Grant to Operation One World from BRIO

We want to have a jamboree with as many different countries as possible represented and through our solidarity found Operation One World we will be able to help at least 370 scouts from 90 different countries that cannot themselves afford to go. Both individuals, NSO’s, organizations and companies can contribute to the fund to help even more scouts to attend. Yesterday I had the honor to go to the village Osby and the Swedish toy company BRIO to on behalf of the Swedish Guide and Scout Council receive the BRIO-award for 2010 and a grant of 25 000 SEK to Operation One World. This grant will cover the cost for almost two scouts and we are very grateful and will express our sincere thanks to BRIO and the foundation Lennart Ivarssons stipendiefond.
After the ceremony we enjoyed a fantastic guided tour of BRIO’s Lekoseum and Dag Ivarsson, son of Lennart Ivarsson, showed us old toys which gave us all many memories from childhood.

Council meeting in a winter setting

This weekend (26-28 November) we have had a planning meeting for all the heads of department in the Jamboree Planning Team and the Jamboree Executive Team. This was the eight time this group got together, and as always the atmosphere was great with a lot of constructive discussions and exchange of ideas. The focus of the meeting was the delivery phase of the Jamboree, with staff planning and the organizational structure at the camp. With only 240 days to go until the Jamboree, we are now entering a very busy phase with lots of final planning!

We also welcomed guests from the World Scout Bureau, and took this opportunity to award the Gustav Adolf medal to the Secretary General of WOSM – Mr Luc Panissod. The medal is given to Scouts who have done exceptional work for Swedish Scouting and has been awarded to very few people outside Sweden, and we are happy to say that Mr Panissod is one of these. By awarding him this medal we would like to thank him for his support to Swedish Scouting.

As this was the last time this group got together before Christmas, we also had a small Christmas celebration where we drank the traditional Swedish hot beverage glögg and ate gingerbread cookies. The department heads also made Christmas decorations inspired by their departments. With this the entire Jamboree Planning Team and I would like to wish you a happy holiday season!

Second Advisory Board meeting

Two more hours remain of our second Advisory Board meeting and it has been an intense meeting with a lot of topics on the agenda. But we started the weekend with a great tour out in the archipelago outside of Stockholm. A quite long boat trip took us out to Sandhamn which is one of the islands most far east before you reach the open ocean.

At this meeting the topics have been Execution organization, IST and HR issues, participant food, safety, logistics, program activities, subcamp life, contingent support and Camp in camp.

We have learned a lot about the different areas and we have had very good discussions which have given the different departments good advice and an increased understanding.

We will have one more meeting before the jamboree, February 2011, but I'm sure our members of the Advisory Board will follow our planning along the way and as well beeing our great ambassaders around the world.

Internal and external ambassadors

Jamboree ambassadors are one of our most important channels to create interest and enthusiasm for the jamboree around the world and I have during the last two week’s met many different groups that will spread the word in diverse areas. Today I gave a presentation and a status report to the boards of the different scout associations in Sweden and the board of the Swedish Guide and Scout council. We also discussed important questions like how to ensure a high level of participants from the host country and how to make the jamboree project become an energy boost and not drain the organization.

Last week I met external ambassadors representing the Region Skåne Council, the landowner and the governor of Skåne and next week we will have a meeting with the municipality council in Kristianstad. We are getting a great support from these partners and by keeping them updated and informed about the progress of the jamboree planning we identify areas of collaboration and make them committed and comfortable of spreading the word.




The jamboree site covered in snow. Lars Carlsson, Head of Site Services, tries to imagine what it will look like in the summer of 2011 when the whole world moves in to the field.