Mike's Blog
Welcome to Mike's Blog...
Mike Parkes is the UK Contingent Leader, and here he shares his thoughts with us on all things Jamboree.
27th July 2010
I wonder if anyone else has heard all the hype on the news today, with it being exactly two years to the start of the Olympic Games?
More importantly, for nearly four and half thousand of us, a year today we will be joining thousands of fellow Scouts and Guides from all over the world at the start of the 22nd World Scout Jamboree :)
Cheers
Mike
24th July 2010
As I got up this morning, taking my time over a cup of coffee, I wondered if things would be quite so leisurely in a years time...
Exactly one year today the mobilisation of the largest contingent to a Scouting event outside of the UK will have commenced and participants will start arriving in Copenhagen for the start of the Pre Event.
Last weekend we had a Contingent Management Team meeting, which in itself was a marathon as we are reaching some critical milestones, including the booking of all our flights in the next few of weeks, but I guess today really focuses the mind!
Here's to a years time!
Mike
9th JUly 2010
I can't believe it's now a week since I was packing up the car ready to head north for the IST Gathering in Walesby! I have had intentions of coming on here all week to update, however I was so tired after for the first couple of days , I never really got round to it. Add to that the excitement of collecting my new car and playing with it for the rest of the week and here we are!
The IST Gathering was amazing, we have a really great bunch of adults who certainly 'Contributed, Developed and Inspired' over the weekend. New freindships were formed and everyone worked and played hard.
Fancy dress at the Saturday night's entertainment gave rise to some interesting interpretations on the 'American' theme!
Facebook has been busy this week, with lots of people adding photos and comments about what a great weekend they had...Using this as a crude guage of the success of the weekend, I hope this tide of enthusiasm will continue until our departure in just over a years time!
Jamboree wise for me now, it's starting to prepare for our Contingent Management Team meeting next weekend, which I think is going to be a long one, as there seems to be so much to discuss!
Cheers
Mike
29th June 2010
It's been nearly two weeks since I blogged last... I just have not had the opportunity to get on here and write something. Some of you may be aware that amongst other things, I am a Retained Firefighter and live in an area surrounded by heathland. Unfortunately the down side of the nice weather we have be experiencing means that we have a lot of heath fires. This weekend alone, I was called out 14 times!
Jamboree wise I have now managed to collate most of the requests for me and the team to visit units. There are still a few we haven't heard from but I am sure they will help me meet my goal of getting a visit to all 89 units!
Turning thoughts ahead to this weekend, it's off to Walesby to the IST Gathering. I will be heading north on Friday and am looking forward to meeting many of the IST over what looks to be a fun packed weekend... however before I go, I have to go shopping for my fancy dress costume for Saturday evening!
Cheers
Mike
15th June 2010
Last weekend saw the passing of another major milestone in our preparations, with nearly 300 people attending Unit Leader Weekend No2.
It was an amazing weekend, where we were able to share heaps of information about the Jamboree and our plans as a contingent with the Unit Leadership. This was also a real opportunity for everyone to share their own local plans and best practice for preparation of our participants. I certainly came away with the feeling that not only will we have the largest contingent ever to attend a world event outside of the UK, we will also have the best contingent ever to attend a World Scout Jamboree!
Over the past day or so, I have been busy collating all the requests for visits to Units around the UK, so far we are up to 62 units but it would be great to get requests from the other 27 to ensure that we meet everyone before we depart for Sweden in just over a years time.
The focus now is turning to the IST gathering in Waelsby in a couple of weekends time. Again, I am expecting this to be an invigourating event and I am looking forward to meeting many of our keen and enthusiatic volunteers who will be supporting the Jamboree.
As well as preparing what I need to say at the gathering, I have to decide on what fancy dress costume to get... I am sure this will be a challenge in itself!
Cheers
Mike
7th June 2010
I had hoped to update my blog from the Heads of Contingents Meeting in Sweden, however the weekend was so action packed that I never got the opportunity to get some time out to sit down and write it.
The weekend was what I can only describe as amazing! Our friends in Sweden certainly have moved their plans on leaps and bounds since the first Heads of Contingents Meeting in August last year. It was great to hear first hand from the teams all about the plans for the Jamboree - there are too many highlights to put on here, and we will be sharing this information at the Unit Leaders Meeting at the weekend and the IST Gathering at the beginning of July, however I can say the programme looks exciting, particularly Camp in Camp!
Saturday evening saw us walking around the Jamboree site itself. Whilst it is difficult to visualise what the site will look like as there is just lots of open space at the moment, it was still good to comprehend the sheer size of the site...my legs were certainly aching at the end of a two hour walk!
Apart from hearing all about the Jamboree, it was a great opportunity to network and chat with representatives from many of the other contingent representatives, hearing about their plans and preparations. There was a truely international spirit to the weekend with people from so many countries, faiths and cultures sharing one same goal and to me felt very magical, almost like a mini Jamboree!
Cheers
Mike
2nd June 2010
I am off work this week and was planning on doing lots of chores around the house, but best made plans like that never seem to happen. I have instead spent most of the last couple of days in front of the pc catching up on lots of Scouting odds and ends I should have done weeks ago, including wrting one of the workshops for the Unit Leaders Weekend.
I have also been tracking the BA strike, as I am supposed to be flying out with other members of the CMT to the Head of Contingents meeting this weekend. Our original flight has been cancelled but we are now on a later flight, so hopefully all will go to plan and we will make there! I am really looking forward to seeing how the plans are going, meeting the Swedish teams and our counterparts from the other contingents.
I will try and post something on here from Sweden over the weekend.
Cheers
Mike
23rd May 2010
Wow, hasn't it been a great weekend...warm, dry and sunny! I am aware that quite a few units have held traiining camps this weekend, I hope none of you are suffering too much from sunburn!
I took the opportunity to visit one of the Dorset units this morning. All of the young people and leaders were having a fantastic time and there was a real buzz when I walked onto the campsite.
This unit is one of the units that has a Girl Guide patrol, made up from girls from across the South West. One girl had travelled for two hours from Cornwall to be there!!! Needless to say all were mixing in well and it was great to see first hand how well the Guides are fitting in with the Scouts. I look forward to meeting other GUK patrols on my travels over the next year or so!
Think that's about it for now, let's hope this weather lasts!
Mike
14th May 2010
Thankfully I am not in charge of logistics for the Jamboree, otherwise I might have 4000 frustrated people on my back after the Jamboree next year... our journey back from Sweden was even more eventful than the journey out!
All started well, we left the hotel nice and early and got to the airport with about an hour and a half to spare. Unfortunately when we got to the gate the lady told us there was a 45 min delay because of the football in Hamburg (I am not a football fan, as wasn't overly impressed at this point).
Eventually we got on our plane, well I call it a plane but it wasn't really much bigger than a microlite - Jon said it was cool 'a bit like a private jet'. Personally I would opt for something big that doesn't look like it's going to get blown off course by a puff of wind!
Arriving in Hamburg late meant we missed our connecting flight and had to go on a standby list - thankfully we made it back the same day, despite the lady on the desk saying it might not be for a couple of days!
Apart from the travel the trip to Sweden was really worthwhile and I am off up to Gilwell tomorrow to share the information at our CMT meeting.
Cheers
Mike
11th May 2010
Hej! Getting to Stockholm yesterday was a bit of an adventure... Mindful of costs we had chosen to fly indirect via Munich, however things started badly when we checked in as their were no allocated seats due to delays caused by volcanic ash over the weekend, however we were assured that if we got to the gate quickly we would get a seat.
After clearing security we ran to the gate only and were called to board only then to be told that there was no allocation and we needed to go back to the desk! Eventually we did get on the plane, which then subsequently arrived late in Munich, giving us 10 mins until the departure of our flight to Stockholm... we ran again (I am not a natural athlete!) and made it just in time!
All this agro was really worth it as we had a very productive meeting with the Jamboree organisers yesterday evening. We are heading back to the Jamboree offices this morning for fika and a meeting with our EVS volunteers
Cheers
Mike
7th May 2010
It's been a hectic couple of weeks for me, lots going on in life generally, especially with Scouting and the Jamboree. I am just on the train heading back from a day of meetings to do with the Jamboree at Gilwell. It's all been very productive but I am starting to feel sleepy now, as I was up until silly o'clock this morning waiting to see what happened in the election.
I had a phone call a few days ago asking me if I would go and 'fika' with a unit - I am really keen to visit and engage with our young people, so I am looking forward to heading out to see them in a month or so.
I am heading out to Sweden on Monday morning for a series of meetings with the Jamboree organisers - these always prove to be an excellent chance to update them on the UK plans, and more importantly to gather as much information from them as possible about what they have planned - this means by the time we get to the forthcoming Unit Leader Weekend and IST Gathering, we will have loads to tell everyone!
Hope you all have a good weekend and I will hopefully update my blog from Sweden next week!
Cheers
Mike
25th April 2010
I expect many of you will have been to St Georges Day events today. I have actually mananged to squeeze in two!!!
First thing this morning saw me jumping in the car and heading down to the far west of the county...as I live almost as far east in the county as you can get this meant a journey of near one and half hours. It was well worth the journey to join in the district's celebrations which was being held at camp... as I arrived I was handed a large kitchen knife and had to 'kill' the dragon on a massive cake big enough to feed the entire district!
This afternoon I headed across to Dorchester District to take part in their St Georges Day Parade. During the address the minister asked various questions of the young people including two Scouts attending the Jamboree. Unfortunately the guys did not know they were going to be called up however they did admirably and spoke of how they were looking forward to meeting new people, doing fun activities and learning about different cultures.
I took the opportunity to grab a quick chat with Jack and Dillon after the service and as well as promising them a mention on my blog, was able to congratulate them on the way they handled their unexpected moment of stardom!
When I got home I received a text from Dougie from the Contingent Support Team saying he had completed the London Marathon in 5 hours 31 mins, which was not as good as he hoped for but an old injury hit him at the 10 mile stage. Despite this not being as good as he would like, it is certainly a tremendous achievement, particularly as he was running in aid of the UK Contingent Solidarity Fund which will enable Scouts from developing countries attend the Jamboree that otherwise would not be able to come. You can still sponsor Dougie by following the link on our home page!
Cheers
Mike
20th April 2010
My lazy Easter break seems to have roilled on a bit, whilst I am back at work now, the weekend just gone seems to have been very laid back for a change and whilst I had really good intentions of doing lots of jobs round the house, it didn't really happen! You may not be aware yet, but I am not an avid gardener and mowing the lawn does not feature highly on my list of things to do when the sun is shining...so whilst you could hear the hum of mowers from elsewhere, mine stayed very firmly shut in the shed!
Things for me on the Jamboree front seem to have been quiet too and I have just be monitoring the odd email here and there, but I decided today that I needed a quick catch up with Jon in the office and started to brainstorm a list of a few bits before I phoned, this turned into quite an extensive list of things and a long phone call!
I was sat at a county Scout Fellowship meeting this evening next to one of my team that is also a member of the unit leadership team and when everyone was there working out dates for all the things they have planned, I couldnt help notice that in her diary there were 3 weeks in July/August next year blocked out in bold red pen....fun times 
Cheers
Mike
11th April 2010
Hey, it's been a couple of weeks since I last updated anything on here....not because nothing has been going on, just I have had a bit of a lazy time and took some time out over the Easter break to recharge the batteries!
Lots of things have been happening with the Jamboree, most of the IST that were offered places following the selections have now taken up their places. I am hearing bits and pieces from around the UK that Units are starting to meet and gel - all very exciting and I am looking forward to getting out and about soon to meet some of these units!
It's strange that when you least expect to hear anything to do with Jamboree, someone asks you about it.... I was sat in my office at work this week when one of my colleagues came in and asked if I was something to do with the Jamboree, I explained my role and it turns out that one of his relatives has just been selected to go as part of the Nottinghamshire unit...small world!
My most bizzare reference to the Jamboree this week has to be at a Gang Show I was a guest at on Friday, where one of the sketches was about a leader who had been selected to attend but because of the current climate the Jamboree was being held in their Scout Hut... things got stranger when throughout the sketch there was a gone wrong pantomime horse that looked like a camel...I guess you have to have been there and fortunately we will be going to Sweden and not their Scout Hut!!!
Anyway that's enough of my ramblings
Cheers
Mike
28th March 2010
It's been great to finally meet some young people going to the Jamboree!
On Thursday evening I met up with the patrol from Dorset forming part of one of the three new composite units in the UK Contingent. This was the first time we were able to fill the participants in about how the units will be working and what they can expect from their very unique unit.
Yesterday I took the opportunty to visit one of the Dorset units on their first training camp. The Scouts / Explorer Scouts were in really good spirits and clearly very excited about their adventure that lies ahead of them. It was brilliant to see them all working together already and there were some makings of some good gateways being built (I even helped hold up one of the a-frames whilst one of the Scouts climbed up to tie something on the top!).
As I drove back home, it made me think that these sorts of events are going on up and down the country and I am certainly looking forward to meeting more of these young people and their leaders over the build up to the Jamboree!
Cheers
Mike
21st March 2010
I have just got back from a weekend with the CMT & CST at Gilwell Park. The team have all been working hard on developing their different areas of the project and I am very confident that this will be a truly amazing experience for all members of the UK Contingent!
Driving home I was thinking how great it will be to tell those attending either the Unit Leader Meeting or the IST Gathering all the exciting developments!
Cheers
Mike
12th March 2010
I have just got back from a good evening at a Girlguiding Annual Review where I didn't think in a million years that Jamboree would be even mentioned...how wrong you can be! A Guider came up to me and to cut a long story short she was the parent of one of the Scouts I took to Thailand. This brought back a huge tide of feelings and emotions for all things good about Jamboree. The great thing is that this Scout's sister is attending this Jamboree as a Guide!
I then met one of the leaders who is going to the Jamboree with one of the Guide Patrols! So alll in all, a great evening!
I am off to the Channel Islands in the morning so better go and pack my bags!
Cheers
Mike
27th Feb 2010
Well a week skiing in Italy has drawn to a close and those of you who ski will appreciate how my legs feel at the moment!
As I skiied down the last run this afternoon my thoughts turned to next year and whether or not I will manage to get any skiing in. Although I am hopeful, the reality might be that 2011 will be too busy (mind you I can't grumble, as I have been lucky enough to have two ski trips this year!)
I then got thinking on how long it was to the Jamboree and I realised that today is exactly 17 months until the opening of the Jamboree in Sweden... that's less than a year and a half to go and so much still to do!
It's just a short update today, as I have to pack my bags ready to fly home first thing in the morning and get ready to go back to the reality of work on Monday :(
Cheers
Mike
16th Feb 2010
I have had a busy few days doing things to do with Jamboree. Friday saw me jumping on a plane to visit one of the countries we hope will host some of the participants from UK Contingent for HoHo after the Jamboree. After a really productive meeting, we were taken out to visit a local Scout camp and it was truly amazing to see the young people sat doing many of the activities we would find in the UK however they were sat on the snow doing them!
Our sub-zero experience was futher enhanced by a visit to the seaside... I have never seen the sea frozen before and it was even more surreal when our hosts took us out to walk on it!
After a very early flight home on Sunday morning, it was straight in the car from Heathrow down to Bristol for the final IST selection event. I was keen to attend this and support the team that had been working tirelessly for the previous six events. I am very confident that we are going to have an excellent bunch of people joining the UK Contingent as IST.
Whilst I was driving home on Sunday evening, it dawned on me that we had now completed another milestone in the development of the UK Contingent. The selection of the IST means that we will now be very close to our 4000 people that make up the contingent, which despite my tiredness after a long weekend made me extremely excited!
Cheers
Mike
6th Feb 2010
It's been a bit longer than I expected between blogs...it seems to have been a busy couple of weeks. Last weekend I was in Scotland for the IST selection at Fordell Firs, fortunately I had gone well prepared to this weekend and had plenty of warm clothing on, as it turned out to be a rather chilly day!
Once again the enthusiasm of the people attending selection was excellent and it was amazing that some people had travelled long distances in heavy snow to attend the day!
I have had my own fun in the snow this week, as on Wednesday I flew out for a few days break in Kandersteg with some other Scouting friends. The skiing in Kandersteg was good, but the last two days we have spent in Adelboden has been awesome, with a whole load of fresh snow over night, making conditions this morning perfect!
It's back to reality as we fly home first thing tomorrow morning and back to work on Monday :(
Next weekend hails a meeting in one of our host HoHo countries and the final IST selection events.
Cheers
Mike
24th Jan 2010
I have just got back home from the IST Selection Event at Gilwell Park. It was great to see all the adults we invited along to selection having so much fun, despite the cold and the mud (I didn't go well prepared and am still thawing out!). The calibre of those participating was very high and I am confident that we will have an excellent IST attending the Jamboree.
A similar event took place in Durham yesterday, which I am told went very well and I am sure the remaining five events will go well. For me, it's off to the event in Fife, Scotland next Saturday.
Cheers
Mike
14th Jan 2010
Well the weekend has now started for me (I don't work Fridays) and as I was driving home, it dawned on me that this was a start of a very busy six weeks!
On top of my day to day Scouting commitments, there is heaps of Jamboree stuff going on, starting this Sunday with our next regular meeting of the CMT at Gilwell.
The following weekend sees the start of the IST selection events, which is very exciting and judging by the amount of telephone calls and emails the team have been busy planning and preparing for these. I am confident that these will be very enjoyable days for all involved. Over the seven events, the entire CMT and CST will be mobilised at some point; Clive and I have split which events we are attending - I will be at Gilwell, Avon and Fife.
I also have a trip across to one of our Home Hospitalty countries in a few weeks time. We hope they are going to be one of our main providers, so its going to be great to meet up and see how they can help us accomodate members of the UK Contingent.
It's not all Jamboree though, I am managing to squeeze in two skiing holidays during February, but one way or another it's going to be a busy six weeks!
Cheers
Mike
9th Jan 2010
Happy New Year to you all and welcome to my very first Jamboree blog!
For many of you, this will be quite close to the beginning of your Jamboree experience, however I am now 14 months into the project! It has been great to see the UK Contingent growing over this time, going from just me on my own, to the CMT & CST coming on board at the early part of last year and now many counties / areas are coming on board with their Units.
The next massive growth to the contingent will be after the selection of the IST in January and February. I should imagine by around Easter, we will be getting close to achieving the 4000 members that make up the contingent.
For those of us attending, don't forget that the Jamboree experience doesn't start when you get on the plane, it has already started. There is lots of preparation to do ensuring that we all get the best possible experience. It's amazing to think that in such a short period of time we will have grown into the largest contingent attending any Scouting event outside of the United Kingdom! I am sure this will present us with some challenges along the way, but I am confident those of you who make up the UK Contingent will be as proud as I am to be a part of it!
I am sure some of you will have already been surfing the web, reading the various bulletins and will be aware that we have an exciting time ahead of us. If you haven't already done so, have a look at the Swedish website which should give you a bit of feel for what the Jamboree will be like. Having had several meetings with the Jamboree organisers, I am confident that it will be a very exciting World Scout Jamboree for all of us.
Many of you will have been enjoying the icy cold weather over the past few weeks and others of you will have had enough of it! I have been tracking things regularly, as we rarely get snow in Dorset (it did finally happen this week) but it did make me think about the Jamboree when someone on the news said that it was colder in Dorset than it was in Sweden! Thankfully we are going in the summer, when it will be a lot warmer!
I hope you will follow my blogs over the next 19 months as we build up to the 22nd World Scout Jamboree and I look forward to giving you a personal insight into the Jamboree and what the UK Contingent Leader does and thinks!
Cheers
Mike