A Message from Liam
Liam Burns, CEO & Executive Commissioner
When I asked a BC, Port Coquitlam Scout, Flynn L., what his favourite part of the 25th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) had been, he immediately replied “It’s so unpredictable! I was on site, then I was off-site, then there was a typhoon.”
I’ve had some criticism that Scouts Canada was too positive about the jamboree in its social media content, but Flynn and his peers certainly made the best of their situation to enjoy their time abroad amid the challenges.
We can’t always predict how our paths will pan out. Four months into the job, I thought I’d be writing about my initial thoughts, hopes and concerns about Scouting in Canada, having travelled from coast-to-coast meeting young people, volunteers and parents/caregivers over the past few months; however, it would be slightly tone-deaf not to acknowledge WSJ. Less than 1% of our membership attended the event, yet it has attracted significant media coverage and commentary. Given the unique circumstances, I felt some context would be helpful.
When the UK Scouts and Boy Scouts of America (BSA) were considering leaving the WSJ site, it had become evident that there were serious issues with access to shade, medical infrastructure, distribution of food and appropriate sanitation.
Being a smaller contingent of only seven units and having arrived on site in time to request better locations, the Canadian Contingent was not faced with the same extent of issues as their peers within the UK and BSA; the challenges affecting our contingent and all jamboree participants were quickly identified and resolutions were implemented once the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the Korean Government intervened with resources and support.
Our young people were safe and wanted to stay on site. After a virtual conference with the Contingent Management Team, we decided to remain at the jamboree site. Then the weather took another turn.
Incoming Typhoon Khanun was a game-changer. As a precaution, especially given the site’s infrastructure, WOSM announced a speedy relocation of all participants from the jamboree site in SaeManGeum to Seoul, putting this year’s WSJ put youth and volunteers to the test.
When the Canadian Contingent was relocated to university residences in Seoul as a safety precaution, Justin Chenier (National Youth Commissioner), Adrew Obee (Chair of the Board of Governors) and I travelled to meet with our volunteers and young people to ask, “How are you?”, and “What has been your favourite part of the jamboree?”
Unsurprisingly, adult volunteers from our Patrol Units, the International Service Team and the Contingent Management Team answered with a weary tone. Why wouldn’t they? They had been moving mountains for the past week to make sure that the substantial challenges of the jamboree didn’t detract from the life-changing experience a World Jamboree should have for young people. Among others comments, their feedback on the jamboree site’s medical infrastructure was raised with me as a powerful challenge to my more upbeat telling of how our contingent had persevered.
Young people? They had a blast. I didn’t find one Scout who hadn’t loved every moment of their jamboree experience. Almost unanimously, their favourite part was “meeting other Scouts from across the world’. That’s the magic of a world jamboree—experiencing what it’s like to be part of a worldwide Scouting family. That was always the thing that I feared our young people would miss out on with the on-site jamboree cut short. Thankfully, I worried needlessly.
These reflections are not intended to play down the severity of the issues faced in South Korea, but rather, to highlight four things.
- Review & Evaluate: At Scouts Canada, we will take time to understand—within our scope of control and influence as a participating National Scout Organization—what worked and what can be improved on regarding the management of our contingent for the next WSJ. I’m wholly convinced that the planning of this jamboree was left wanting. We will also be asking WOSM to commission an independent review into how these challenges arose and how they will be avoided in the future.
- Balancing Gratitude & Accountability: We are grateful to WOSM, the South Korean National Scout Organization and the people of South Korea. While there must be accountability for the serious issues of the WSJ—which affected our youth’s time, families' money, and volunteers' energy—the organizations intended for this to be an amazing experience for young people around the world to gather and share in. I heard many stories of South Korean citizens paying for meals, giving lifts and generally wanting to help Scouts enjoy their final week in South Korea. Clearly, mistakes were made. We will explore those mistakes in the spirit of Scouting – respectfully, with integrity, and asking how we would do our best in the future.
- Thank You Volunteers! I’d like to thank each and every one of the 130 adult volunteers who supported our contingent and the jamboree as a whole. Their resilience, tenacity and dedication are what made this jamboree something our young people will remember for the rest of their lives. They all deserve praise equally, and I'd like to also recognize David, Susie and Remi. Watching David (Canadian Contingent Leader) calmly navigate the tectonic shifts in our contingent’s jamboree journey; seeing Susie (Scouts Canada Leader) fiercely advocate for our young people to have the best post-site experience possible; and knowing Remi (L'Association des Scouts du Canada Leader) ensured the ASC was considered at every step. These three have given untold time and energy to ensuring our young people made memories for life. They represent the very best of Canadian Scouting.
- Thank You Youth! Finally, and most importantly, to thank our young people. To Xavier who led campfire songs at the cultural visit to an education centre. To Stella (both of them) who had invested so much in their post-site adventure that I found them ‘asleep face down’ on the dinner table. To Guillaume, Brona, Jacob and the group of about ten young people who insisted that leaving the jamboree site early hadn’t meant sacrificing the opportunity to meet Scouts from across the world and who actually loved exploring South Koren culture more deeply than they would have. To every one of our 240 young people who persevered. Made friends. Made memories. Who are most certainly better prepared for success in the world as a result of their jamboree adventure. Thank you.
To close, Flynn said his favourite part of the jamboree was “how unpredictable it was.” I’m not sure I heard a better articulation of why we should be proud of our young people and volunteers as they arrive back home after what was ultimately an amazing experience for our Scouts. We’ve shown Canadian Scouting at its best – by being a little more Flynn.
Scouts Canada’s Update
The 25th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) wrapped on August 12th, as 43,000 Scouts and volunteers from around the world returned to their home countries from South Korea. All participants of the Canadian Contingent have arrived home, safely. Despite unexpected turns and major changes along the way, youth and volunteers had a memorable experience and remained in good spirits during their time abroad.
Challenges at the jamboree site caused several contingents to depart early (including the UK Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America). Being a smaller contingent of only seven units and having arrived on site in time to request better locations, the Canadian Contingent was not faced with the same extent of issues as their UK and BSA peers. Still faced with an extreme heatwave, our youth demonstrated incredible resilience, adaptability and embraced new experiences.
John Estrella, Scouts Canada's International Commissioner who was part of the Canadian Contingent, shared, "I spoke with some of the youth and their eyes light up when they shared with me jamboree stories of their new friends from Switzerland, Egypt, and other countries."
While there must be accountability for the serious issues of the WSJ, we are grateful to the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the South Korean National Scout Organization and the people of South Korea for providing resources and support amid the ongoing changes. We will connect with these organizations to review the mistakes of this jamboree in true Scouting spirit—with respect and integrity to continually improve the experiences of our young people and volunteers at future major events.
What Happened
At the onset, the jamboree site lacked adequate infrastructure including medical, food distribution and sanitation services. An extreme heatwave exasperated these conditions. The challenges affecting our contingent and all jamboree participants were quickly identified and resolutions were implemented, once WOSM and the Korean Government intervened with resources and support.
Despite the departure of the UK and BSA contingents, our youth were safe and expressed a desire to continue their adventure on site. As such, a virtual conference with the Contingent Management Team confirmed that the contingent was content to remain on-site.
Midway through the jamboree, WOSM announced the relocation of all participants from the jamboree site in SaeManGeum to Seoul, due to the expected arrival of Typhoon Khanun. This precautionary measure was the only way to ensure the safety of youth and volunteers.
Upon arrival at their new residences, youth and volunteers were met with Korean hospitality and continued their international experience in Seoul through great cultural and activity-based programming that concluded with a major concert for the closing ceremony.
Working closely with our Canadian Contingent leaders, we consistently worked throughout this time to ensure a safe environment for our members and kept participants’ families up to date throughout the duration of the unpredictable jamboree.
On August 8th, the Canadian Contingent was joined in Seoul by Scouts Canada’s leaders: Liam Burns, CEO & Executive Commissioner; Justin Chenier, National Youth Commissioner; and Andrew Obee, Chair of the Board of Governors. Liam, Justin and Andrew joined in person to check in with youth and volunteers to hear their feedback directly, express their deep appreciation to Canadian Contingent volunteers for their efforts, and celebrate their resiliency while sharing in new fun activities in Seoul.
The World Scout Jamboree may have introduced unexpected challenges, however, our youth have demonstrated incredible resilience, adaptability and have embraced new experiences.
Review & Evaluate
Following any World Scout Jamboree, we customarily take the time to understand what worked, what didn’t, and what we will do differently in four years when the next World Scout Jamboree is held. And of course, we recognise that there were a number of substantial challenges specific to this jamboree in South Korea.
As such, we plan to take two actions:
- Evaluation of the Scouts Canada/ASC World Scout Jamboree Contingent
This will take place over the next six months and will include matters that are common to all jamborees, but also how effective Scouts Canada was in responding to the challenges that this particular jamboree faced (i.e the issues related to the specific challenges faced by the South Korean jamboree that were within Scout Canada’s control).
- Understanding the challenges of the South Korean World Scout Jamboree
In addition to this standard post-event evaluation, Scouts Canada will be requesting that WOSM commission an independent review into how these challenges arose and how they will be avoided in the future. (i.e the issues related to the specific challenges faced by the South Korean Jamboree that were not within Scout Canada’s control)
We hope this gives young people, parents/caregivers and volunteers reassurance that Scouts Canada is committed to continuously improving the experiences of our young people.
“My son has been greatly enjoying his time at the Jamboree. I know he has made many new connections, grown more as an individual and helped to keep his Patrol and Unit positive throughout.” – Sarah G, Parent
“My two sons (ages 14 and 17) are having a great time at the jamboree. The eldest is enjoying the mix of cultures and getting to meet all kinds of new people (he said it's amazing!). He's also enjoying the off-site trips and seeing the sights. He’s bringing home a flag that has signatures of Scouts from Spain, Brazil, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Britain, Wales, the US and more.
My youngest hasn't been chatting with us as much; he's been having such a great time that charging his phone isn’t a priority—he'd rather be doing everything else at camp! I've checked in with them almost every day and they've always assured us they are doing fine despite the heat, staying hydrated, eating well and having loads of fun.” – Laura V.L, Parent
"We want to thank the Canadian Contingent for navigating the challenging circumstances surrounding the World Jamboree. While our kids strongly voiced their preference to stay at the Jamboree site early on, despite the heat and infrastructure issues, a typhoon changes everything; we understand and are grateful for the decisions that the Canadian Contingent are making to keep the youth safe, which is the absolute priority. Our youth realize this and they completely understand; they have shared with us that they have been having a great time in spite of the challenges.” Tooka S. & Amee M, Parents
Media Inquiries:
Anissa Stambouli, Associate Director of Communications
Anissa [dot] Stambouli [at] scouts [dot] ca
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