Scout Jamboree on the Internet

[King Kurt]

Bit of a long shot , but my son is taking part in the International Scout Jamboree on the Internet this weekend and I wondered if any fellow orgahs or their children were taking part as well.

I gather that it is a "Scout only" website with a messenger board for chat between Scouts all over the world. I thought it would be nice if they could get in touch with a lead provided through this forum. I have made friends all over the world through these boards so it would be nice to pass that on. I don't know the details of how it all works, but it would be nice to have a go.

If you are interested send me a PM and we could exchange details etc.

[Csargo]

I've never heard of this before. I've been involved with scouts since I was a kid.

[Yoyoma1910]

I went to the 1995 Jamboree in Holland. It was great!


But I don't know about an internet version... seems kind of weak. No offense intended at all. It's not like everyone in the world speaks one language. Part of the joy of the experience is learning how to communicate with people of different languages and cultures. As well as the exciting activities you get to participate in.

[King Kurt]

I don't really know a great deal - my lad brought home a note from this week's meeting. Apparently it all used to be done on short wave radio!! I think the Internet version has been going for a few years, but this is the first time our local troop has done it.

On a wider note, I must say my lad really enjoys Scouts etc. He has been doing it from the age of 5 when he used to come along to the Beavers where I was helping out. He had a great time as a Beaver and a Cub and has just gone up to Scouts. Here on the isle of Wight we are lucky in that on the Island is a dedicated permanent Scout Camp in a large area of woodland. There are dormitories, kitchens, toilet facilities etc as well as loads of camp sites, so my lad has been on several camping trips. Our local troop are based in the village and have an excellent Scout Hut which doubles up as a youth Hostel in the summer. With countryside and coast all around they spend a lot of time outside which is good as well.

I will feed back on the event next week. Yoyoma - you have a point about meeting face to face - it is the best option. However this seems a good alternative. Through these boards I have made friends all round the world, so I like the idea of my son - who like all 10 year olds is a computer fanatic - meeting people from other countries thru the net.

[Sigurd]

So ... instead of going out into the wild, sleeping under an open sky while being eaten alive by mossies and/or wrestling bears, the scouts can sit comfy in their parent's living room and chat on a laptop??
My two star eagle scout distinction are weeping in the closet.

How can anyone become an European champion rock thrower sitting in the couch at home? :mean:

:smartass2:

[King Kurt]

To be fair - my 10 year old still does all the outdoors stuff - although bears are in short supply on the Isle of Wight, but we do have savage red squirrels!!!!!!!! He has been rained on, flooded out of camp on one occasion and always comes home tired and dirty - so he must be doing something right!!!
As Scouts is mixed sex now in a few years time he might be wrestling with more than bears!!!

[King Kurt]

Just a quick update - my lad went on line on Saturday and chatted with Scouts in Belgium, Malta, Pakistan and Scotland. The system worked well and he had a fun couple of hours. He now needs to do a bit of research about one of the troops he contacted and he gets - in true Scout tradition - a badge. Sure beats whittling!!:laugh4:

[Kralizec]

I've never heard of this before. I've been involved with scouts since I was a kid.

Ditto.