The 1st Bryanston Scout Group flew the South African flag high at the recent 24th World Scout Jamboree hosted in West Virginia in the United States of America. The Bryanston based Scout group was represented by three of their senior Scouts and three adult leaders.
The Scouts arrived in the United States a week before the start of the Jamboree showpiece as they toured the New York City and Washington DC before making their way to the Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve where the Jamboree was held.
World Jamborees are held every four years in a different country and provide an opportunity for the world’s youth to meet each other and learn about each other’s culture, beliefs and way of life. The very first Jamboree was held in Olympia, London in 1920 and with only an interruption caused by the Second World War, have continued ever since.
The 143 Scouts and adult leaders making up the South African Contingent, were joined by more than 4 000 Scouts from 152 countries to experience 12 days of camping and adventure at the Jamboree site. The theme for this Jamboree was to unlock a new world and challenged the Scouts to think about and engage with some of the key societal issues facing the planet.
In addition to meeting people, making new friends and exchanging stories and experiences, the Scouts also participated in a wide variety of adventurous outdoor activities. These included archery, BMX riding, kayaking, mountain biking, river rafting, rock climbing, scuba diving, shooting, skateboarding and stand-up paddleboarding.
The Scouts also took part in the Big Zip, a five parallel zip lines challenge which was singled out as the best activity, where Scouts could soar over the Jamboree site on one of the longest zip line courses in North America.
The South African contingent also featured prominently during the Jamboree opening ceremony, appearing on stage with entertainer Lebohang Morake, singing and dancing. The event demonstrated the size and scale of the worldwide scout movement and the values it stands for.
The next World Jamboree takes place in Saemangeum, South Korea in 2023.
Related article:
https://staging.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/210554/bryanston-scout-group-celebrates-60th-anniversary/
https://staging.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/220805/apologies/
