On Friday the 29th of July this year 2 leaders 4 Explorers from Ilford East and 11 explorers from Chingford set out on the long journey from Chingford to Chelmsford via North Weald Airfield. With everyone being on time for their pick up, more or less, we had time to stop off at Mc Donalds for breakfast, something that all good explorer camps do at some stage!

When we arrived at Hylands Park in Chelmsford we joined Oder sub camp, which we later found to be the best sub camp, largely because the G.L.N.E contingent would be calling it home for the next 12 days. We quickly settled in meeting our new neighbours from Finland / Serbia & Montenegro / France / Luxemburg and the U.S.A, a truly international affair.

When we had only just settled in it was decided that we should have the biggest flag pole on the whole eurojam site, the reason being so that we could tell people where we were, that and the fact that we actually just wanted to be able to boast that ours is bigger than yours.

Over the first 36 hours of eurojam scouts from around the globe, 68 countries in total, arrived and got themselves settled in. By the Saturday evening most people had arrived on site and it was now time for the opening ceremony, I must say that it was a sight to behold, over 10,000 scouts all in one place for one reason, to enjoy scouting. I can’t imagine what the atmosphere will be like in 2007 when there will be nearly 4 times as many scouts there in one place. Even the rain could not dampen the spirit and enthusiasm that was present in Hylands Park at that time.

Over the next 10 days I was very impressed by the willingness of the G.L.N.E contingent to take part in and enjoy all the activities that they were offered, even the Gilwell experience, something that some of the Chingford lot had helped to build in the months before eurojam. They even came back from it and said that it was one of the best bits that they had done because they were there as a unit and they had kept an open mind as to what it was going to be like, I don’t even think that the pizza that they had brought in for lunch was a major factor in there enjoyment of the day, but I could be wrong on that one.

I would recommend that if there are any members of the movement that think they would like to be part of the world jamboree in 2007 that they go for the experience even if you only go as a day visitor. If you think that you might want to be part of the G.L.N.E contingent to the world Jamboree then there is still time, your D.C has details of the positions available.

A final word must go to all those who took part in the G.L.N.E contingent to eurojam, without you it would not have been as stress free and enjoyable as it was, so thankyou!

Charles | G.L.N.E contingent leader