World Jamboree & Eurojam

[Eamonn]

At this time there is little or no news about the 2007 World Jamboree.
I am the World Jamboree Chairman for Area Four Northeast Region and there is nothing coming out that isn't on the Jamboree web sites.
The International Department is sending out very generic forms that allow you to say that you are interested.
While there is no real official word, some people are saying that the Brits are busy with Eurojam and we are busy with the National Scout Jamboree.
Talking with a pal of mine, who is on the Committee Of The Council back in the UK. (Committee of the Council is the ruling committee in the UK) He tells me that Eurojam is not getting the numbers that was expected and they are having a hard time finding staff members.
A lot of people are asking what the cost will be for the World Jamboree? The truth is that no one knows!! The cost for Lads coming from the NE Region last Jamboree was $3,500. There are people who are guesstimating that the cost will be in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. But how they are coming up with these numbers is beyond me.
I am cutting back on one of my unhealthy habits and putting $5.00 + all my loose change at the end of each day in a Jamboree Piggy bank. I don't know if it will cover the cost, but I'm hoping it will make it not hurt as much.
I am telling anyone who is interested to do the same. Start saving now!!

[fg8578]

My son (currently 11 years old, too young for Jambo 2005) and I would like to attend World Jambo 2007 -- how do we go about doing that? I wrote my Council SE about it a week or so ago, and haven't heard back.

[optimist]

Scouts and Scouters attend the Jamborees through council sponsored "troops" that are assembled just for the Jamboree. You remain a member of your regular troop at the same time. These special troops are generally assembled one to one and a half years prior to the Jamboree.

Each council can only send a limited number of Scouts to the Jamboree so they must decide who will be able to join these special troops. For the Scouts, this usually works on a first come first serve basis although individual councils may have other rules. On the other hands, adults are generally chosen for their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Being first to sign up doesn't ensure you will attend (although it helps).

Please note that both you and your son have another option -- working on staff. In fact, if your son gets chosen for the trip and you don't, working staff will still give you both the opportunity to attend. Keep in mind that if you do it this way you will not see your son much since the two of you will have completely different itineraries and responsibilities.

[fg8578]

Thanx, optimist.

My experience so far with the Council Contingent for the 2005 Jamboree is that they can't keep all their available slots filled. So given the cost of the 2007 Jamboree, I wonder how many boys will sign up, then drop out?

I know my son and I both want to go pretty badly, although there isn't a whole lot of knowledge or experience I can bring, since I've never been an SM.

So does each Council decide for itself how it will fill its available slots? Like I said, I've asked our SE but he hasn't responded yet.

[wagionvigil]

For The World Jamboree there are usually sevaral councils that go together to for a troop. Eammon will be able to help with that information. Our current Lodeg Chief was the only scout from our council to attend the last WJ. He went with scouts from several other councils. But the 2007 at Gilwell Park may be a little easier to fill slots.

[Eamonn]

The Jamboree is not at Gilwell.
Gilwell Park is not big enough!!
The World Scout Jamboree 2007 will take place on over a thousand acres (400 hectares) of rolling English countryside, at Hylands Park, Chelmsford (in Essex). The site is a mixture of parkland, woodland, and farmland, and is 30 miles (50 kilometres) to the north-east of London, the capital of the United Kingdom.

The site is within an hour’s travel of central London, and has excellent, road, rail, air and sea connections – for example, it is within 1-2 hours travel of all London’s major airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and City).
The plan is to have all WJ participants visit Gilwell Park. There will also be a lot of activities at Brownsea Island

[Eamonn]

As yet there is no information.
We have no idea how many troops the USA will get.
The last I heard from the UK International Commissioner when we met in England they hope to get about 150,000 Scouts. That would be about 3,750 Troops and spread that between over 200 National Scout Organizations. Of course some of the poorer nations only send one small troop.
I don't know the size of other Regions or other Area Committees. Area 4 of the NE Region has 13 Councils. We don't have any of the big Metro Councils. I have my fingers crossed that we will get two troops!! But have been told that is very wishful thinking.
If we only get one there will only be one SM and 3 ASM spots.
Still all this is just idle talk until the real hard details come out on letter head from the BSA. Heck we might get 20 Troops and have a hard time filling them!! The truth is that we just don't know.

[wagionvigil]

Thanks Sir!!