Four Drumheller Scouts and three of their Scouters have recently returned from the Pacific Jamboree in Sooke, BC.
The Pacific Jamboree took place at Camp Barnard, which has been a Scout camp since 1945 when it was donated by Senator Henry Barnard. The Jamboree theme was Myths and Legends, and there was a Sasquatch seen throughout the week at camp.
Over 2,200 Scouts aged 11-14 years old came together to test their limits, meet some new people and trade some badges. There were over 550 youth and adult volunteers that brought this event together in a spectacular way! The Jamboree lasts seven days with activities planned every day for the youth, on-site and around the Victoria area.
Some of the activities our Scouts got to try out included dragon boat racing on the ocean, stand up paddleboard, geocaching, an obstacle course in the trees to beat no other, and rock climbing. During the trip to Victoria, the group got to see a group of transient whales in the Victoria harbour, which included a baby. We learned about bull kelp, local trees to the coast, and other wildlife.
“I don’t think anyone forgets their first Jamboree, and this will for sure remain in the minds and hearts of these youth as a great time in their childhood, away from electronics and under the stars,” said Scouter Cyndi Sparvier.
Jamboree is a chance for the Scouters to step back and let the Scouts cook, clean, and get themselves ready to be away from camp for the whole day, plan for their food and water, and other needs. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it didn’t! The 2,200 Scouts were divided into 3 sub-camps, and there was some good-natured rivalry throughout the week between the sub-camps.
A favourite activity for Canadian Jamboree participants is badge trading. The group designs their Jamboree badge based on the theme of the Jamboree and the goal is to trade the most and find the rarest of the badges that are there. One of our Scouts designed our badge with a Sasquatch riding a T-rex skeleton.
The Scouts have been working hard all year to raise funds for this trip through bake/craft sales, chocolate sales, highway cleanup, as well as selling Scout Trucks to sponsors. 10 organizations and businesses from around the valley purchase a Scout Truck, which was built and designed by the Scouts themselves.
The scouts are grateful for the support of sponsors as well as anyone who even bought a chocolate bar or package of cookies from the group, as well as parents for letting your child go to Jamboree to experience some of their firsts – first overnight bus ride, first ferry ride, first dragon boat, first SUP during their first Jamboree!
