A Scout from Rickmansworth has done the town proud in America during the World Scout Jamboree.
Tom Smith, from the Batchworth Sea Scouts in Rickmansworth, represented the UK at the 24th World Scout Jamboree in West Virginia from July 23 to August 2.
Over the course of two weeks, Tom was meeting people from all over the globe, taking part in an amazing skills exchange and being challenged to think about global issues in a new light.
Tom joined the International Service Team (IST), who are the driving force behind the Jamboree.
He said: “This was my third jamboree and I’ve been to Sweden as a participant and to Japan as a member of the IST. Being staff was such a rewarding experience, giving the youth people the same amazing adventure that I had in Sweden. This is why I’ve come again because I really enjoy being able to give more people those opportunities.”
The IST is a multinational team of adults who volunteer to spend their summer holiday in the engine room of the Jamboree.
They number 6,000 in total with nearly 1,000 coming from across the UK.
Their job is to make the Jamboree happen and the IST make every day a little easier, without always getting noticed.
Some of them are instructors planning and running activities for the tens of thousands of Jamboree participants. Others are doctors, caterers or I.T. consultants.
The event was opened by UK Chief Scout Bear Grylls, who said: “World Scout Jamborees only happen every four years and tens of thousands of Scouts attend each one. They are incredible festivals of peace, friendship and adventure.”
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