It’s Steve here, just borrowing Dan’s blog for a moment.  I’m sitting on a train going to work as I write this, with a strong cup of coffee next to me, because at two o’clock this morning I was at Woodhouse Park to welcome home our Jamboree unit after nearly three weeks away on their adventure of a lifetime.

Everyone who came off the coach was tired, having had far less sleep over the last three weeks than they probably should have done.  They were happy to be seeing their parents and loved ones again. They were excited to tell us all about their adventures, and of course sad that it was over, and to be saying goodbye to the unit that they have trained with for the last 18 months, and lived with as a family through the last three incredible weeks.

Although I’m not personally part of the unit, it all brought back memories of my own jamboree experience eight years ago.  It was quite emotional even as a bystander to watch the reunions, thank yous and goodbyes, and to see just how close the unit have grown together, and what a profound and life changing experience the jamboree has been for them.

I can feel a lump in my throat sitting here on the train as I remember watching the young people, many in tears, queuing up to hug the unit leaders, and thank them for everything that they have done for them.  It will take some time for everything to sink in as they come back down to earth, but even last night there weren’t enough adjectives to explain just what the jamboree experience has meant.

For me, it brought home once again just what an amazing thing it is that we do every week, and what an impact we have on the lives of the young people we work with.  OK, so the experience and the emotions are more intense with a world jamboree, not to mention at two o’clock in the morning, but the experience that scouting has given to those 36 young people, and the way that it has changed their lives is reflected in our huts and halls for our 10,000 members all over Avon, and it is very special. Thank you.