World Scout Jamboree 2023 An adventure of a lifetime

We can not say how proud we are of all the participants from Australia who had to deal with rain and floods, heat wave conditions and finally be evacuated due to a typhoon – only the second World Scout Jamboree to be evacuated, the first being Japan in 1971. Everyone dealt with adversity with amazing resilience and fortitude. They put all the skills learnt through Scouting into practice and showed that they could still have a great time.

We would like to acknowledge all the adult Leaders and Rover Scouts who put in everything to ensure that the Youth had a great time:

• The International Service Team who did an amazing job ensuring that the Jamboree ran smoothly (as smooth as they could!) – they are the unsung heroes of the Jamboree!
• The Line Leaders who spent every waking hour working with the youth, encouraging them, cajoling them, crying with them and laughing with them.
• Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Contingent Management Team, who not only spent three years planning for an event that basically never happened but they dealt with issue after issue and then on top of all that planned an evacuation in 48 hours, reworked a programme for our youth for the remaining days in Incheon, as well a completely reworking the Post Jamboree Tour.

Megan, a Venturer Scout from NSW shared some of her great Jamboree experiences below:

” On cultural day which was definitely lots of fun, it was so much fun being able to go and see other people’s cultures and try their foods and then share our Aussie culture with them. Watching people’s reactions to trying Vegemite was definitely one of my favourite things from the whole Jamboree. “

” It felt surreal being in such an environment with so many people from so many different countries…I met so many people including a Scout from Germany who I have now become very close friends with. I met people from UK (Scotland and England), USA, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Indonesia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and many more countries. In the afternoon we had some Scottish Scouts come to our camp and ask us if we wanted to swap badges or scarves and one of the boys from our Unit ended up trading his stretcher for a kilt. “

” Despite the unprecedented weather, the uncertainty of what comes next, we worked as a Unit to face the constant challenges being handed to us and made the most of what we had access to, and made some unforgettable memories. I got to meet people from all around the world, made lifelong friendships, got to experience so many new and exciting cultures, and had the time of my life.”

” I strongly recommend everyone to attend a World Jamboree if they are able to, you never know what is going to be handed to you or the life time experience you will never forget” – Megan

This event was the first time Australia has established and hosted an Australian Food House at the World Scout Jamboree. Along with 22 other countries, they created their own Food Houses to showcase the unique food and culture of Australia.

The Food House Team comprised 45 Australian Contingent members, who worked more than 3832 hours (14 days) before evacuation. During their 8 days of operation as a Food House, the dedicated team sold more than 753 Pies & Party Pies, 463 Sausage Sizzles, 110 Vegemite Sandwiches and 387 Fairy Bread packages. The most popular item of all outnumbered all of these items combined with the team selling an impressive 1784 Hamburgers!

Many thanks to Brad and the rest of the Food House Team for all your hard work and support! This team quite literally helped build the event that the rest of the Australian Contingent was able to experience, as they were some of the first on site, and some of the last to leave!

We are all looking forward to having an Australian Food House at future events.

Poland will be the host of the next World Scout Jamboree in 2027. This event is already well in the planning and they have already held a test run with EuroJam. We cannot wait to meet many of our youth from this Jamboree at Poland – we will all laugh at how easy it is after the trials and tribulations of WSJ2023!