Ever since Scouting was founded by the late great Lord Baden-Powell, Scouts have enjoyed mingling together, making new friends, learning new skills and having fun. Soon, people decided to set up major camps, or Jamboree's, where lots of Scouts could meet. In the Seventies (?), Scouts started to gather on the airwaves, and started the "Jamboree of the Air". No, not hundreds of Scouts learning to fly aeroplanes, but a jamboree for "Hams" or people with access to a long wave radio transmitter. Ok, so that was a pretty sad idea, and you'd have to be a bit geeky to get involved in that, but the idea worked in theory that Scouts could group together from remote locations. I know what you're thinking If only there was a way of connecting with the rest of the Scouting world without looking that geeky. Well, now there is. The "Jamboree on the Internet" (Or JOTI) has been running over the last few years, and numbers of participants have increased dramatically as more people join the "Global Village" that is the Internet. Scouts can "Chat" with Scouts from Australia, Email those from the US, visit Ugandan Scout websites, etc Marplescouts.co.uk got a participation certificate for joining the fun that was JOTI. Although I have to admit that we didn't really take it seriously (We just shoved our email address in the contacts book and left it there!), we still got contacted by over 60 Johnny Foreigners during the weekend. Each told of Scouting in a different country. It's odd to think that Scouting is virtually the same in so many countries. In some parts of the world, there is great pride in Scouts, and in Africa, they liven up neighbourhoods by offering their time to help people. They are a valuable service, and it's nice to think that Scouting can benefit so many people Scouts and Non-Scouts around the world. It's certainly something which BP would have been incredibly proud of. Whilst we were online, which, as I say, wasn't long, we started replying to emails asking for their Scout promise and Law, and other such information. You'll be able to see how similar they are for yourselves when a display is finally put up in the Scout hut! We got emails from Scouts in many places, including Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Canada, South Africa, and some from Greece, and the Czech Republic which, if you think about it, just about covers the globe. Scout groups were doing "all-nighters" to stay in touch, circulating photo's of themselves to anyone who'd have one. It's hard to explain the atmosphere and the ambience of JOTI without getting all sentimental, so I won't even try. When you're in contact with so many people who have just one thing in common, it goes to show that Scouting breaks down the barriers between us. No one was interested in race, creed or culture, just getting in touch with a "brother" living in a different country. The true feeling of togetherness is the same sort of feeling that you get when it's cold and dark and you're huddled around a camp-fire together, singing songs, or the feeling you get when you're on stage during the finale of the last night of Gang Show. Anyhow, it's a good atmosphere, and one worth tasting for yourself. JOTI will be around next year, so will Scouting, but will you? Join in and be a part of global scouting. (And it works towards your International award). |
