24th World Scout Jamboree

What is the 24th World Scout Jamboree?

The World Scout Jamboree is the largest camping event organized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), gathering as many as 50,000 Scouts and leaders from 169 National Scout Organizations. The 24th World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) is co‐hosted by Scouts Canada, Association de Scouts de Mexico, and the Boy Scouts of America. The last time the United States hosted a WSJ was in 1967 in Idaho.

The WSJ is an educational event bringing together young men and young women from around the world to promote peace, mutual understanding, and to develop leadership skills. The Jamboree will feature the hallmarks of past world jamboree programs such as the Global Development Village, the World Scout Centre, a special sustainability initiative, and the socialization elements that allow participants to make lifelong friends from around the world.

The United States Contingent is limited on the number of people that we can send to a World Scout Jamboree. While we will be able to send more to this jamboree than ever before, we expect there to be tremendous interest and encourage folks to apply as soon as possible.

Dates: July 22-August 2, 2019 (U.S. participants arrive on July 21 to assist with greeting other participants from around the world)

Location: Summit Bechtel Reserve, Glen Jean, West Virginia (about 1 hour southeast of Charleston, WV)

Fees: $2,500 (see fee details below)

Ways to Participate:

• Youth Patricipant: attend the event as a camper and participate as a member of a unit
• Adult Leader: attend the event at a unit leader and assist with organization, travel, communication, and oversight of the group onsite (see selection process below)
• International Service Team (IST or Staff): attend the event as a staff member and help execute programs and activities throughout the Jamboree (involves arriving onsite early for set up and training)

Eligibility:

• Youth Participant: The event is coed and all youth participants must have their date of birth fall between July 22, 2001 and July 21, 2005 (ages 14-17 at the time of the Jamboree) with no exceptions
• Adult Leader: Over 18 years of age at the time of the Jamboree
• IST: Over 18 years of age at the time of the Jamboree
• All participants (youth, adult, and staff) must be registered members of the BSA

Application Process:

Participants, adult leaders, and IST will complete an online application. Applications will be reviewed on both Northern Star Council and National level. Official information and a link to the online application can be found on the USA Contingent website.

Fees:

Total fees, along with a payment schedule will be published on November 1, 2017 on the registration page.

Applicants who submit a $250 deposit between November 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018, and make all payments on time will have a $100 discount applied to their last payment.

The participant and unit leader fees include registration for the Jamboree, meals at the Jamboree, tents, and patrol/cooking gear. The fees also cover appropriate travel expenses (including food) between “Hub” cities and the Jamboree. An appropriate number of “Hub” cities will be identified across the continental United States depending on the distribution of youth and leaders that make up the various units. Applicants will be responsible for the costs to get themselves to and from these “Hub” City locations. Due to different travel costs, participant and leader fees may vary by region. 

In an effort to reduce costs, there will be NO TOURS pre or post Jamboree.

The Staff fees will include all of these items except for transportation and travel related expenses. Transportation to and from the Jamboree will be the responsibility of the IST member based on when they need to report or depart from their staff assignment.

Selection Process:

Youth Participant: once an application is filled out, participants will be notified if they have been accepted or are being put on a waiting list. If they are put on a waiting list, they will continue to pay according to the payment schedule. Applicants on the waiting list that are not ultimately selected will receive a full refund (including initial deposit).

• Youth should apply through the online system by July, 2018
• Youth will be assigned to units based on availability and geographic location
• Pre-Jamboree schedules will be shared shortly after units are formed through your Jamboree Scoutmasters

Adult Leader: there will be four leaders per unit and acceptance timing will be based on the filling of youth in the units which have been allocated to each region. Leaders will continue to pay, according to the Payment Schedule even if they have not been confirmed. BSA regional leadership will select leaders based on the leader qualifications. Leader applicants who are not ultimately selected will receive a full refund. If a unit leader applicant is not selected for a unit leadership position, it would be encouraged that they consider modifying their registration status to that of an International Service Team member applicant. Once that modification is made in their application, selection for IST positions would be handled by the Host Committee. Female leadership is important in order to follow BSA policy on Co‐Ed units.

• Applications due by February 28 (thru the National System)
• Applications will be reviewed and leaders will be selected for interviews
• Communication from Northern Star for interview details will follow shortly
• Interviews will take place in late March and leadership will be selected

IST: once approved by their local council and the Boy Scouts of America Contingent leadership, the application will be sent to the World Jamboree Organizers (Host). The Host will notify the applicant of acceptance and job assignment. Some assignments likely will be given in 2018 and some in 2019. The applicant will need to continue to pay as per the fee schedule above. If an applicant is not ultimately accepted, they will receive a full refund.

More Information:

For the most accurate information, additional resources, or specific questions, please refer to the USA Contingent website: https://wsj2019.us or email uscontingent2019@scouting.org.