SCOUT EXECUTIVE -JAMBOREE JOURNEY
Life, the Universe and Everything Jamboree!
Final Jamboree Blog Post From Blog HQ in Birmingham!July 30, 2017
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| Sampling of my Jamboree Swag |
As I am now safe and sound, reintegrating into society, getting use to air conditioner and a king size bed, I am grateful for the wonderful experience I had at the 2017 Jamboree. I wanted to share a few random thoughts and photo's.
Jamboree Tips and Lessons Learned (mainly so I want forget if I staff the next Jamboree)
- Be prepared for lots of dust, I mean a lot of dust, moon landing type dust, I guess on the flip side, if it rains a lot, be prepared for lots of mud!
- Outdoor solar lights, like the type you buy for your yard at Home Depot, are a great idea to set up on your tent, after a while the 1000+ tents in Base Camp Echo start looking alike, Thank you Michael Ramsey for that addition to our tent!
- Study how to set up the Jamboree cots before you arrive, it is not that hard, but if you have not read the instructions or watched a video, it can be a little frustrating. Here is a link to the cot manufacturer, several videos and info can be found there: Disco Bed Cots and here is the youtube link on how to put together: Disco Bed Cot Instructional Video
- Purchase a cot organizer that attaches to your cot and serves as a place to store things, here is a example that can be purchased at Cabelas, Cot Nightstand Organizer, thanks Scott Scheffler for the tip!.
- Be prepared for the tent temperatures during the day to get very high, so things that will melt, like my gummy vitamins, will not survive.
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| Melted Gummy Vitamins |
- Do not expect access too much ice, so get it whenever you can, it will be a scarce commodity.
- There are lots of charging areas, but if you do not have access at your work site you will have a tough time getting a charge, so yes, solar chargers can be helpful, I was fortunate we had lots of charging options at the media tent, so I never had to use my solar charger. I would grab a charge whenever I had time, that including driving, I drove a van usually everyday, so if you have access to a vehicle of any kind, bring a car charger, I did not, but many of my fellow staff members did, so I was able to charge in the van everyday.
Some Funny Things Observed, Experienced or Overheard at the Jamboree:
- One reporter, will not mention who or what station, was stating what a great organization the BSA was and how he would only report that Parents should sign their kids up, or something to that effect, another young reporter, rolled her eyes and said, "that is very journalistic of you"
- In line getting your lunch each morning, after about day 3 they started limiting your protein choice to one protein a day, for some reason the Protein guards took their job a little too seriously!
- When you went to the trading post, they always gave you a big red bucket to put your stuff in, I was only going in to get one patch, so as I was going through I told the guy I was just getting one patch so did not need a bucket, I was informed that I was required to take a bucket, he was very serious and very strict, so I took my bucket, got my one patch and turned in my bucket (I guess it cuts back on shoplifting?, or makes you buy more?
- While at lunch with my board, I was informed I would have to leave the area because I did not have a ticket, I explained I was not eating, but was with my board members and brought my Jambo lunch with me, I was still told to leave...Thanks to the VIP team who corrected this issue for later visits. (I did not leave the tent, I was able to convince staff I would not steal food : )
- Asked of me by a Stadium Staff guy, "Where did you get that (pointing to the green bracelet I was wearing) I responded, "They gave one to all of our team members" Follow up question, "what did they tell you when they gave it to you?" Response by me, "nothing" response, a grunt, exasperated expression...(not sure what that was all about, but I am sure there must be a back story)
Before I go a few words about this Blog
I typically blog my Scouting adventures through my Twitter account, @ScoutExecutive, but since I have had this blog set up for several years, I thought I would take it out of the mothballs and use it as mainly a way to share with my wife Ginger and daughter Lydia, the daily adventures of a Jamboree, and it would also serve as a way to keep somewhat of a diary of my experience. So I posted it on my twitter feed, on Facebook etc. It seems that lots of folks saw my posts, and for those of you that did so and shared with me your thoughts, Thank you, I appreciated your kind comments. Apparently my post about the President's visit went somewhat viral (see graph below) it was then that I realized that I had the comment section turned on, and folks started going at it. I started deleting some of the more rude and somewhat hateful comments, then I got more comments from those whose apparently feelings were hurt that I deleted their comments, sorry abut that, I did not mean to hurt anyones feelings, my blog, my rules. So I simply turned off the comments sections. This was never intended to be the type of blog to discuss the events or the day, merely a way I could record my observations, thoughts and feelings. I will continue to post my Scouting adventures, as I serve the Scouts, Scouters, donors and friends of the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America. In no way does this blog represent the views or opinions of the BSA, these observations and thoughts are mine, and mine alone. It is a real honor to have served Scouting for 30 years as a Professional Scouter, and I look forward to my next adventure!
