World Scout Jamboree 2023

One of our Scouts was lucky enough to head off to South Korea for the 25th World Scout Jamboree. It has been many years since one of our scouts secured a much sought after place for the Jamboree. This is his story:

My jamboree journey didn’t start on 2nd August at the opening ceremony, after arriving a day late. It didn’t start on the 29th July when my parents dropped me off at a church hall in Purley. It didn’t even start on 23rd January 2022, when it was confirmed that I was part of the jamboree. It started in the midst of lockdown, when my scout leader challenged me to create a poster advertising a scouting event. Little did I know, I would actually be able to realise my dream.

As you have probably seen in the media, it wasn’t the jamboree anyone expected. We arrived on site a day late but still managed to attend the opening ceremony and party with the Lebanese contingent and made some friends with some Swedish scouts. On the second day, we took part in activities. On day three we visited a Buddhist sanctuary. It was on our way back to the site when we were informed that the UK contingent would be pulling out of the jamboree site. This was received with a mixture of relief and disappointment. Although I was embracing the jamboree experience, conditions on the site were sometimes less than bearable with the heat, humidity and poor food provision and sanitation.

We made the most of the time left in Saemangeum by meeting as many people as possible and swapping as many of our badges as we could.

We relocated back to the capital, Seoul, on 6 August, to 5 star accommodation, with 5 of us in a room (2 on the bed, 1 on the sofa and 2 on the floor). It was amazing to be in air conditioned luxury rather than a bug infested floodplain. Upon arrival, we were offered a night tour around the city. I have to say, when we were in Seoul, the people welcomed us with open arms, offering so many opportunities and local people would stop us in the street and offer hospitality. We could not have been made to feel more at home.

I did some amazing things while in Seoul, like going to the DMZ (twice), Nami Island (which is an independent state), Bukhansan national park which had some incredible views, a taekwondo themed musical held in the Olympic park and on the final day, we visited Banpo Bridge (which has lights and water spouts on the side) and we dressed up in hanbok and visited the traditional village. Someone from our unit organised a private dining experience at Seouls award-winning pizzeria.

I had an amazing experience even though it wasn’t the jamboree I had anticipated back in 2020 when I created the poster.  I had lots of fantastic opportunities and I developed so many skills and overcame so many challenges. I would like to thank everyone in the Group and everyone else who contributed and supported me and made this opportunity possible.