Visiting the Jamboree

[NEPAScouter]

My unit recently received an invitation from an alumnus to camp on his property near A.P. Hill during the Jamboree. Naturally, we're curious about visiting the Jamboree. Does anyone on the forum have experience with this from earlier Jamborees?

 

I want our scouts to know what to expect if they decide to go on this camping trip. We understand that it will not be the same experience as if the youth or adults were official Jamboree participants, but how different will it be? Would it be like going to a summer camp for a day and seeing scouts doing all sorts of fun things, but you can only watch them? I certainly expect activities like COPE would be out of bounds for visitors, but are there any activities in which visitors are allowed to participate?

[prairie]

Same thing only diffrent, both my sisters live in th Arrlington VA area, I want to visit the Jamboree for a day or two, don't know if I will be alone or in a tiny group of Scouts/Scouters. Questions range from what would I be able to do to will they even let me in, the few who have been to a jamboree couldn't help me on this, they had all beem offical particapints or staff.

[scoutldr]

I last "visited" a Jambo in 1995, and it was just like that. About the only thing you could "participate" in as a visitor was the trading post and geedunk stands. Understandable, since we did not pay the registration fee and therefore have no right to "participate". Walk around and look. For this 2010 Jambo, I plan to stay away...thousands more people than normal, parking issues, tight security...no thanks. Others may have other opinions.

[nldscout]

Its a great place to take a group to visit, but do not expect to participate in 95% of the activities as you need a participants ID badge to do that. Still there is lots to see and visit for a day or so.

[prairie]

As an adult I figure 90% of the activites are not for me to do anyway, the Jamboree is for boys, not geezers like me who sometimes forget how old they are.

[mikecummings157]

I'm a 1st ASM with one of our council contingent troops and this question came up, as some troops in the area were talking about visiting rather than participating. The answer I got was visitors could see an arena show and the static displays, but that's it. All of the activities are reserved for the paid participants.

[CD_Ranger]

Information from the national Jambo site: http://www.bsajamboree.org/visitor.html

[CubScoutJo]

We visited the 2005 Jamboree on the day of the Arena Show (the rescheduled one, not the one where many were dehydrated). We went as a family, not as a troop, and our two boys were able to do some of the things that were put on by outside entities. Things I remember was a rescue tent by the Coast Guard and a flight Similator by the Navy. There was a boy's life tent that they went in.

 

They probably could have done a bit more but we arrived late and they started closing thing up things early due to the arena show.

 

When that happenned, we simply walked around and looked at some of the gateways and such.

 

We did not even try to get into any of the program areas that the paying boys were in. I imagine we wouldn't have been able to do any of that...and rightly so.

 

The arena show was well worth the trip. The skit was a bit corny, but the fireworks display was spectacular, and it was great that they got to see the president speak.

[Eagle69]

As has been said you can walk around and look, but not participate. If you go be prepared for a lot of walking, a lot of people, and long lines. I went in 89 and felt like I was doing my 5 mile hike again to go visit the Council Contingent in it's campsite, they were that far back. I didn't get lunch because of the lines and was rescued with food by a member of our contingent. To get something that night before the big arena show I stood in line for over an hour.

[NE-IV-88-Beaver]

Having been a visitor to all of 'em since 1981, the information that you have received is accurate but the percentages are probably a little low. 99 % is probably closer to the mark. Your boys will not be able to participate in any of the scheduled activities. The participants have paid big bucks to do that. They will be able to walk through the general exhibit areas, attend the arena show(s) and engage in perhaps the largest event there - patch trading.

 

With that said, it's still a great place to visit, and to do it in the Centennial year, it has to provide memories that they'll cherish.

[prairie]

Now that I think of it none of the boys seem intrested in going, so it might just be me and one or two Scouters.

[NEPAScouter]

Well, after a lot of discussion within the committee and a lot of consideration of the postings here, my unit decided not to visit the Jamboree via a camping trip in the vicinity. Our council is running a day-trip bus to the Jamboree, and that's what we're promoting to our scouts who are interested in at least seeing what the experience is from the outside looking in.