Do you like adventure?
Do you want to go camping?
Do you want to travel to different countries around the world?
Do you want to make friends from different cultures and nationalities?
Then you should give Scout Jamborees a try. Wondering why?
In this blog, I will take you through the alleys of the world of scouts and give you exposure to the latest World Scout Jamboree so that all your queries get satisfied in a proper manner.
So, let’s begin!
What is scouting?
Scouting is a global youth organization that offers training in collaboration, leadership, survival skills, and first aid. The Scout uniform represents equality and bridges societal gaps. During times of domestic or international crisis, scouts prioritize discipline, community service, social responsibility, and volunteer work.
It’s adventurous for youths as it focuses on outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and sports, while also providing informal education through the Scout method. You can easily identify scouts by their distinctive neckerchiefs.
What is a Scout Jamboree?
As per the World Scout website, “The World Scout Jamboree is one of the largest outdoor educational events for youth on the planet!”
The World Scout Jamboree is a highly regarded international event held every four years by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. It brings together Scouts from 172 member states and serves as a platform for cultural exchange, fostering friendship, adventure, and personal growth. The event encourages participants to embrace Scouting principles, engage in community service, and develop leadership skills through a variety of educational, recreational, and outdoor activities.
Who Attends the World Scout Jamboree?
Scouts between the ages of 14 and 17, who are part of National Scout Organizations affiliated with the World Scout Organization, have the opportunity to participate in a Scout jamboree. In our country, Bangladesh Scouts send approved groups of scouts along with adult unit leaders and adult International Service Team members in the Jamboree.
25th World Scout Jamboree 2023:
This year the Korean Scout Association got the chance to host one of the largest outdoor educational events for youth on the planet!
The 25th World Scout Jamboree was held in Saemangeum, South Korea from 1 to 12 August 2023. The theme of this year’s jamboree was “Draw Your Dream.” Around 43,000 teenagers from 170 countries had come together to celebrate their great cause to transform the world. More than 700 Bangladeshi scouts participated in Jamboree 2023.
Around 180 kilometers south of Sеoul, at thе Jamboree campground, the opening ceremony featured welcome and opening remarks from Korean dignitariеs, British survivalist Bеar Grylls, musical performances by thе Korean orchestra, as well as a light show display created by 500 dronеs.
During the program, the campsite scouts had to stay in tents under the open sky. Scouts got the chance to meet scouts from different parts of the world, get to know their culture and swap things as a lifetime memory. Scouts mostly get to experience Korean culture: they have the opportunity to eat Kimchi, wear Korean national dress (Hanbok), and visit various cultural and national places in Korea.
On most nights, there were cultural programs hosted by scouts from different countries. On ‘Bangladesh Day’ our Honorable Education Minister Dipu Moni was present to encourage and uplift the young scouts.
However, this year scouts had to face an approaching typhoon and extreme heat, which sickened hundreds of scouts and somewhat hampered their learning and enjoyment. However, the Korean government tried to make up for this by arranging extra dormitories for staying, arranging AC Buses in the campsite, and giving many cold towels, water, battery fans, etc.
At the closing ceremony, star-studded K-pop performances were staged for the Scouts by South Korea, which surely gave them a fantastic sendoff at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium. By learning from each other’s experiences, attendees enhanced their global citizenship and promoted peace and understanding among diverse cultures.
If you are a scout and want to experience such an incredible journey, the next World Scout Jamboree is going to take place in Poland in 2027. So, get set and be ready!
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Writer,
Sumaiya Islam Sonali
Intern
Content Writing Department
YSSE