Last revised May 25, 2001.
May 25, 2001TO: PARENTS OF MEMBERS OF 2001 ATLANTA AREA COUNCIL NATIONAL JAMBOREE CONTINGENT
FROM: LARRY CHASE, CONTINGENT LEADER
RE: NATIONAL JAMBOREE UPDATE
55 days - and counting!!
That’s all the time that’s left before the Atlanta Contingent will depart for National Jamboree on the morning of July 20. Much has been done; there’s much left to do. Here’s an update.
CONTINGENT STATUS:
Our troops are nearly full. 5 openings remain, but recruiting is continuing. We hope to fill every available slot. If you know of a Scout who would benefit from the Jamboree experience, let a leader know immediately. Let’s all work together to make certain every Scout possible can take advantage of this opportunity.
We’ve been in e-mail contact with the leadership of the Swedish Contingent that will be joining us at Ft. A. P. Hill. They’re as excited as our own Scouts about the experience that awaits them. And what a great addition to our Contingent they will be: the last evening of Jamboree is "International Night". Our Scouts will be able to have a particularly special experience that evening - and throughout Jamboree - as a result of the addition of Swedish Scouts to the Contingent.
SHAKEDOWN WEEKEND:
Shakedown Weekend will be held June 1 - June 3, 2001 at the Woodruff Scout Reservation in North Georgia. Attached is the schedule for that weekend - and the menu. The schedule for Shakedown Weekend is designed to adapt to potential conflicts.
Not all Scouts will be out of school by June 1, so Friday’s schedule provides for arrivals in two waves, one beginning at 4:00 PM and a second beginning at 7:00 PM. This should enable troops to establish their campsites in an orderly fashion and Scouts to meet their academic commitments without missing out on any Shakedown Weekend activities.
Several Scouts are either attending or staffing Junior Leader Training at Bert Adams Scout Reservation, which starts on Shakedown Weekend. As previously announced, the Jamboree and JLT leadership have mutually agreed on a plan that will enable Scouts to take advantage of both opportunities while also meeting their commitments at both. JLT participants may leave Shakedown after dinner on Saturday, JLT staff may leave Shakedown at noon on Sunday.
We’ve placed a lot of emphasis on attendance of this event. You may be asking why. After all, our Contingent is comprised of experienced Scouts. All of them know how to pitch a tent, cook a meal, and camp safely. And if that were all Shakedown Weekend was - another Scouting campout - it wouldn’t be all that important. But Shakedown Weekend is the one chance our Contingent has to put it all together, both the human and the physical components of the Jamboree experience.
From the moment they arrive, Scouts will experience events that are as close to Jamboree as we can make them. Their equipment will be waiting for them, already unloaded from the truck in this case, and they’ll establish their campsite just as they will at A. P. Hill. The Contingent will function as a Contingent in some activities, and as individual troops in others, just as it will at Jamboree. Food preparation, scheduling, everything is designed to be as close to the Jamboree experience as possible.
As you know, youth protection is an essential element of the Boy Scout program. All Contingent adult leaders are required to have updated their Youth Protection Training prior to June 1, 2001. All Contingent Scouts will participate in Youth Protection Training during Saturday evening of Shakedown Weekend. Scouts who are unable to attend that component of Shakedown will need to provide their Jamboree Scoutmaster with certification of their completion of Youth Protection Training during 2001.
The Atlanta Area Council has provided for large, thermal water containers for our use during Shakedown Weekend and again at Jamboree, and for an ample supply of Gatorade mix, to ensure our Scouts will remain fully hydrated throughout their Jamboree experience.
Many of you have talked with the Contingent leaders about conflicts between Shakedown Weekend and final exams. We understand the importance of our Scouts’ education and understand some will be required to cut short their attendance of Shakedown Weekend to be adequately prepared and rested for their exams. We ask you to understand the importance of Shakedown Weekend in developing the youth leadership of the Contingent. Scouts in leadership positions are needed at Shakedown!
Our Contingent leaders are attempting to form and train a relatively large Scout Troop in a matter of months. That’s no small task! Shakedown Weekend is a critical part of the process.
TRANSPORTATION:
Troops 1522 and 1523 will depart Hartsfield International Airport on Delta flight # 638 at 6:20 AM on Friday, July 20. They will arrive at Dulles International Airport at 8:05 AM. David Burke, Director of Council Operations for the Atlanta Area Council, will travel with these troops.
Troops 1524 and 2019 will depart Hartsfield International Airport on Delta flight #1874 at 7:30 AM and arrive at Regan International Airport at 9:08 AM. I will travel with these troops.
Scouts should arrive at the Delta ticket counter at Hartsfield 90 minutes in advance of flight departure. Parents should plan on saying good-bye to their Scouts in the ticket counter area, not on the Concourse!
Each of our troops will have its own tour bus during the pre-Jamboree tour. Although we are arriving at separate airports, we will rendezvous in Washington and follow the same tour route.
Current plans call for Troops 1522 and 1523 to depart Regan International on Delta flight # 623 at 2:05PM on Wednesday, August 1 and arrive at Hartsfield International Airport at 4:04 PM.
Current plans call for Troops 1524 and 2019 to depart Regan International on Delta flight # 363 at 3:05 PM and arrive at Hartsfield International Airport at 4:58 PM.
EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE:
From the outset, our budget called for minimizing expense by selling certain equipment after Jamboree. But remember, equipment represents less than 10% of our total expenses. National fees (38%) and transportation and the pre-Jamboree tour (48%) are by far our greatest costs. If equipment expenses were totally eliminated from the budget (not realistic - equipment is essential for camping!), fees would be reduced by only $104 per Scout.
Several items are available for sale and can be reserved by payment of a $25 non-refundable deposit on each item. Deposits should be made by check payable to the Atlanta Area Council. Items for sale include:
ITEM
QUANTITY
COST
Eureka 4-man tents
22
$100
Patrol canopies - 10’ X 20’
20
$100
Propane 2-burner stoves w/stand & adapter
20
$75
Patrol equipment kits (cooking gear, chef tool kit, pitcher, plastic containers, etc.)
16
$100
Camp kitchens (small patrol boxes)
4
$100
Members of the Atlanta Contingent - Scouts and leaders - will have the first opportunity to purchase these items on a first come, first served basis. Individuals who purchase tents may keep the tent they used during Shakedown and Jamboree. Deposit checks will be accepted at Shakedown Weekend registration. Deadline for participants to make deposit is June 3rd.
The home troops of Contingent members will have the next opportunity to purchase Jamboree equipment. Deposit checks will be accepted after Shakedown Weekend registration and until June 30th. Any remaining equipment will be sold to the general public.
EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTATION AND LOADING:
Use of a 55’ semi-trailer and tractor have been donated to the Council to transport Contingent equipment and personal gear to and from Ft. A. P. Hill. All 4 troops will load that gear on Saturday, July 14. Separate times will be established throughout the day for each troop to load to ensure an orderly process and minimize time requirements. Due to logistical considerations upon arrival at Ft. A. P. Hill, Troop 2019 will load last. Although the details have not been finalized, a separate date and sequence will be established for unloading gear after Jamboree.
Two duffel bags have been ordered for each Contingent member. Scouts will use the smaller bag for personal gear while traveling to and from Jamboree; their larger bags must be loaded on the truck.
UNIFORMS:
By now, all Scouts and leaders should have purchased their Class A uniforms, which will be worn while traveling, during the pre-Jamboree tour, and at various formal events while at Jamboree. Custom Jamboree Shoulder Patches ("JSP’s") have been ordered and will arrive shortly. Arrangements have been made to ensure that each Contingent member will be given the opportunity to acquire a complete set of these highly collectable patches.
Each troop has arranged for t-shirts to be worn by Contingent members as a Class B uniform during most daytime activities while at Jamboree.
REMARKS:
Your Jamboree Troop leaders remain your best, most current source of information, but we’ll continue to keep you advised of major developments as we get closer to departure. Some of you may have specific questions. David Burke (Staff Advisor) and I will be available at Shakedown Weekend registration throughout the afternoon and evening to answer any questions you may have.
Remember to look forward to August 1 - that’s still the day you’ll start hearing stories of all your Scout’s great experiences.
Thanks for your continuing support - you’re helping to build a great Jamboree!
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