For Parents Only - Jamboree is officially full-on

Hello all,

I finally have the first good opportunity to get out of the hot Hamilton sun and provide you an update from the Jamboree site.

Camp setup went very well, and we had a completely livable site by teatime on Tuesday.  The kitchen rig we built is fantastic, and we seem to be the only troop with solar generating capacity.  Score one for Richard and Phil!

The kids sorted themselves out nicely, and the Ngati Toa Social Club resumed operations immediately ;-)

Jamboree is a huge event, something you have a hard time grasping until you stand on the hillside and see well over 1000 tents in rows and blocks over an entire valley floor.  Catering, sanitation, infrastructure, activities, communications... astonishing!  I've heard of a few logistical hiccups apparently, but overall nothing has really affected us.

Yesterday was the first real day of scheduled activities, and some of the patrols received a good workout.
Dougal took his group in a 12km tramp over an extinct volcano, and Lynette's kids had an Amazing Race-style excursion into Cambridge.  Other groups have built structures, got muddy, climbed walls and crossed the Waikato on a flying fox.  And to say that badge trading has been intense just doesn't do it justice.  In the middle of this instant town there is an instant subculture bordering on a black market!

Tonight is New Years' Eve, and there is a special programme planned for tonight, including a very late-night option for the older Scouts.  The opening ceremony was very youth-oriented, and I suspect tonight's events will take it up a couple of notches.

More updates hopefully tomorrow (after a late wake-up)

R
From our temporary den in the Waikato...