In 1920, at the first World Jamboree at Olympia, London, Baden-Powell said:
"People give different meanings for this word, but from this year on, Jamboree will take a specific meaning. It will be associated to the largest gathering of youth that ever took place."
Every Jamboree since, Local, National & International has proven this definition correct ... with a large gathering of youth attending each one. VicJam was no different. With over 5,000 Scouts destined for Elmore our 1st Ballan Scouts excitedly boarded the bus ready to go. Along the way they made friends with Scouts from Norlane West, Bacchus Marsh and 1st Moonee Ponds / 17th Essendon and together they formed VicJam Unit 202. Once the Scouts had established the camp, it was time to explore the large Jamboree Site and become familiar with their new home.
Settling in on the first night the Scouts knew they were in for a hot, dusty & windy time of their lives ....
With our Unit gear already onsite, after unloading the bus the Scouts took on the task of establishing camp. Utilising gear from all of the groups a plan was put in place and the Scouts worked together to pitch tents, set up a Q-store, kitchen, dining area, wash up area and waste area before finally sitting down to celebrate their arrival and review the Unit Code of Conduct before heading off in all directions.
Unit 202's Scouts were ready to enjoy VicJam
All Jamboree's are started with an Opening Ceremony and VicJam's was no disappointment. With the Arena close by, our Scouts drifted over to the Arena Site ready to celebrate their journey that brought them to Elmore and super size their energy ready for the experience of a lifetime. With thousands of Scouts all in the one place the Opening Ceremony was an entertaining beginning to the Jamboree that only became more impressive with fireworks display at the end.
Our Scouts very easily settled into Jamboree Life and living at the campsite was great fun. Each day all the Unit 202 Scouts found a variety of ways to entertain themselves, strengthen friendships, cool off in the Elmore heat, cater for the entire Unit in their Patrols and simply enjoy the experience that is a Jamboree. While at home in the campsite the Scouts enjoyed welcoming a variety of visitors from all over the Jamboree Site, some washed their clothes and during one evening the Scouts spontaneously danced throughout the campsite.
Another consistent element among Jamboree's is the weather and throughout VicJam everyone experienced heat, wind, heat, hail, heat, rain, heat and comfortable evenings where the temperature was slightly better than bareable.
With the memory of the Opening Ceremony still fresh in everyone's minds, the Scouts headed over to the Arena once again wondering how the New Year's Eve Party could be better ... and it certainly was. A concert that bought everyone to their feet and increased the levels of dust hovering over the entire Jamboree Site concluding with a bigger, better, louder, longer and more impressive fireworks display that impressed everyone.
With Unit 202's campsite so close to the Arena, the fireworks even looked impressive over the top of the campsite.
The beginning of the New Year signified the beginning of Jamboree activities with Unit 202 being split up and travelling across the State of Victoria. One group headed to the Murray River to ski, another onto the Goulburn River to paddle and a third group travelled by train to Melbourne to explore the city for a day before sleeping outdoors on a basketball court at an inner city secondary school. During the second day, the Scouts travelled back from Melbourne to Bendigo where they had fun discovering Bendigo and learning about it's history.
One Scout in particular returned from the expedition equipped with a new name after fully understanding the consequences of forgetting your Wide Brim Hat & Sunnies when you go out & about with Scouts!!!
Returning to Elmore after their Statewide expeditions the Scouts all returned with stories to tell, adventures to relive and .... a campsite to rebuild!!! While away from their campsite and camping across the State an isolated storm bit the Jamboree Site in Elmore and flattened selected VicJam campsites ... including Unit 202's campsite.
Upon discovering our annihilated campsite, what did our Scouts do ... they rolled up their sleeves, supported each other and rebuilt their campsite before relaxing, catching up with each other and sharing their overnight expedition adventures together.
Every Jamboree Site includes onsite activities and while living at Elmore our Scouts enjoyed participating in all the onsite activities, learning from each other, working together to achieve and simply having fun.
With activities and experiences including:-
- Discovering Scout Pioneering possibilities
- Archery
- Hatchet Throwing
- Laser Tag & Splatball
- Further developing Tech Skills
- Experiencing a Mud Run
- Enjoying Vertical World where Scouts can climb, abseil, fly, crawl and tangle together
there was something to keep every Scout active, busy, and engaged in Jamboree Life.
Each evening the Arena provided a variety of entertainment for all the Scouts attending VicJam with a very popular evening being when the professional Air Time FMX Riders put their skills on display and flew through the air from ramp to ramp. It was great, and the Scouts enjoyed it with two Scouts in particular claiming that they could do exactly the same and possibly even better on their mountain bikes!!!!
Along with onsite activities and expeditions, VicJam also offered Scouts the opportunity to travel throughout Victoria to enjoy daily activities and regional experiences. Throughout their Jamboree experience our Scouts thoroughly enjoyed:-
- Riding along the O'Keefe Rail Trail ... a well known trail to the 1st Ballan Scouts who participated in an Explorer Expedition a few years ago
- Discovering Echuca
- Especially the Lolly Shop, Chocolate Shop, Ice Cream Shop and the Local Paddlesteamer Pevensey
- Swimming, spinning, splashing and diving at Funfields
- Riding through the local forest surrounding the Koolamurt Scout Camp in Bendigo
- Geocaching in Bendigo where the Scouts found a Police Officer
- Rockclimbing
- Paddling, sliding and slipping along and beyond the banks of Lake Nagambie
After an awesome Jamboree experience the Scouts accepted that all things must come to an end, and returned to the Arena as a Unit 202 Family who had experienced fun, laughter, friendship, adventure, challenge, and amazing experiences together as well as surviving dust, wind, dust, tears, dust, storms, dust, hail, dust, heat, dust, rain and dust through one of the most amazing experiences Scouting can offer a youth member.
While enjoying the Closing Ceremony, there was one Unit 202 surprise left for everyone to enjoy ... suddenly one of our Patrol Leaders appeared on the big screen and eloquently spoke about the experience of Jamboree and personally thanked the Unit 202 Leaders for all their work, effort, perseverance, guidance and direction.
It was the perfect way to finish Unit 202's VicJam experience.
