breast pocket |
World Scout Badge Left breast pocket |
