The 22nd World Scout Jamboree will be taking place Sweden from 27th July to 7 August 2011.  The theme for the Jamboree is Simply Scouting and will provide a once in a lifetime experience to make friends with Scouts from all over the world and learn about global development. 

The unit will begin their adventures on Sunday 24th July when we travel to Copenhagen in Denmark  for a UK Contingent (over 3,000 strong) pre-jamboree experience.  We will stay in a large Hostel and spend two full days taking part in activities including visiting Tivoli Gardens.  The experience will finish with a party for all the UK Contingent before we head off to the Jamboree site on the 27th July.  On site we will be meeting with over 33,000 scouts from all around the world. You can have a look at the type of activities we will be experiencing on the Sweden 2011 website.    We will be in the Smogen subcamp (Summer Town).

When we leave the Jamboree site on the 7th August we will travel to Stockholm to catch a ferry to Helsinki for our HoHo experience. We will be hosted by Finnish families for 3 days and will be travelling back to the UK on the 11th August, ready to share our experiences!

May Camp

Isle of Wight and Hampshire scouts and explorers met for the first time at Corf on the early May Bank Holiday.  A brilliant time was had by all regardless of the cold and wet weather. The unit were put through their paces by Sarah Dawson with an hour's circuit training early Sunday morning which gave them the energy to fight against the tide on the water in the open canoes with Mr McAlister, Trevor, and Peter.  The camp fire became the focal point and the benches they built with Mike Turner as their pionneering challenge made it all the more social.  We also practised our Swedish culture with regular Fikka breaks (drinks and cake!)

July Camp

The weather although not tropical was warmer and not as wet!  Our new neckerchiefs and unit kit with allsorts logos really brought the unit together.  The crate stacking proved to be the biggest challenge and most memorable activity from the weekend along with the campfires and entertainment!  The Swedish menu was also a challenge for some especially those who aren't keen on fish but for others a real treat.  Friendships are already being established and plans being made for the next camp in November.

November Camp

The cold and ice was prominent on this camp. Although both explorers and leaders slept inside, a lot of the activities were done outside and layers of clothing were a must. Having said this, it pulled everyone together in their patrols. A hike around the New Forest was done extremely efficiently to escape the wind-chill. The wind-chill was also particularly evident on the zip wire. Although the sheer adrenline pushed all the explorers on.

The weekend featured a proper ‘black tie’ three-course meal, just the thing to get everyone talking and enjoying themselves together in finery. The UK Contingent Leader even made an appearance to wish us well and relay information from the top brass. Oh, and there was cake.

The Unit Leader for the IW & Hampshire Unit is Carol Pannell and Assistant Leaders are Paul & Claire Steen plus Richard Savage.  More information about the Jamboree and selection process can be found on the Hampshire Scouts website

22nd World Scout Jamboree: www.worldscoutjamboree.se