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The
Maltese Troop - Eurojam
Friday 29th July 2005
On Friday 29th July, National contingent staff,
leaders and participants met at Malta International Airport
at 18.30 hrs. A press conference was held at 19.30 hrs,
where Mr Vince Cassar, Chief Scout was also present. AirMalta
Flight no KM166 left Malta to Standsted Airport at 23.45
after half an hour delay.
On arrival at Stansted Airport we were met by an IST from
Eurojam. Then we loaded our luggage into our coach, where
after about 45mins we arrived at North Weald Airfield, for
check in and registration at the Reception Centre. Here
we were handed the Eurojam name tag and site map, scarf,
badge, phone card, camp cook book, troop leaders handbook
and general adult handbook.
Afterwards another coach took us to our sub camp (Oder)
where we were met by some Maltese ISTs and our sub camp
leader Mr Graeme Popay. We were offered the Leaders’
meeting tent to stay for the night. Pitching of tents was
postponed for the morning. In the meantime, the ISTs brought
us the equipment we had ordered.
Saturday 30th July 2005
As soon as we woke up, we were shown to campsite area number
11 , which was to be our home for the duration of this Eurojam.
While we pitched our tents, our neighbours Cheshire County
brought us tea. We organised our kitchen and dining area
in the fiesta tent we brought with us from Malta, cortesy
of Fgura Scout Group.
At 2 pm ice breaking activities with all sub-camp as well
as campsite quiz were on the programme, wherein all scouts
had their first opportunity to make new friends and swap
badges. We were given a plain board to decorate with our
country as the subject. We have to admit that ours was one
of the best, thanks to the artistic talents of scouts Kristie
Deguara and Cuneyt Micallef.
The opening ceremony was in the evening and all sub camp
members had to meet at 5.30pm and leave together from our
campsite. It was raining heavily while we waited for everyone
to gather. Wide orange material was carried overhead while
we all set off in the rain for the main arena, everyone
singing and making a lot of noise. The rain did not stop
until after we arrived at the arena. As you looked down
the hill to the main stage, the arena was awash with a sea
of flags representing each nationality joined together to
celebrate the opening of this amazing event.
As each of the eight sub camps arrived, there was plenty
of music to keep the spirits high. Despite the damp weather,
everyone was soon singing and dancing along to the Bogus
Brothers.
We were then treated to a gymnastics and BMX displays and
performances by the EuroJam cast. The Jamboree Director,
Bill Cockcroft arrived on an open top bus, soon to be followed
by Peter Duncan's infamous abseil. After a parade of national
flags, we were reminded of the EuroJam song. Then the serious
partying began and we danced the night away. Back to campsite
and lights out at 11pm.
Sunday 31st July 2005
Our morning activity was Irish Sea Euroville. We walked
together to this Euroville and then split up in different
groups, each visiting different tents. The Portuguese contingent
had many stands, varying from history, music, culture, navigation,
leather woggle making, painting and paper oven. We were
given a card, wherein they put their stamp for each stand
you visit and take part. When we had five stamps and answered
the right question, we were given a Portuguese pin. We played
some games and made perfume with the Spanish as well as
painted wooden spoons with the Turks.
We had lunch together at the Euroville and in the afternoon
it was choice time, where everyone went his own way, visiting
Energize or globuses or met with other scouts.
Every day at 7pm troop leaders met at the Leaders’
tent for news and updates of the activities, programme and
last minute updates of the Oder sub camp.
The evening programme took most of our scouts to the dance
tent or watching the Spectacle and Illusion at the plaza.
After lights out, troop leaders usually joined IST’s
in Lake Geneva sub camp for a drink and a chat at their
dining area.
Monday 1st August
Choice time was in the morning where most of the scouts
enjoyed a couple of hours doing percussions at Energize.
They also visited the Children’s rights Globus. At
noon we all met at Faiths and Beliefs for mass.
In the afternoon it was North Sea Euroville where we took
part in different activities, amongst which water rockets,
puzzle painting, catapult and planetarium.
During today’s dinner, 15 scouts and troop leader
Josephine Gatt went for their meal with Cheshire Group,
while 15 scouts from their group together with troop leader
Ian Ross came to have dinner with us.
US Halfpipes were on the stage at the plaza in the evening.
Troop leaders Gregory Attard and Josephine Gatt together
with scout Maxine Scicluna went to meet other IST’s
at the German Black Magic.
Tuesday 2nd August
Splash was today’s full day activity. We went to Gate
2 at 9am from where we left for Alton Water Reservoir in
Suffolk. On our way there, the IST member in charge distributed
to each member two tickets of different water activities,
one for the morning and the other for the afternoon. Then
when we arrived we were split into groups according to the
activity. Activities included kayaking, sailing, windsurfing,
bell boating, raft building, incident hike with water related
games.
Unfortunately, one of the scouts Cindy Lee Bonnici was hurt
while she was on her bicycle during her morning activity
and had to stay at the First Aid stand for observation.
When we went back to the campsite she was taken to the campsite
hospital where she stayed the night. However all was fine
and she joined us the following morning fully recovered.
In the evening, we joined the rest of our sub camp scouts
for Sub-camp idol on Oder stage. Most troops did one or
two items of singing or stunts. We performed Singing in
the Rain and a Maltese medley.
Wednesday 3rd August
Today was Celebrate Europe Day. We were instructed to wear
white or black T-shirts. Packed lunch was swapped for a
packed breakfast, which was to be eaten at the main arena
during the ceremony. However, due to heavy rain in the morning,
breakfast was eaten in mess tent and raincoats had to be
worn over our white t-shirts.
When we got to the main arena there
was a short ceremony, wherein we all said the scout’s
promise. We were given a white scarf and a pen, and everyone
started to get his signed from scouts coming from all over
the world. Then we stayed for mass at the main arena.
Early in the afternoon all Maltese
contingent met in front of Hylands House to take the group’s
photo.
Afterwards scouts went to plaza where
there were Celebrate Europe Day activities, namely games,
taking photos, face painting and glass painting. At 5.30pm
two of our scouts on behalf of the troop attended to the
young people’s forum at the Leaders’ tent.
In the afternoon, we prepared and set
up our stand for the food festival in our sub camp. Scouts
went round tasting other countries foods.
In the evening, some of us went to
the Black Magic and ceremony in the evening at the main
arena with fireworks at the end.
Thursday 4th August
Our morning activity was at the Mediterranean Euroville,
where the Maltese contingent were organizing Maltese games.
We played xixu, rounds and made hand prints with the Maltese
IST’s. Then played hurling and Gaelic football with
the Irish, solar oven with the Italians and painted woggles
with the Irish.
During the afternoon choice time, scouts went to Faiths
and Beliefs and into Islamic tent where most of them had
their name written in Arabic.
Malta night was on at our stand so we all went there at
around 7pm. We met several NCS from all over Europe and
also spoke to Eurojam Director Mr Bill Cockcroft. The Maltese
girl guides danced the Maltese folk dance.
Afterwards we all went to watch Shrek 2 in the cinema tent.
Unfortunately, shortly before the film started, one of our
scouts Bernard Maniscalco had an asthma attack and was taken
to the First Aid stand and medicated by our troop leader/doctor
Gregory Attard. He was later taken to the campsite hospital
to stay overnight. By the next morning he was fully recovered
and came back to join the troop.
Friday 5th August
We went to the Global Development Village and percussion
in the morning. In the afternoon it was Adriatic Sea Euroville.
We visited Polish laser technology and newspaper as well
as Irish ancient writing and history.
In the evening some of the scouts watched Harry Potter 3
in cinema tent, others visited Black Magic or went to the
Sub camp party.
Saturday 6th August
Gilwell Adventure was today’s full day activity. We
met at Gate 5 behind the main stage at 8am and left shortly
afterwards for Gilwell Park, the home of Scouting in the
UK since 1919. We spent a day at this beautiful country
estate on the edge of London, taking part in many different,
unusual and exciting activities. Activities were divided
into 5 zones and we spent an hour in each zone: Challenge
Valley, Motion Zone, Scouting Skills, Mountain Adventure
and History Zone. We were taken to a historic tour of the
park, climbing, caving, abseiling and bouldering. We did
some crafts, like woggles, wood branding and roping. Other
activities included the challenge valley assault course,
water slides, go-carting, BMX biking, archery and water
rockets. Back to the campsite after a very tiring but completely
satisfying day, we had IST’S for dinner.
Sunday 7th August
In the morning we had choice time and we went to Energize
where we were promised a photo session but the photographer
did not turn up. So we did massages and reflexology and
then went to the Circus.
In the afternoon we went to UK village
where we met the promised photographer and played games
and percussion instruments while we had the photo session.
We had a great time and one of our crazy photos even ended
up on the home page of Eurojam!! Afterwards we all marched
to Baltic Sea Euroville where we played the G-game, which
was a set of questions and discussions topics on gay persons.
We had a very interesting and enlighting time.
While dinner was being prepared, scouts
went around swapping badges and t-shirts.
The evening programme at the Plaza
had Crazy Ceilidh Capers, but as usual the scouts scattered
and everyone chose their own place to end the day.
Monday 8th August
Today’s off-site day activity was Starburst. We were
given two sets of tickets from our Sub-camp to be split
up by leaders. Troop leader Gregory Attard together with
4 scouts went to Southend-on-Sea for beach cleaning and
visit to the Aquarium while troop leader Josephine Gatt
with the other 19 scouts went to Lee Valley Country Park
for an orienteering hike and gardening works. It was great
to learn that we had contributed to complete a service project
that in one week achieved the same effect as the regular
set of volunteers would have taken four years to finish!!
Back at the campsite, while we prepared dinner, Josephine
collected all Jamboree Friendship Award cards to present
to the sub camp team in the morning.
In the evening the scouts went to the Plaza stage where
there was a good steel band playing and afterwards listened
to a German playing good tunes on guitar at the Black Magic.
Tuesday 9th August
After breakfast scouts organized their camp and personal
equipment. In the afternoon, there were the last sub camp
activities, where scouts took photos, exchanged badges,
t-shirts, scarfs and contact details.
In the afternoon, we collected the Jamboree Friendship Badges
for all scouts and two for the leaders. We struck the mess
tent down. After dinner, all Oder sub camp met near the
stage and every troop was give an orange scarf signed by
all sub camp team and CD with sub camp photos. Then we went
to main arena for the closing ceremony, shouting and singing
all the way there. After the grand opening, everyone was
a bit disappointed with the closing ceremony. However, being
good scouts, everyone had fun together.
Back at the campsite, we made hot chocolate for everyone
and went to sleep.
Wednesday 10th August
We woke up and ate breakfast outside (luckily it wasn’t
raining!!). We packed all our personal and groups equipment
and struck tents down.
Troop leader Gregory Attard returned
all our hired equipment while troop leader Josephine Gatt,
through the kind co-operation and prompt action of Mr Graeme
Popay (sub camp leader) succeeded in getting a minibus to
carry all our bags and equipment to Gate 5. Then we walked
there to meet all the contingent. We rode the coach and
took off to Kent for HoHo.
We arrived at Hopehill campsite at
Meopham in Kent early in the afternoon. The campsite area
and the countryside were beautiful and could not have been
more relaxing. We settled in our bags and took a light lunch
from the leftover food we brought from Eurojam. Some time
later our hosts brought us all the food we needed for the
duration of our stay.
Soon afterwards the troop leaders,
some IST’s and all the scouts went to Gravesend by
bus to have a look around. Back to the campsite our hosts
prepared a BBQ for us and we had a great time together.
They gave us all their district badge and we presented them
with the Malta scarf and a couple of Malta souveniers, namely:
the Maltese bus and the Goddess of Fertility.
As regards the sleeping arrangements,
these were divided into two, one hall for the female members
and the other for the male members. However, a couple of
IST’s opted to camp outside, while some other IST’S,
troop leaders and scouts slept together outside under the
porch – watching the stars.
Thursday 11th August
After breakfast, all the contingent
prepared to leave the campsite for a day tour by coach.
We spent all morning at The Historic Dockyard in Chatham,
where we visited the working Ropery, museum of the Royal
Dockyard, destroyer HMS Cavalier and Ocelot submarine. The
afternoon took us to Blue Waters Shopping Centre, said to
be the largest in Europe. Needless to say everyone did some
or much shopping, depending mostly on what we had left in
our pockets or credit cards!!
Friday 12th August
The morning took all scouts, troop
leaders and some IST’s to Gravesend centre. Some IST’s
and NCS’s left for a day in London, while others stayed
at the campsite to clean the premises. In the afternoon,
our hosts organized different activities on the campsite
– abseiling and climbing, rifle shooting and archery.
We had a great time.
Later in the afternoon troop leaders
and three IST’s also left for London. The scouts stayed
at the campsite with the rest of the contingent.
Saturday 13th August
Everyone back at the campsite, we had
a relaxing morning, looking around the campsite and surrounding
countryside. After lunch, we started to pack our bags and
shrink wrapped all tents and equipment.
Before leaving for the airport, we
distributed packed lunches to all. Soon it was time to go
and we loaded all our bags into the coach. Considering that
we were still in England, it was raining when we took the
final photo with our hosts. We all cheered and thanked them
for a wonderful stay.
Our flight from Stansted was by AirMalta
KM167 at 23.55 and we arrived in Malta at 3.55am on Sunday
14th August.
Although we were all looking forward
to come back to our families, we were all sad that we were
leaving our ‘Eurojam’ family. We exchanged hugs
and promised to keep in touch.
General comments:
Cooking on a small table gas cooker
was a very slow process. Unfortunately this resulted in
losing precious time waiting for dinner to be ready, thus
delaying eating and clearing afterwards. By the time all
was ready, most evening activities would have begun or were
half way through, especially sub camp programme.
The telephone lines were most probably
what one should consider a failure at Eurojam. Considering
the large number of persons on campsite, there were few
lines and they were always booked with long queues.
Security and safety of scouts during
the off-site programme was very well done. However, more
attention should have been taken to monitor who was coming
and going out of the campsite from Gate 5 (bus stop for
Chelmsford). Nobody was taking any records of who was leaving,
whether adult or scout. This could have resulted in serious
problems.
Eurojam was overall a wonderful and
unique experience. It was a time for meeting and making
friends from all over the globe. The activities were well
organised and fun. Thanks for the organisation of Eurojam,
we all had a great time. Well done!!
Josephine Gatt
Troop Leader
Malta contingent
6th November 2005
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