World Scout Jamboree 2007

1st August 2007

Today saw Scouting around the world celebrate 100 years to the day from the time Baden Powell marked the opening of the first ever Scout camp on Brownsea Island by blowing into a Kudu horn.

The first photo was taken at 5:23 in the morning, however each Scout organisation around the world would celebrate at 8:00am local time, and for the UK, both the Jamboree site at Hylands Park and Brownsea Island itself were to play an important part.

The International Service Team (IST) adults had been asked to assemble at 6:00am in the arena area of the Island Hub, where most of the adults are based.

Thankfully, it was a bright cloudless morning, and although not yet warm, the weather suggested a sunny day with little chance of rain.

The Moon was still high in the sky as the red glow of the early morning light gave way to clear blue, and the various IST members made their way across the large field towards the assembly area.

There was a while to wait before we were eventually moved off at around 6:30, and many took the chance to catch up with friends, or have a read of the Jamboree newspaper which was published every day by the team in the Media Centre, often with a lot of the input from the participants themselves, both news gathering around the site as well as production work back in the office.

Taking a longer route through Hylands Park, the adults stopped and waited near the Tropical hub for Participants from the Ocean hub sub-camps to walk ahead of us, allowing them to get closer to the front.

Once in the arena area you could feel the excitement running through everyone in the build up to the ceremony as the minutes counted down towards 8:00am. I sent a text message to my own Scout Group, just 10 miles away in Maldon, where I knew they were also celebrating Sunrise Day with an event at our own Scout HQ, and I hoped the Scouts assembled there felt as much pride as I did in belonging to such a unique movement.

As the ceremony got under way, for many it was a time for reflection as well as celebration, perhaps thinking of those at home, as well as the journey that had brought all of these people together.

For my part, I was also determined to try and capture as much of the atmosphere as possible, and found myself a number of vantage points I could use in order to take photos. By speaking to a few of the stewards beforehand and explaining what I was doing, I was able to move around quite freely and get access to many of the areas also used by the press and official photographers.

As the ceremony started, there were performances on stage whilst the large screens relayed coverage from the site where the first ever Scout camp took place exactly 100 years ago. Two representatives from each participating country had travelled down to Dorset previously for the ceremony at Brownsea Island, the largest of eight islands in Poole Harbour, and Peter Duncan, Chief Scout of the United Kingdom, opened the ceremony by blowing a kudu horn, the same way Baden Powell had heralded the start of his own camp a century before.

Interestingly, the daughter of one of my Nortel colleagues was one of those on the island as part of the team performing in the ceremony, herself an Explorer Scout with her local district. Whilst the celebrations continued on Brownsea, the arena at Hylands Park was brightened up by a number of coloured ribbons that fanned out from the stage, passed overhead by the Scouts. Viewed from above it was a striking display, and symbolically connected the audience together.

The ceremony continued, and Scouts from across the world came across the stage to give messages about unity, what it meant to be part of such a large single organisation and how Scouting could be a positive model for all sorts of issues. The theme of the Jamboree, “One World, One Promise” highlighted the similarities that brought us all together, and pointed the way forward in overcoming the challenges the world faces today.

There was a solemn silence before exactly 8:00, when everyone made the Scout Sign and, using the international word version, all 40,000 renewed their Scout Promise, on behalf of the 28 million worldwide.

On my honour I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my Country;
To help other people at all times;
To obey the Scout Law.

The event then went back into a party spirit, as we enjoyed different parts of the performance from across the globe, whilst a Scout from every country represented ran from the stage area through the crowd waving their national flag.

A number of large “dove kites” were flying round, echoing the dove image used on the Jamboree logo as a symbol of peace.

The end of the event saw a flock of white doves released, and they dutifully did a full circle lap of the arena before flying off, it was a powerful image.

All the Scouts were encouraged to wave the yellow Sunrise Day scarves they had been given the night before, and it created a dramatic background for two participants, one from Belgium and one from the UK contingent, who were being interviewed live on air for a UK breakfast television programme.

They both interviewed really well, and despite the “manufactured” behind the scenes process of television recording, particularly when on an outside broadcast being run from back in the studio, both managed to come across very naturally and capture the atmosphere and excitement of the day.

Finally, as a large group of multicoloured balloons brought the event to an end, the hosts on stage explained that the yellow Sunrise scarves we’d each been given had a special purpose. Our challenge for the morning was to swap signatures with other people in the audience, and to collect at least 100 names on our scarves before we left the arena. I counted mine when I got back to my tent and found I had exactly 100!

Tuesday 31st July

Tuesday was an early start as I was working a breakfast shift in the Island Hub restaurant, helping serve breakfast for over 10,000 hungry IST members. Registration was at 5:00, where we signed in and received our Sodexho events polo shirts to change into, a cap to keep our hair out of the way (more important for some than others!) and for those doing the “running” like I did usually, an apron and some tea towels to protect your hands. All of these items were handed back in at the end of each shift ready to be washed for the following day, and one small corner of the kitchen area was partitioned off and had a bank of washing machines & tumble dryers that seemed to be constantly running.

A few feet away from this end were the large boiling cookers, where the vegetables & potatoes were cooked, followed by similar units used for soup, although these had a large tap on the front for pouring the soup out into containers for carrying. Level with these, next to a set of food preparation tables, were a series of more recognisable stoves which were used solely to prepare the more one-off vegetarian and special diet meals.

Further along the kitchen against the wall were the steam regenerators, used to keep food piping hot, such as the fried rice once it had finished cooking, and particular care had to be taken with these as the contents were a noticeable 20°C hotter than the normal storage oven which were normally kept at around 80-85°C. Next along were similar looking dry ovens used for items like pies & pasties. In the middle of the kitchen level with the steamers and ovens were two rows of cookers back to back, effectively like large fixed saucepans. These were used for cooking dishes like rice, and the various stews and main dishes that were offered. Finally, past another set of food prep tables, was the frying area where the chips, fish, hash browns and other fried food was cooked.

Along the opposite side of the kitchen were two rows of walk in fridges & freezers, each bigger than most people’s bedroom, and each marked on the door with the specific food it contained, e.g. meat, dairy, etc. They were a very good place to savour a refreshing few seconds when the sun was beating down on the roof and the temperature inside the kitchen was even hotter than normal, and you’d be grateful that something from the chilled area needed replenishing.

In between the two large rows of fridges, as well as the main walkway from the kitchen out to the two restaurants, was a large floor area used to store large stackable, bulky items, like boxes of fruit and catering packs of cereals, crisps etc. Either side of this walkway, backed up against the side of the fridges, were rows of ovens used to keep the food at a safe temperature, ready to re-stock the ovens out in the restaurant behind each of the serving counters. My role, usually as a kitchen runner, was to take the food from the kitchen out to the serving counter ovens, and to keep these stocked as necessary, according to demand. In each restaurant there would also be a number of restaurant runners who would then look after a group of serving counters and make sure that the front counters were stocked, so that those on each counter could focus on serving food without holding up the queue. Each restaurant would server 5,000 people twice a day, so the planning that went into making sure the queue stayed as short as possible was considerable, and although the people waiting were hungry from their day’s activities, I think they could see we were working well as a team to keep them fed.

Today I had been helping out on the “Cold Buffet” table, making sure we had stocks of bread rolls, butter, fruit and cold meats etc for the breakfast. I had been on slightly lighter duties since yesterday, when I’d slipped whilst pushing a food trolley and sliced through part of my hand below the thumb. After a dressing applied by one of the chefs, I’d made my way across to the first aid post outside the restaurant area where I’d been assessed as needing further treatment. I was sat in one of the ambulances and driven to the on-site medical centre. After initial assessment by an A&E nurse, it was agreed by the doctor that although no long term damage had been done, I needed something to hold the wound together, although instead of stitches they used a form of superglue. This seemed to work really well, although I was aware I wouldn’t be able to carry heavy food trays around the kitchen for a few days. A huge personal thanks to everyone who looked after me, I was really made to feel at ease and in capable hands.

After finishing the breakfast shift around midday, I spent most of the rest of the day in the Media Centre on site, working to get hold of the video footage of the daily news broadcasts, to be posted in a later blog entry. By now, I’d managed to get hold of the first two days of coverage, although using a professional quality image resolution, the file sizes were massive. I already had a WiFi access card for the Jamboree site, but there was no way the wireless network would support this amount of data being transmitted, and the only way to get the video posted was to upload it onto a website in North America. The team in the Media Centre were fantastic, and went out of their way to help explore all the possible ways to transport these files, even speaking to the satellite broadcast team based in the SatLink van outside, although unfortunately they could only connect directly to TV stations worldwide, and couldn’t access the Internet. In the end I was given the two news bulletins on DVD and decided to travel off site to the nearest Nortel location, Harlow 20 miles away, so that I could send the files over the internal network. It was going to be a late night…

Monday 30th July 2007

Monday saw the second day of activities for the participants and the day visitors, although I spent most of the morning in the Jamboree Media Centre, working on the weblog and making arrangements for getting access to some of the Scout video news broadcasts, which I hope to have published here shortly. As usual, I had to be at work in the Island Hub IST restaurant by 4:00 pm and I used the couple of hours I had available to wander around some of the displays in the main plaza area, ensuring that I left myself sufficient time for the walk back to the Island Hub.

My first visit was to the display area put on by the Portuguese speaking countries, where visitors could learn about the culture and history of the many places around the world that share Portuguese as their native language.

Scouts from Angola were showing traditional African items & instruments in a cultural display, Portuguese Scouts were offering belt branding, and the Brazilian team were embroidering a sign to highlight their hosting of the World Scout Conference and Youth Forum in 2011.

Most of the exhibition areas and country stands had a specially made stamp and visitors could collect these by getting their books stamped at each area they visited.

Here was my book being stamped in the Brazilian tent, although unfortunately, unlike some of the participants that did very well, I rarely remembered to get this done, so it is one of very few I have…

A few stands further away I met Helen Astaniou, who kindly explained to me all about the International Award for Young People . In the UK where I live this is represented by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, a challenging series of tasks for young people (14 to 25) to undertake at three levels, Bronze, Silver & Gold.

The idea of the International Award programme is to bring together the various different schemes run in each country around the world to share ideas and offer mutual support, and to encourage countries that don’t yet offer their own scheme to get started. Despite the different local variations on the theme, most are based around the idea of 4 sections (Service, Adventurous Journey, Skills and Physical Recreation) with an additional Residential element at Gold level. Having achieved all three levels just before my 25th birthday (a few years ago now) I can strongly recommend it to anyone thinking of taking part. Many Scout Groups and other youth organisations also run the Award scheme, helping to bring its benefits to a wider audience.

On my way back to the Island Hub camping area for the International Service Team (IST) I got the opportunity to meet a number of participants as they toured the various displays or put on their own shows for the interest of the other participants.

Although most of the participants had only been on site a few days, you could already see many friendships being forged, as each of the contingents celebrated their respective cultures and traditions whilst getting the opportunity to learn about others.

Sunday 29th July 2007

Today saw the start of the main activity programme for the Jamboree participants, as well as the first day when the site was open to external day visitors, who so far seem to me to have mostly been Scout & Guide groups who had travelled to Hylands Park for an activity packed day, as well as a glimpse of what it’s like to attend a major jamboree.

I managed to track down my local Essex South contingent, whose first activity day was in the Global Development Village, a diverse collection of activities designed to expand the participants’ thinking about some of the moral issues affecting the world, and help them identify ways they can make a positive contribution.

When I found them they were in a workshop event with representatives from All Different – All Equal, the European Youth Campaign focussed on diversity and human rights worldwide, particularly for those who are denied the sorts of rights and privileges most of us take for granted.

In a thought provoking discussion group, the Scouts & Guides had discussed many of the difficulties faced by people around the world and had worked through ways to avoid or overcome many of the examples they had addressed. In order to illustrate their discussion, they had built a wall using cardboard boxes, each one representing a different issue to confront.

By the time I found them, the Essex South contingent had also been joined by Peter Duncan, popular actor & UK television presenter as well as Chief Scout of the UK Scout Association since 2004. Peter was taking the opportunity to meet up with as many of the contingents as possible, as well as record some video footage and interviews with them during the event. His external career skills and practical experience of filming were evident as he discussed with his cameraman what angles and views he was hoping to get, and he took care to listen to what the Scouts & Guides had learnt from the session and also their thoughts on the Jamboree so far.

The closing part of the workshop saw the Scouts & Guides line up and each throw tennis balls to knock down the wall, whilst thinking about some of the strategies and ideas they had discussed. Peter Duncan couldn’t resist the urge to join in as well, and clearly enjoyed meeting with the participants and taking part in the activities with them.

Shortly afterwards I spoke to one of the UK Contingent leaders who was taking photos for their daily diary, and his editor decided to use three of the photos I had taken for the UK Contingent website.

In the tent next door to the All Different – All Equal workshop, another contingent were discussing the issues of child poverty, in conjunction with the International Labour Organization. As part of their discussion, the participants were being videoed presenting a documentary style clip explaining the extent of the problem.

While the Scouts & Guides moved on to a drumming workshop, I headed off towards the main Plaza area, where I found members of the Indonesian Contingent dressed up in tribal costumes, singing and performing traditional dance moves.

As you can see from the photos, it was quite a colourful sight!

On my way back to the Island Hub for the IST Adults, ready to work in the IST kitchen, I met Scouts from the Nottinghamshire contingent, who were dressed up as characters from Sherwood Forest, and were posing for photos and explaining about the stories of Robin Hood.

Saturday 28th July 2007

Today saw the opening ceremony of the World Scout Jamboree, and the growing excitement was palpable even as the different countries’ contingents were assembling in their uniforms ahead of the walk across site to the main arena.

Mexico

Each of the countries had their own distinctive identities and were celebrating some of their national culture in front of the their fellow travellers. From Italians singing and clapping, Nigerians dancing and Brazilians drumming, everyone was proud to have been chosen to represent their country at such a memorable event.

Italy

Ireland

Once arrived, the ceremony was kicked off by a sequence of dances symbolising the way the different countries, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales come together under the banner of the United Kingdom, represented by the Union Flag (or Union Jack as it’s often called).

UK

His Royal Highness Prince William and the Duke of Kent arrived by helicopter onto the lawn in front of Hylands House and walked through the crowd to a chorus of cheers before taking their places in the Royal Box, in view of both the stage and the crowd.

UK

Colombia

I was lucky to be among the 42 UK Contingent adult Scouts who then stood on the massive stage and sang the UK National Anthem “God Save The Queen” before the Duke of Kent (himself President of the UK Scout Association) opened the ceremony and then read to the crowd a message from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who has been Patron of the Scout Association since 1952.

Hong Kong

UK Chief Scout Peter Duncan arrived on stage in a battered London Taxi which had travelled all the way from the previous World Scout Jamboree in Thailand, bringing the official World Organisation of Scout Movements’ purple flag, although the last part of the journey was by plane, and a team of parachutists dropped in from overhead to deliver the flag to the stage.

UK

Sri Lanka

The flags of each of the participating countries were then announced and brought onto stage, to an eruption of cheers from each contingent as their name was called out, before Jamboree Director Bill Cockcroft, and Herman Hui, Chairman of the World Scout Committee, greeted the participants with a series of messages emphasising the unity of those in Scouting, and the important work that Scouts can do in making a better world.

Egypt

Two Jamboree participants, Dan from UK & Hannah from Morocco, then read out the Scout Law & Promise to a hushed crowd, before Peter Duncan then led a noisy countdown to a series of fireworks that marked the Jamboree officially open.

Netherlands

Later in the day, the participants met back in the main arena for a concert party that went into the evening, featuring acts from all over the UK, many of them Scouts and Guides themselves. The atmosphere was amazing, and even the rain that started didn’t manage to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm.

Guatemala

Sunday sees the start of the full programme, so check back for more news and photos.

Friday 27th July 2007

Here we are, on the day that the remaining 30,000 participants arrive, from all over the world. Most of the adults have been here three days, (although some have been here weeks) and the UK contingents arrived yesterday, but today is the day we welcome all of the international contingents.

Some have had relatively short journeys, while others have travelled from the other side of the world to be here.

Preparations are still continuing at various activity areas around the site, ready for the full programme to start on Sunday, and the different stands and exhibition areas are really starting to take shape.

For most, however, today has been the day for walking from the coach arrival station to one of the sixteen sub-camp areas, unpacking gear and getting tents and camping equipment set up ready for the next week and a half.

The Scouting values of unity & helping others were ably demonstrated, with many contingents finishing setting up their own camps, then going to assist their newly-arrived neighbours. Language barriers didn’t seem to be a problem, as young people from opposite corners of the globe helped each other and started to forge friendships that crossed geographical, cultural & religious boundaries, in the true spirit of the Jamboree’s “One World, One Promise” theme.

For some, there was an opportunity to relax and mix with those who had travelled with them, while others took the opportunity to explore the Hylands Park site and perhaps enjoy an ice cream in the sunshine (while it lasts!).

Tomorrow will see the official opening ceremony, which will be attended by His Royal Highness Prince William and the Duke of Kent, as well as Peter Duncan, UK Chief Scout. With everyone together, and in full Scouting uniform, it’s sure to be a sight to remember.

Welcome to the first posting from the Jamboree itself, on the day the first Scouts and Guides arrive. Most of the adults in the International Service Team (IST) arrived 2 days ago, and are here to make the event an unforgettable experience for 40,000 Scouts, Guides and their contingent leaders from all over the world.

Some of the IST arrived last Friday, but for most, Tuesday was the day to get set up and start training for the roles they’ll be doing for the next two weeks. Although not suffering the way some parts of the UK have recently, Chelmsford has had a fair share of rain, and many areas of the site are already covered with mud, although the Site Operations team are working their hardest to get bark chippings down in the worst affected areas.

Building of the site continues right through the day, then at night time, there are delivery lorries for the restaurant areas in each of the 16 sub camp areas for the participants, the massive two restaurants for the IST, as well as the local Sainsbury’s stores positioned around the site.

This is the first time in the 100 years of Scouting that an international jamboree has had attendance from every single country where there’s a scouting presence, representing the 28 million Scouts worldwide.

The Jamboree Build Team (JBT) started weeks ago, as soon as they were given the keys to Hylands Park in Chelmsford, usually a quiet country park location, but now transformed into a global village, with a population bigger than the town of Llanelli in Wales.

Over 4,600 Scouts & Guides from all across the United Kingdom have been arriving today, so that they are ready, as the host nation, to welcome over 30,000 participants from across the world tomorrow, ahead of the opening ceremony on Saturday.

Watch this space…

Welcome to my new Nortel LearniT Weblog covering the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford, Essex, England, celebrating 100 years of Scouting. There will be 40,000 people from over 150 countries joining together for the challenge and excitement of Scouting, and sharing each other’s cultures & traditions

Check back regularly, as I’m hoping to provide a daily update & photos of what’s going on, and some video clips of the highlights.

Let me know if you have friends who will be attending, I’ll look out for them.

There are a number of people on site already building the main parts of the site, such as the main hubs, the stage etc, but the bulk of the adults are arriving Tuesday 24th, UK participants follow on Thursday 26th July, with all of the international participants arriving Friday 27th.

Many of those arriving Friday will have had a huge distance to travel, and some will have had a journey over 24 hours.

To all those coming to the Jamboree, have a safe trip, & I’ll see you Friday!