Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a question to ask about the Jamboree?? We would love to hear it and be able to answer for you.
Don't be afraid to ask - someone else might have exactly the same question.
Questions and answers will be uploaded to this page - some may refer you to other sections, and some we might not have the answer for just yet - but we will post it and get an answer for you
Email your questions to jamboree@sa.scouts.com.au
Who can attend AJ2010?
Scouts, Venturers Rovers, Adults and Leaders are able to come to AJ2010.
For a full break down of
AJ2010 eligibility criteria
click here
Why is the Shakedown Camp being held over a long weekend?
1) Allows Troops to spend 2 nights and 3 if they wish in their
site
2) Gang Show is on the previous weekend and involves 60-70
Scouts plus leaders
3) Coincides with Lones Camp thus these country Scouts can
attend Shakedown
4) Avoids last weekend of holidays and the criticism that Scouts
will be too tired for school
5) Given a long lead time, Scouts and leaders can avoid being
away that weekend.
6) There will be consultation with the distant, non-metropolitan
groups about times for them to hold mini-Shakedowns. The long
weekend makes travel to Woodhouse more possible if Troops so
choose.
In taking into consideration various other Branch events, the
booking schedule at Woodhouse, and the commitment of the
Contingent to provide the best opportunities for all
participants to attend the Jamboree and have a great time, we
feel that an extended Shakedown Camp will be of benefit to
Troops (Leaders and Youth) to get to knowthe social and
skill-set makeup of their participant group and trial the right
sort of layout, so that everyone can have a blast at Cataract!!!
Will I be with my friends at the Jamboree
You will be in a patrol
with two or three others from your home Troop (your Scout Group.
All your home troop will be together in a Jamboree Troop, most
likely with scouts from other home troops, so that all together
you have 36 scouts and 6 patrols.
Do girls sleep in a separate tent?
Yes – you most likely will be in a mixed
patrol, but boys and girls sleep separately.
Will my Scout Leader be at the Jamboree with me?
There will be at least
one leader from your home troop with you in your Jamboree Troop,
as long as they are able to come along. Other of your leaders
may come to the Jamboree and help with activities, and one or
two of these may camp with you.
What are the showers like?
At Cataract Park there
are shower blocks like at Woodhouse. There will also be some
temporary shower blocks and these will give you good privacy and
get you just as clean!
Is Cataract Park shady?
There are plenty of
trees there. It is bushland a bit like Belair National Park,
with clearings for camp sites. You will need to make shade in
your camp site though. Check out our
photos
taken in January 2008 to see what parts of it
look like.
Will I meet the other Scouts who are going to be in our Troop before the Jamboree?
Yes, lots of times. Your
leaders will organise meetings for all the Scouts and parents so
you can get to know one another. Then in early October 2009 we
have Shakedown Camp which is a weekend practice camp for
everyone going to the Jamboree. You may already know some of
the other Scouts because we try to put local troops together.;
Can I take my mobile phone?
We advise that you don’t take your mobile
phone. You may lose it, the reception is really poor, it gets
very dusty which isn’t good for phones, there is no way of
charging your battery and there will be plenty of pay phones
available on site if you need to ring someone. If there is an
emergency your Leaders will be able to make contact with
someone. You can email people from the Internet Centre.
How much spending money can I take?
There is no “limit” – but you don’t need
lots of money - remember all your meals and activities are paid
for. So you only need a small amount for souvenirs, the odd bit
of junk food (!) and for when you go off-site. Your leaders will
look after your money in a strongbox “bank”.
What should I take?
A complete gear list will be included in
the documentation you receive and will also be put up on this
website. You need a large soft bag that you can carry!
What will the weather be like?
The average daytime temperature in January is about 30 degrees. There is also a possibility of temperatures of over 40 degrees. So be prepared for it to be hot. Bring a good hat (or two) and plenty of sunscreen. You’ll get a Jamboree hat too. Night time temperatures average around 17 degrees with quite high humidity. Only a lightweight sleeping bag will be required. Expect it to rain on one or two days.
If you want more detailed weather
information then check the current
Weather Forecast or the
Camden Airport Climate Averages.
What should I not take?
It is better not to take anything really,
really expensive like your Dad’s best camera or an expensive
walkman as these could get lost or, unfortunately, stolen. Also
you shouldn’t take very expensive clothing, such as your best
leather jacket or your best set of jeans as you will have no
need for them during the Jamboree, and you will get muddy, dusty
and grubby – what fun!
What if I take medication, how will I remember to take it?
We will need to know what medication you
are on and how you have to take it, either by tablet or liquid
or inhaler. When you fill in your Jamboree form you need to make
sure you have all the medication you take listed and any medical
conditions you have detailed on the form. Your leaders will help
you.
What activities can I do?
There are all sorts of activities. The
theme of the Jamboree is TEST YOUR LIMITS so you’ll have the
opportunity to do just that!
How do we get there?
SA Contingent will be arranging transport to and from the Jamboree for all Contingent members. The price is included in the overall cost.
I am a Venturer, can I come to the Jamboree?
Yes, if you are 16 or over by the start of the Jamboree. Your Venturer Leader has to approve your attendance. You will be a Junior Service Leader and will camp in the JSL sub-camp with other Venturers in a Jamboree Unit. There will have to be some VLs camping in those Units. You will have 2 days “free” and on one day you will go offsite to a fun activity.
Leaders
What jobs can I do at the Jamboree?
There are lots of jobs in a lot of different areas. Generally the Jamboree organising committee will try to match people with the job that they have asked for as their first preference or for which they have a special skill or qualification (particularly a water activity). You might be a line leader with your own Scouts, or work on an activity or in a Sub-camp team. Some help with the newspaper or Jamboree radio or in the Venturer-run Kaleidescope.
What do I do if I have a problem during the Jamboree?
You should first
contact SA Contingent headquarters and discuss your problem with
the Troop Support leaders who will be stationed there. TS
leaders will be out and about visiting both Troop and Activity
Sites where we know you are working. Come and have an ice-coffee
and a scone and troubles may melt away!
Will Leaders be given any special Jamboree training?
Yes. We have booked the Rymill Centre for 14 - 16 August 2009. You will be able to organise your own Jamboree Troop planning meeting within this time, and may have a session with the PLs and APLs who are part of your troop.
This will be a weekend of sharing ideas and information, and a chance for all of us to become acquainted (if not already). There will be an informal but enjoyable evening dinner on the Saturday, and we have accommodation in the Rymill Centre. This weekend is free of charge.
We appreciate that a great deal of time will be spent by leaders before, during and after the Jamboree, so that this is the least we can do.
Service leaders will have a special session on the Sunday morning, and we will also include Venturers who are coming as Junior Service Leaders.
The exact schedule for the weekend will be
announced nearer the time, after we consult more with you, but
put it in your diaries!
Do I have to do any training to be a leader at the Jamboree?
SA Branch requires all Leaders who attend the Jamboree to have completed Child Protection and Scoutsafe training. Leaders who will be part of a Jamboree Troop will ideally be trained Leaders in the Scout Section. The SA Contingent is arranging a special Leaders weekend in August 2009 for all these Leaders to attend.
No non-Leaders will be considered as Leaders in Troop lines, but they are most welcome to come along as Service Leaders.
Do I have to bring my own tent?
Probably, if you are a service leader, as the Jamboree organising committee does not have sufficient tents to allocate to service leaders. Leaders with Troops will organise tentage through their Scout Groups.
Parents
How will I contact my son or daughter during the Jamboree?
There will be plenty of public telephones throughout the site that your son or daughter can use to ring you. If you have an emergency and need to contact your son or daughter urgently this can be arranged through the Jamboree telephone number which will be provided in the documentation you receive.
Keep in mind that there will be thousands of Scouts camping in a very large and complex campsite, all coming and going to activities at different times. It will not be possible to make direct telephone contact with anyone at the Jamboree at short notice, but there are systems in place to get messages to people when necessary.
There will also be
an Internet Centre where Scouts can email home for free.
What happens if my son/daughter gets sick?
The Jamboree will have a fully functioning base hospital manned by qualified doctors and nurses who will in the first instance look after your child. There are also a number of visiting specialists who are available on call should any serious illness or injury occur during the Jamboree. In addition, the local hospitals are put on standby so that your son or daughter can receive the best care possible.
Should your son or
daughter get sick to the extent that it is necessary to contact
you, this decision will be made by the doctors in charge along
with the Contingent Leader Team.
What happens if my son or daughter breaks the rules?
In very rare cases
it might be necessary to send your son or daughter home. This
decision will only be made after all the facts are known and you
will be informed of the decision that has been made. Leaders
will accompany your child to a place where you can pick them up.
All transport costs, for your child and the accompanying
leaders, must be met by you.
What if I find I can't afford it after my son or daughter has applied?
The Contingent has a
withdrawal policy that determines how much of the amounts you
have paid will be retained. The withdrawal policy is fully set
out on the application form which is available on the website
and also through your scout troop. There is a process for
applying for financial assistance if you have family hardship.
Contact the Contingent Leader at this site.
Can a Scout travel home with their family?
Independent travel
is available but only in limited circumstances. Application
forms for independent travel will be available from the website.
Any Scout or leader who wishes to travel independently will
still have to pay the whole Contingent fee.
Where is Cataract?
Cataract is about an hour's drive south of Sydney close to Appin (east of Campbelltown). You can find it on WhereIs or Google Earth. It is a wooded site, not unlike Belair National Park.