Credits

Taking a contingent of 79 scouts to a World Scout Jamboree requires a lot of work both before and during the event. We have a long list of people we owe our thanks to.

We need to start with the backbone of the Jamboree Planning Team - Josephine Gatt - who despite not being able to join us for the event, has worked tirelessly and selflessly to sort out the finances and administration (and a lot more). Without her we wouldn't even have registered for the event.

Many members of staff at Island Headquarters have supported us in many ways - Leslie Bonnici, Pat Marsh, Robert Gonzi, Mark Pizzuto, David Darmanin and Joe Zerafa are the obvious ones that come to mind. Without their support we wouldn't have even have gotten close to the airport.

The Contingent Management Team - Emanuel Grech, Paul Galea, Claudette Magro and Mark O'Neill were instrumental in running the Contingent Headquarters at the Jamboree and provided me with a solid team of people I could trust to make things happen. Without them I doubt if we would even have had tents in Sweden...

The Troop Leaders of Troop 1 - Timmy Cutugno, James Spiteri, Nicola Portelli and Darren Mercieca and of Troop 2 - Ian Fenech and Edith Camilleri had the tough job of keeping our members organised, fed, groomed, unlost, sane, entertained, safe and mostly dry during the Jamboree. They had a tough job to do and they performed it admirably. Without them I would probably be arrested somewhere... and a couple of scouts might be in a container on the way to Brazil.

All the members of the International Service Team came up to the Jamboree and worked long and sometimes difficult shifts to provide the manpower to make things work on site. I had the pleasure of sharing the campsite and dining quarters with them and their energy and fun-loving spirit kept us going. Without them and the other ISTs we would have had no food, toilets, media relations, activities, and all the other services required to run a town of 40,000 people.

Finally I would like to thank the participants for being themselves and for enjoying the Jamboree experience with us. Maybe one day you will take our places and help some other crazy scouts camp in a foreign field abroad for two weeks with another 40,000 people. Without you I would have lower blood pressure, a relaxing summer holiday and no blisters on my feet  :-)

Yours in Scouting,

Kevin Camilleri
International Commissioner

Off the plane

Regards,
Kevin

We're back !

Regards,
Kevin

Flight is delayed

The flight to Malta is delayed by about an hour...

Regards,
Kevin

We're in Frankfurt

The flight from Copenhagen was short but nearly everyone slept through it.

Our flight to Malta starts boarding at 9 so we let the kids explore the area a bit before meeting up again.

Next stop... Home !

Regards,
Kevin

Waiting for our flight at Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen.

Regards,
Kevin

The last sunset at the Jamboree site.

We are packed and ready to go.

Everyone has enjoyed the last few hours of sunshine on the site and we just had a security briefing to make sure hand luggage only contains allowed items.

Be advised that I encountered quite a few interesting items in your kids' handluggage - including a crocodile, an infocenter sign, a box of lightbulbs and a couple of sombreros... Checkin at CPH is going to be interesting :)

Our homeward journey begins in a couple of hours.

Regards,
Kevin

We're waiting

The weather finally cleared and most of the campsite is practically empty.

We are waiting to check out of the jamboree site at about 22:30.

Everybody is tired but happy... And looking forward to coming home.

Regards,
Kevin

An update from the Jamboree Campsite

The weather has not been nice with us and keeping dry is starting to become very difficult.

The IST campsite has been cleared out and the Malta Contingent Headquarters has been dismantled, packed into the shipping crates and wrapped in plastic.

Both Troops have almost finished taking down their tents and the team is helping them pack the equipment crates and prepare them for shipping.

We managed to change our departure time from the site to Copenhagen Airport to 22:30, giving us less time in the wet and more at the airport where we can change and dry off.

Despite the weather, there is an impressive stock of food to keep us going until we get to civilisation.  Bad weather we can handle - but we're Maltese - so forget leaving us hungry ! Food also helps keep the morale high so I'm not complaining.

I have been advised that the internet connection at the campsite from now on might get spotty - so updates from us may not be as frequent.

Regards,
Kevin

Striking camp

Packing up go home after camp is always a special occasion and a jamboree this is no exception.
The weather is wet and grey but the participants are working with a quiet determination to strike camp and clear up the campsite.
Our buses are sceduled to collect us from the campsite at around midnight so we are working on the logistics of where to keep our kits in a dry place until then.
Early this morning ISTs Paul, Josmar, Stephen and Mark went to the Jamboree shop to acquire some of the dining shelters for the Association. They deserve an award just for getting out of their sleeping bags and braving the heavy rain !
There is a lull in the downfall right now and we are taking advantage of it to pack our kit and take down the tents.
Will update you later

Regards,
Kevin

A wet ending to an amazing show

As I write this blog entry from my tent, the rain is pounding the campsite and lightning is flashing all around us. The Jamboree started with rain and it seems that it will end with rain as well.

Tomorrow morning the troops will dismantle their campsites and prepare the pallets of equipment for shipping. We'll do our best to keep everything dry but we'll see how helpful the weather will be on this point.

On a more positive note the closing ceremony was amazing and even thought it rained for most of it, the atmosphere was incredible. The highlight for people of my generation was definitely the legendary rock group Europe singing 'The Final Countdown' at full blast. The King of Sweden also made a very energetic appearance and the 3D fireworks display that ended the show was top notch. The kids were highly energised after the ceremony and I hope they get a good night's sleep - we are all going to need it tomorrow.

Goodnight

Kevin

The jamboree closing ceremony ends with a spectacular 3D fireworks display

Regards,
Kevin

The jamboree song

Regards,
Kevin

Live performance of rock legends EUROPE at Jamboree closing ceremony !

Regards,
Kevin

Live from the 22nd World Scout Jamboree closing ceremony

Regards,
Kevin

On the way to the closing ceremony

Regards,
Kevin

Early morning in the main street

This morning the main street is empty.

Whilst walking down from adult town we could smell bacon and sausages being cooked as the troops began to stir.

We're in the queue for an english breakfast from the irish food house... We figured we need the energy for the last full day of activities at the jamboree.

Regards,
Kevin

The end is near

This evening we had dinner with Troop 2. From the outset is was obvious that these guys are organised and know how to cook.

Under the tireless supervision of Edith, they prepared hot dogs, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and fruit salad with custard. The other patrol dug a trench for waste water, washed the pots and pans and cut wood for the campfire.

At its most basic level, a jamboree is half cultural festival and half a survival game where you need to adapt according to the resources you have available.

We may not have the fanciest equipment or the most resources as a contingent, but when it comes to adaptation and survival, few contingents come close. The picture shows the troop proudly showing off their Friendship award.

I left Troop 2 with a smile as one of the scouts from Monaco - the neighbouring troop - came to ask if we had any leftover food for him. Evidently he prefers our cuisine to his own.

Tomorrow is the last official day at the jamboree and the big event will be the closing ceremony.

The end of the adventure is near.

Goodnight


Regards,
Kevin

Troop 2 lighting the campfire

Regards,
Kevin

Joseph tal-water services

Regards,
Kevin

Having dinner with Troop 2

These guys are really organised and they can cook !

Regards,
Kevin

While Michaela sorts out her badges

Regards,
Kevin

Looks like rice for dinner...

Regards,
Kevin

Onions make them emotional

Regards,
Kevin

Peter and Emma making tea

Regards,
Kevin

Keith and Jason preparing to build the campfire

Regards,
Kevin

Troop 2 are hungry !

Regards,
Kevin

Tracy and Paul stoking the fire

Regards,
Kevin

Troop 1 cooking their Dinner

Kurt and Emma cooking dinner

Regards,
Kevin

From Rinkaby to You (Part 2)

Recycling needs concentration


Sub Camp Main Area


the Rinkaby sky line


There are those who cook and then there are those who wait...

From Rinkaby to You (Part 1)

Dinner Time

Troop's Creativity


Simply Maltese!


On our way to the Cultural Festival


Malti u Kburi!

Lunchtime at the IST hall

Regards,
Kevin

A Green Jamboree

With 39 000 Scouts living at the Jamboree and hundreds of daily visitors, keeping an event of this size 'green' is no easy feat. The Sustainability Team at the Jamboree has been working hard to encoruage recycling, reduce waste and reuse materials whenever possible. Decisions were being made right down to what type of soap to use in order to limit the Jamborees impact the environment.

Under the guidance of the Sustainability Policy Document, every team contributing to the Jamboree has fully embraced the Green Agenda. For example, by carefully choosing what equipment they use, the Arena Events team has saved two thirds of the energy they originally planned to use. The charging stations have also joined in by setting up bikes which when peddled can be used to charge phones!

It is not just the planning teams which have done their bit for the environment. Every unit has been issued with separate recycling bins to recycle their rubbish. Each and every time these bins get emptied into one of the four recycling centres we help sustain the world we live in for generations to come.

All this effort has been recognised by Keep Sweden Tidy, a non profit organisation which aims to do exactly that. They have presented the Jamboree with the Eco Award for its efforts.



Taking 'Green' to a whole new level with some essential Restroom reading :)

This morning at the Global Development Village

Troop 1 this morning was given the opportunity to stand up and be counted! In the Global Development Village scouts are encouraged to find their voice, gather tools and meet other scouts from all parts of the globe with whom to make a real difference. Workshops in the GDV vary from entrapreneurship, human rights, environment and sustainability, and health, to peace, and information and communication technologies for development.

Friendship Bracelets

They might be better off buying them instead...

Sacrificing the night for tomorrow's dinner @ camp in camp

The guys had to sacrifise the night for tomorrow's camp in camp dinner since we will be having no refrigerators during the day.

Preparing for the camp in camp

Sara and her new Pokemon :D

A participant shares her experience of a day at the Jamboree

Good morning from the jamboree campsite

Regards,
Kevin

Sunset on another day at the jamboree

As I write this the sunlight is now fading (its past 10pm) and dark clouds loom nearby.

Troop 1 are offsite in a forest somewhere doing the 'camp in camp' activity hosted by a Swedish scout group. Troop 2 will be doing this activity tomorrow.
Those ISTs that are not on duty are down at the main square taking some time off.

By now the physical strain of all the walking we need to do on this big site is starting to take its toll, especially on the leaders. Morale is high but energy levels are starting to drop.

As the kids are enjoying their time here, the team is starting to work on the logistics of how to get 79 people, a pile of luggage and three pallets of equipment (four if Sabrina doesn't stop shopping!) back to Malta.

Goodnight.

Regards,
Kevin

Camp in camp

Tomrrow morning @ 8:55am the busses will be picking troop 2 up to go to the camp in camp. This is an experience we are all looking very forward too as we will be seeing what a typical swedish group camp spirit is all about and sleeping over night in a site outside the jamboree one :D can't wait for tomorrow.

Troop 2 Cooking

Tonight its gonna be cuscus with meat. Btw the sub camp leader is going to dine with us so lets hope all goes well. lolol