World Scout Jamboree 2007

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.