NYJAM - Today!

The day has arrived. It's 25th July. Time for NYJAM.

It's currently 6.10am and I can't get back to sleep now. It may as well be December 25th. To say I'm looking forward to this is a bit of an understatement. I am looking forward to this more than any camp in recent years.

The fact is that on a normal camp there are any number of jobs to be done to get the thing off the ground, from programme planning to menu planning, from site bookings to kit organisation. Then there is the mammoth task of getting everything that 50 people need for a week into one place at the right time. It would be fair to say that by time any participants arrive at most camps I am pretty tired because I have usually been on site for a couple of days in advance.

Things with NYJAM have been a bit different. Although the flow of info to parents has been constant since the turn of the year, the Barton leaders jobs have been quite different. Apart from Jane who has dealt with all the admin in her usual efficient style, the rest of leaders have had almost no planning to do in the run-up.

Especially fortunate for me is Anthony's mobile contract; because he gets a bazillion free text messages each month he uses them to contact all the parents. As a result they all reply to him with questions and he in turn has to reply. He's a good secretary.

So in preparation for NYJAM I have created the tent list (so blame me if your tent-mates are snorers) and packed my own bags (including blue activity trousers and something red. And that is more-or-less it.

The good news for everyone else is that I have slept well (and in my own bed - not a field) for the past couple of nights, so my level of grumpiness will be at standard levels rather than the usual mid-camp ones.

So that's it. I'm ready. It's sunny outside. we have a full tank of gas ...... sorry - I digress.

For those of you checking Twitter/the blog at this time in the morning; I will see you in 3 hours. For those of you checking in through the week; we hope to have some ongoing Twitter updates - including pictures - in the coming days.

Morning to you all. Let's camp.

NYJAM #3

Seems like the closer we get to the Jamboree, the more questions I have, as well I'm sure do you. I think that we all have to embrace the uncertainties as an adventure, and, 'Be Prepared'.

From a parent's perspective, you have as much info as we can give you. Kit list, meeting time (9.00am), amount of money the kids may require (around £25), and pick up time (11.00am). Now all you need to do is uncork that chilled bottle of 1936 Dom Perignon, kick off your shoes and enjoy the peace.

The kids however are asking, what are we doing, when will we do it, who will be with me, what else is there to do......, and so it blurs into an unanswered grilling, that they may as well be asking about the quantum theory of gravity.

It is beyond an evening blogging to explain quantum mechanics, so I will impart my 'insider' knowledge of what is upcoming at NYJAM.

I am informed that the Activities programme will be spread over five days, whereby participants will visit each 'zone' for half a day (Water Village & World Fayre will be full day). The Zones are:

• Adventure Grove (aerial runway, climbing tower, shooting, archery, biking, pioneering, tomahawk throwing)
• Challenge Canyon (crate staking, bungee run, circus skills, high ropes)
• Global Walk (climate, evolution, food, crafts, stone masonry)
• Technology Park (Geocaching, green screens, fibre optics, solar telescopes, computer building)
• Transformer Town (fashion, music, art and wildlife.)
• Vitality View (arboculture, wood turning, stone carving, falconry)
• Water Village (rafts, canoes, bellboats, kayaks, dingys, canal cruise, surf simulator)
• World Fayre (Wednesday. To include a food festival, world fayre and a tournament.) I am non the wiser either on this one!

In the interest of brevity I have omitted several activities in each zone, but hope that gives you a flavour of the type of thing that will be happening.

If we have any leaders reading this, then I can't help you. I have no idea exactly what, when and how we fit in helping, but thats the fun. Isn't it?

NYJAM #2

Wow, have I had some calls and texts today. It has prompted me to put finger to keyboard, which unfortunately doesn't quite have the same ring to it. Not that either ring I suppose!

One big question that trended in my inbox today was that of 'money'. How much money should a needy glycogen crazed teenager require on a week long activity?

Well, I took some time to chew my way through the NJYAM website and found myself still none the wiser.

Generally the 'spendy' parts will be in what they call 'The Market Place'. This area sports a 'trading post' which sells a range of souvenirs, novelties, confectionary, ice creams and drinks. There is a post box enabling Scouts to send home a daily log (thats where the money will go, obviously), and I read there is a cafe which offers a range of snacks and beverages throughout the day into the evening.

Looking towards the evening, a 'soft bar' opens, offering a range of soft drinks & snacks, as does the cinema. The cinema not only has its own snack and drink outlet, but will bring a range of U & PG rated films throughout the week.

I feel that the organisers will need to match the amount of toilets with the range of drink outlets, and all should be well.

I feel that if we are being fed by the Royal Marines, then the kids should not really require copious snacks inbetween meals. But, hey what do I know?

Back to money......... We had a conflab between leaders, and plucked a sort of guestimate figure from the air, to recommend around the £20 -£25 mark.

To keep some sort of guilty lid on the spending, then our very own Wiz will open a branch of 'La Banque de Barton'. The Scouts will be able to deposit their funds at the beginning of the week and request withdrawls when required. Small Print: "Suspicious activity will automatically result in temporary suspension of your account."

Not sure that helps anyone, but in short, we are recommending that each child takes around £20 - £25, as then they take the same as everyone else.

Now, one more question, how much are the leaders taking???

NYJAM 2009

NYJAM. North Yorkshire Jamboree.

Thought I'd jot down all the things we know for certain and then you, the reader, are up to speed as well. So, in chronological order:

Dig out that kit list and lay those clothes out on your bed (or your parents bed, as you need to sleep in yours). Pay close attention to the "Don't bring phones/ipods" part. The organisers have said they will confiscate them if seen, and if they are lost/broken, its tough! I think thats fair.

There seems a bit of panic around the section regards blue activity trousers, I'd not worry unduly as yet as they are not essential, but preferred. We will be insisting on blue activity type trousers as part of the uniform next term, so if you have them now, you'll look smart!

The type of trouser can be seen at the Scout Shops, but of course, shopping around will no doubt find you a cheaper pair.

The travel arrangements are to meet at the Village hall at 09.00hrs. We have to arrive onsite as a group, so we will travel down to the Yorkshire Show Ground in convoy. (in case you want an arial picture, check out google maps.) The Postcode is HG2 8PW

Once we arrive on site, you will have to carry, yes carry your kit to our

campsite. It is now that you wish that you had not packed your

sleeping bag in a bin liner, and that the unrolled sleeping mat was a

bad idea. It is also no good looking for help at this point, as unfortunately

the goodbyes will be said at the gate. No visitors are allowed on site.

You will be putting up your own tents, and once that is done, we can

sit down for lunch. Oh, yes, you will need a packed lunch for the the first

day only.

The Leaders will register the group and you will be issed with NYJAM

scarves and ID. These MUST be worn AT ALL TIMES. If you loose your

ID and /or scarf you will be refused activities, worse still, your ID will allow

you entry into the food hall. No ID, no eat. You will be charged by the

organisers for lost ID etc. 'nuff said.

So, thats as much as I know for the first day. I will blog again when I find

new information, and if time will list a few activities you will be

experiencing.

Keep your eyes peeled. (urgh, that would hurt).

Gang Show Rehearsal dates

There's no show like a Gang Show, and there's no Gang Show without YOU!

You may have realised that rehearsal time is upon us. If not I'll book you into reality awareness school for the summer term!

This weekend marks the first of our official dates. Explorers and Leaders will be undertaking a rather 'adventurous' or ambitious sketch which will require 100% commitment from all.

When I talk about commitment, I refer to the dictionary:

• dedication; application• a pledge or undertaking• an act of pledging or setting aside something
To say we require commitment, means being dedicated to attend rehearsals, pledging to others that you attend those dates and set aside time for the meetings.We rely on each through these rehearsals, bouncing ideas about, practicing moves together, being aware what others are doing, but most of all enjoying ourselves. Well, I say that, I mean more likely having a laugh at someone else!
For one sketch in particular we require YOU, Leaders and Explorers, are able to commit to practicing together each and every time. I can't give you the particular sketch here (security risk), but lets say if we are one member down, then the whole thing goes to pot. Get my drift?
The important dates for your diary are:
Saturday 11th July - Explorers and Leaders onlyWeekend 19th/20th September - All SectionsWeekend 3rd/4th October - Singers onlyThursday 29th October - All Sections (evening)Sunday 1st November - All sectionsMonday 2nd November - Dress rehearsal (evening)
There'll be some others during Unit/Troop nights, so keep an eye out for the Autumn Programme.
Break a leg!(Well, don't really, cos it's likely to hurt.)