THE World Scout Jamboree is a large two-week long international camp, held once every four years in a different host country every time. The 21st World Scout Jamboree was held in 2007 in Hylands Park, Chelmsford, here in the UK.
The event, for 30,000 participants from across the world aged between 14 and 18 years, is run by adult volunteers who make up the International Service Team (IST).
I was lucky enough to have been selected to attend the Chelmsford camp as a participant with 35 others from Northamptonshire, my home county. I am now studying English and French at the University of Exeter and I live in the city during term-time.
As a result of my fantastic experiences in 2007 I applied in October to become a member of the IST for the 2011 Jamboree. I was invited to attend a selection event at the UK Scouting HQ at Gilwell Park, near London.
All hopeful applicants had to complete a number of tasks, while being watched and marked for a range of qualities, including our ability to listen to instructions, work with other people, and be generally enthusiastic.
The role each member of the IST plays at the Jamboree varies greatly, and we won't know ours until we arrive at the camp and are assigned to a work group of about ten people from across the world.
Our remit is Contribute, Develop, Inspire and we have to be ready to turn our hand to anything, with a smile at all times. Without volunteers on the organisational body these events just cannot run.
I had such a brilliant time as a participant in 2007 that it will be a privilege to be able to give something back. I also hope to use my French language skills; these will be honed by next summer after having worked in a French school for seven months from October this year as part of my degree course.
Although the experience as a member of IST will be different to that of a participant, I am really looking forward to the opportunity to meet new people from all over the world, and experience the atmosphere created during international events of this type.
One thing I vividly remember from 2007 was the feeling of sitting among 40,000 other people from across the world, without there being any tension of the political conflict or social discrimination that was happening simultaneously elsewhere in the world; with everyone united for one cause — the experience and opportunities that can arise from Scouting. It was something unique.
Never did I feel this more strongly than on August 1, when the whole site celebrated the centenary of scouting.
Chief scout Bear Grylls has explained some of the prospects in store for myself and other members of the IST. He said: "While lots of people know that Scouting is all about adventure, they often don't realise that adult volunteers get to do just as much as our young members through their involvement.
"The World Scout Jamboree is a great example of this. Over the course of the Jamboree they will be able to meet people from around the world, take part in amazing adventures and experiences and be challenged to think about global issues in a new light.
"I wish Jenny all the best and I know they are all going to have an amazing time next year."
I have been a member of both the Scout and Guide Associations. I was a Rainbow and a Brownie Guide between the ages of 5 and 10. After a break of 4 years I became an Explorer Scout. It was during my time as an Explorer Scout that I became more involved in the association, participating in many exciting activities with my unit, but also training to become a Young Leader with a local Beaver Scout Colony.
It was through my involvement with Explorers that I found out about the Jamboree. I am now a member of the Scouting Network for 18 to 25-year-olds.
There are over 200 activities offered by scouting around the UK and it is the largest co-educational youth movement in the country. One of the challenges that the Scout Association faces is finding more volunteers to plug the current gap; at present there are more than 33,000 young people on waiting lists.
Over the years the stereotypical image of scouting as a boring and unfashionable pastime has developed, but this is completely not the case.
The movement is vibrant and thriving and has been a valuable part of my childhood.
More information about Scouting can be found at http://scouts.org.uk
Artical Published thisisexeter.co.uk