In my second blog post while Dan is away, I take a look at the forthcoming World Scout Jamboree. Read more and "Join in Jamboree" with your Section.

In just a few weeks time, 36 Explorer Scouts (and one purple dinosaur) from Avon will be setting off on the Scouting adventure of a lifetime.  The 22^nd World Scout Jamboree will be opening its doors in Rinkaby, Sweden to 38,000 scouts from across the globe, and Avon will be there.

I went to the 20^th Jamboree in Thailand as a Unit Leader with 36 Explorers from Greater Manchester East, where I lived at the time.  We were away for just over three weeks, including over Christmas and New Year, and I can honestly say that I have never worked so hard for three weeks as I did then, but I can also say that the experience was incredible, and I’d do it again in an instant.

Those of who who’ve been lucky enough to attend one will know that being at a Jamboree brings together and concentrates all the things that we love about scouting.  Of course to travel through several countries with a group of mates is a massive adventure, and really challenges and brings out the best in the young people that we work with.  Sharing a site with scouts from all over the world makes you realise that while you may not share or fully understand each others’ culture, and you may not speak the same language, there is far more that binds us together than pulls us apart.  As scouts we all share the values of friendship, trust and mutual respect that BP set out in the Scout Laws so long ago.  When you are surrounded by 38,000 others who share that with you, you really understand just what an amazing thing it is that we do in our halls, huts and campsites every day of every week, and just what power we have to change the world one person at a time.

To those from Avon who’ll be setting off on that adventure in a few weeks, I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.  Be proud, represent us well, and bring back your memories and experiences.  For the majority of us who won’t be in Sweden, don’t forget that we can still embody the values of the Jamboree, and the power of world scouting through everything we do in our day to day scouting.

My final word is to the group of leaders who’ve been working with the unit for the last couple of years, and who will be sharing the jamboree experience with them.  I know from experience how hard you have all worked, and that there is more hard work to come.  I know that you have faced some huge challenges along the way, and I know that you will overcome them.  Thanks to the work that all of you have done as a team, our unit will have the adventure of a lifetime.  Thank you.

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Steve Smith - Deputy County Commissioner (Operations)