A dream is only a dream until you allow it to grow. That was what Mary Avery did! Mary had a dream of 300 Girl Scouts coming together and sharing a few days together in the Spirit of Girl Scouting the end of July, in the middle of Kansas. What she didn’t plan on was the overwhelming and swelling response from around the world!
Flint Hills Girl Scout Council has long dreamed of hosting a Girl Scout event where Girl Scouts from the Flint Hills Council would join Girl Scouts from other councils for a few days of camping, outdoor fun, cooking, singing, and friendship. The dream was to hold a statewide jamboree, but when word spread on the Internet and inquiries indicated a wider interest, Prairie Winds Jamboree grew into an opportunity for Girl Scouts from across the country to gather. It became international as Girl Guides from England joined us on a reciprocal visit after a group from Flint Hills Council camped with them at West Sussex International Camp in 1996.
In total, 1,200 Girl Scouts camped at Marion Lake, near Marion, Kansas from July 29 through August 2, 1998. Marion County Park and Lake offers a quiet change of pace to visiting families. The lake was built in 1936-1940 as a Civilian Conservation Corps project after Marion County residents approved a bond election to purchase the 300 acre site. Located southeast of Marion (north of Florence on US77), the lake covers about 153 acres, with depths ranging to 40 feet. The park and lake are surrounded by privately-owned farms and residences. The following is a participant breakdown:
Girl Scouts came from 28 states, as well as a Girl Guide unit from West Sussex, England. States represented included: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas,, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
None of this would have possible without the help with some incredibly dedicated volunteers! A core group of six planned the fun - Mary Avery, Neva Kreutziger, Sharon Schmill, Jim Hoffmann, Lynn Smith (Flint Hills GSC Assistant Executive Director) and Jane Palmer (Flint Hills GSC). Over 130 volunteers helped with food preparation, planning special events, presenting program, coordinating buses for tours, and much more! Two Army National Guard units were present to provide mess tents and 27 additional shower facilities (174th Ordinance (MNT) Battalion, Kansas Army National Guard, Hays & 809th S & S Battalion, US Army Reserve, Nebraska).
Mary Avery said, "Sometimes I think we don’t appreciate what we have here. A lot of this jamboree’s appeal has to do with youngsters from big-city settings getting a chance to experience small town life firsthand." The activities at the Jamboree captured the essence of what the Flint Hills has to offer.
The site became known as "tent city". Campsites were assigned to the participating troops and site markers aided the camper to find their "home base" for the duration of the Jamboree. Walking through the hundreds of campsites early in the morning, you could smell the aroma of coffee cooking and bacon sizzling.
Activities and events abounded at Jamboree! There were many things to do (or not to do) simultaneously throughout the five days! Activities included:
Wagons, Ho! - a 2-hour wagon train tour across the Flint Hills on the Homestead Ranch near Matfield Green. The wagons are authentic from their iron wheels to their mules and draft horses. Throughout the ride, drivers and outriders will provide information on the history of the area and will include interesting bits of cowboy lore. You will enjoy a panoramic view of the scenic Flint Hills, singing and tall tales, colorful and seasoned trail riders, and the opportunity to "get away from it all". The Homestead Ranch was established in 1979. It consists of nearly 4,000 acres, which support 100 cow/calf pairs and 1,000 head of summer grazing cattle annually. Since grass is our "crop", our means of "harvesting" it is beef. We also raise some of our own hay (cool season brome grass and prairie hay).
Marion County Fair and Rodeo - an opportunity to attend the Marion County Fair at Hillsboro, view the exhibits and enjoy the carnival and rodeo entertainment. The exhibits range from prize winning animals to flowers, produce and crafts. The rodeo will include team roping, calf roping, barrel racing, steer rustling, kids calf scramble, and bull riding.
Abilene - Visit the Eisenhower Center, Antique Doll Museum, and Russell Stover Outlet Store.
Swim and Shop in Marion or Peabody, Kansas.
A Friendship Circle was erected to be the mega center of group activities. Thirty flagpoles were raised to represent the states and countries attending the event. Bleachers were brought in from surrounding towns for the event.
During the week, the girls painted trash dumpsters as a service project to the lake. Each trash dumpster was painted to represent each state that had representation at the event.
Kansas Plaque
Jeans Pocket
Pincushion Doll
Leather tooling
Rubber Stamping
Geckos
Sunflower Pint Jar
Puzzle Frame
Sunflower Autograph Book
Beaded Necklace
Puppet Making
Wheat Weaving
SWAPS class
Thursday evening the Junior Girl Scouts took part in Square Dancing, while the Cadettes and Seniors were participating in a Sock Hop at the other end of the lake.
Friday evening a Lake Walk was the perfect opportunity to show everyone every angle of this body of water.
Saturday evening was full of surprises! First everyone feasted on a wonderful Chuckwagon Dinner of BBQ beef sandwiches, beans, chips, celery and carrots, watermelon, and drink. It was great to come together as a group of 1,200 and enjoy a common meal together. Later, Mary ramroded us all together in the Friendship Circle and began what was to be an exciting evening of laughter, stories, and singing. But first, the four incredible core staff were recognized for their accomplishments. What an awesome team!!!
Then a cowboy shared a few of the tricks of his trade. He demonstrated some of the techniques of "building a relationship with his horse". Some of these were feeling/touching things, but later evolved into games to play with your horse. Soon, the calves joined the Circle. The well-trained dogs rounded up the calves, but only after one of them went up to the microphone and "sniffed" it.
An auctioneer was the next guest for the evening. He shared facts about his career as an auctioneer, and then tried to teach 1,200 the tricks-of-the-trade. One brave young lady was invited up to the microphone and demonstrated her ability to recite the LONG tongue-twister.
The grand finale was a country western songfest by a resident cowboy. He entertained us with wonderful songs, and even had us participate. We didn’t sound like cowgirls at all!
The evening concluded with a terrific Ashes Ceremony where everyone brought ashes from the nations of the world and States, identifying some of those where Juliette Gordon Low and Lady Olave participated.
The Sunday morning church service was conducted by Jim Pohlman, minister of the Christian Church of Peabody, Kansas. He arrived on a mule in period clothing, including a long preacher’s coat. He performed a special non-denominational Christian service. The text of his message was Luke 10:27 and related it to the Girl Scout Law. During the service, the attendees sang "For the Beauty of the Earth", "Amazing Grace", and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot".
Closing ceremony included a parade of State, Council, and Troop flags entering Friendship Circle. It concluded with the distribution of ashes from the Saturday evening campfire, and singing of "Girl Scouts Together".
A hearty hug and a huge "THANKS" go to the incredible team that carried out this wonderful event!
Television coverage was provided by KAKE-TV Channel 10 out of Wichita, Kansas, the Wichita Eagle, and the Marion County Record.
And as for the weather, the saying goes, "if you don’t like the weather today, stick around tomorrow because it will change." It certainly did change. The attendees experienced wide fluctuations in the weather from storms and winds to cool and hot. We were very blessed with the cooler temperatures.
You may share your thoughts and experiences about this event with Lynn Smith, Assistant Executive Director, Flint Hills GSC (see mailing address on Jamboree Home Page) or to Sandra Bugg, GSUSA.
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