Hello All!
Because Chris Leclerc is going to the World Jamboree in the Netherlands this 
summer, I tried to translate an article about it. I hope you find it 
interesting, if you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know.
I apologize for the the way some sentences are constructed and some words are 
placed, just remember that English is not my language....
                         -+* World Jamboree *+-
With over 24 million members Scouting is the largest youth organisation
in the world. The 'party' they're going to have in Dronten this summer
is not just another party, it's the 18th World Jamboree. Host is
the Dutch Scouting with 125,000 members. 25,000 participants are
expected from more than 100 different countries.
The World Jamboree is mainly focused on the future.
But the ideology behind Scouting is still the same as when the
Englishman Robert Baden-Powell founded the organisation at the beginning
of this century. He wanted to give children a fun, adventurous and
varying way to spend their time. The activities were meant to
build their personality while learning. Independant of ranks, status and
politics. These are still the main goals of scouting.
"By cooperation on all kind of fields, splitting tasks, knowing your
responsibilities, using your talents and extending your personal
abilities, you are building your own personality. Very important in this
are respect for yourself and your environment. During a Jamboree you can
see youngsters from different countries sporting together, playing and
cooperate in a way which would be normally (because of religious or
political reasons) unimaginable."
Every 4 year there's a World Jamboree, each time in another country and
another continent. The last one was in Korea and the Jamboree in 1987
was in Australia. In 1937 the Jamboree was in the Netherlands too.
The first Jamboree was being held in London, in 1920. For this happening
Baden-Powell came up with the name jamboree, which means 'big happy
gathering' in the indian culture.
Then a small sportcomplex was enough to host the happening, nowadays a
field with the accomodations and the size of a small city are needed.
(the field in Dronten is 300 hectares big, 300 hectare equals 750 acres )
For the Dutch Scouting it's an enormous challenge to organize such a big
festival. 3,500 volunteers are responsible for the complete
organisation. Also many companies and organisations give assistance.
The theme of the Jamboree (from august 1 untill august 11) is 'Future
is now.': The future begins today and we'll begin to make it a better
world from now on. That's why there's a lot of attention for the
environment and 'ontwikkelingsamenwerking' (the helping of third world
countries by rich countries)
In the 'Global Development Village'-project there will be sportive,
creative and educational activities from and for participants from all
over the world about Environment, Health, Food, Education, Living, the
Rights of Children and youngsters.
 Participants can meet interesting new cultures in the 'Travel around the
world'-project by different means of transport. And by participating in
the 'Environment'-project, youngsters experience that they can give an
active contribution to the improvement of their own living environment.
Besides these activities their will be a variety of sports and games.
Tours will be organized and there will be a real 'vlootschouw' on the
Veluwemeer. (Lake Veluwe) ('Vlootschouw' is an exhibition of ships as
they are sailing past, quite impressive I must say)
Visitors are welcome from 3 till 8 august. Especially for them there's a
festival in the amfitheatre where different countries will be presenting
themselves.

Greetings,
Ad van Groeningen
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