Boy Scout Troop One from Logan, Utah (Sponsored by the Logan Lions Club-Trapper Trails Council-Old Ephraim District) arrived July 17 in London, England to participate in their fifth international scouting exchange since 1996 with scouts from Ashford, Kent, England. The 2009 scouting exchange is scheduled from July 16-August 10, and involves six scouts and three adult leaders from Troop One; Scoutmaster Tom Hogan, and Assistant Scoutmasters Randy Martin and Nicholas Major. Troop One is the oldest Boy Scout Troop west of the Mississippi River, and will be celebrating our 100th Anniversary as a scouting unit in March 2010.
(Update - Monday, August 3 -The Kent International Jamboree 2009 - The Shaws Campsite, Cudham, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK)
“Well for what ever reason. I am still unable to upload photos to the blog -- so y'all just have to wait until I can get to a network that will allow such; we break camp here on Thursday.
Just to catch up...yesterday was "Sub Camp" day wherein the Scouts first had a community breakfast out in the roadway between the entire individual troop camps and then did activities sponsored by each troop with our Sub Camp and some activities sponsored by the Sub Camp directors. The former was essentially a field full of carnival games such as snail racing, wet sponge throwing, plastic bottle bowling, etc. Under Paul Sillibourne, our Ashford, Kent scouts leader, our troop had a modified game of Bob for Apples, except the tub of water was replaced with a plate of flour and apples were replaced with "sweets" (gummy lifesavers). The broader activities were called the "Circus Experience" and gave the Scouts the chance to do things like unicycles, slack rope walking, etc. Also many of the Scouts repeated some of the previous day’s general activities.
Probably the most anticipated part of our day was the evening's talent show. The genesis of our participation started with some Girl Guides, who had been occasionally hanging out with some of our boys, asking me at the archery range if any of the guys would be willing to perform a Queen Song with them. Without pausing I said "Sure!” figuring Andy most definitely would volunteer, and he could probably drag along a couple of more scouts. They asked if they would mind dressing up in dresses. I had to think about that one for a moment, but thought the boys might still do it and suggested they hunt them up and ask them directly. Well, they did, and our boys did (Andy, Jacob, and Joe - the last being one of the local Scouts). Anyway, the performance consisted of the girls singing while our guys danced in the background - Jacob did get an air guitar solo. Pictures do exist, so just stay tuned.
On a personal note, down at the archery range, I did get to shoot an English long bow! As usual, more updates, and eventually, pictures, to come."
Further updates on Troop One's fifth international scouting exchange will be forthcoming, and for additional information on sites mentioned in this article, please visit:
http://www.kij09.org.uk/
-Stuart & Ryan Parkinson, Assistant Scoutmasters, Troop One, contributed to this article, with primary coverage provided by Assistant Scoutmaster Randy Martin.