Dear Scout leaders,

Please forward the following onto your Scouts – my apologies for the short timescales given to meet the County’s timelines for selection of participants.

———-European Jamboree 2020——————

I am writing to you on behalf of Hemel Hempstead District to offer you the opportunity to apply for a place in the County Jamboree Unit that will be going to the European Scout Jamboree to be held in Gdansk in Poland 27th July to 6th August 2020.  There has not been a European Jamboree since the UK last hosted Eurojam in 2005, and so this represents a real opportunity to participate in a life changing event.

The District has been allocated 2 places and if you apply, depending on the numbers applying, you may be invited to attend a selection day that will include an interview and activities and will be held between 15^th February and 26^th February.

Please be aware that not all applicants will be sucessful, and the only way to stand a chance of being selected will be to apply and if necessary attend the selection event.

If you were to be selected you would be one of 36 young people from Hertfordshire, supported by 4 Leaders that will be attending.

To be eligible to be a participant at the European Jamboree you must be born between 28^th July 2002 and 27^th July 2006. These age ranges are set by the World Organisation of the Scout Movement and are not flexible. If you are younger than this age bracket then you will have an opportunity to attend other Jamborees in your time in scouting.

If successful you will need to attend various training sessions, camps and activities to ensure that you are prepared and to get to know the other Scouts in your unit, which will be made up of Scouts from all areas of Hertfordshire.

You will need to be prepared to promote Scouting locally both before and after Jamboree in the form of presentations about your experiences to other members and parents and supporters.

This is a big commitment and you will need the support of your Group or Unit and your parents or guardians to ensure that you can attend all of the training events which are usually one per month until the Jamboree.

The cost of the Jamboree will be £1000.00 per participant and Leader with the first payment of £150 being due by the end of February 2019.  There are some non-scouting organisations that may well support you as you raise the funds for your participation, but you will need to apply to these funds yourself, although your Leaders will be expected to support your applications. Money alone should never be a reason not to apply for a Jamboree participant place.  The District does have a small fund to assist in attendance at such events in case of hardship and applications should be made to the District Commissioner Russ Dyble.

You can find more information about the Jamboree by visiting   www.ej2020.org

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and one that participants often say changed their life. Although not everyone will be selected, everyone should apply.  Participants will be selected bearing in mind their age, any additional needs they might have and how this opportunity could benefit them, not only how they will contribute to Jamboree.  In short it’s not necessarily only “super scouts” who should fill in the form.

If you would like to be considered to represent the District, please complete the enclosed application form, with as much information about yourself as possible, then get your parent / guardian to sign the form and return it to me as soon as possible, but no later than 15^th February 2019, forms can be returned electronically or in hard copy. I will write / email you shortly after this with an interview date and details of any selection day.

If you have any queries or questions about Jamboree, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Frank Monnington

frank@hemelexplorers.org.uk

Yours in Scouting

Hi , please share the following information with your Scouts/Explorers/Network members…

Scouts/Explorers/Network – Have you entered this years Pinewood Derby?

Pinewood Derby is a great fun event for scouts which has been going now for 30 years!

It has been one of the most popular events with most Troops taking part. and ideal as a winter time activity.

To enter you purchase a simple kit which costs £ 5.00 (wood, wheels, axles) from which you make a car or vehicle of some sort and then they are raced on a special track to see which car goes the fastest. Cars are raced in groups, the fastest cars from each group race in a final.

There are prizes for the best looking cars, split into age groups, and for the overall fastest and runner ups. Spectators are welcome on the day. The event will finish around lunchtime. Snacks and drinks are available but you can bring your own.

This years event takes place at Apsley HQ, Durrants Hill Road on Sat morning 23rd Feb, which is ideal as scouts will have the whole week of half term to finish their car.

A full set of rules comes with the kit but you can get a good idea of last years event by looking at the download at www.hemel-scouts.co.uk/pinewoodderby. Not only are there pictures but a guide as to how to build your car and template as well.

If you wish to enter and have not made arrangements with your scout Leader you can enter here www.hemel-scouts.co.uk/pinewoodderby and arrangements to get a kit to you will be made.

Any questions email pinewood.derby@hemel-scouts.co.uk