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Icelandic Jamboree 2024
Days 6-13 Jamboree
Icelandic Jamboree 2024
Days 6-13 Jamboree
Date: July 12-19, 2024
Day 6 / Jamboree Day 1
Day 6 / Jamboree Day 1
Check in was in the afternoon, but it was felt that the group, or at least an advanced party should check in early to make sure we had a site and all the equipment needed for a successful event. After discussing options, we sent two adult leaders to check in to Jamboree while the rest of our team went to Þingvellir National Park.
Troops that arrived after us would find that the camp ran out of rental shelters, stoves, tables, tents and other vital gear. We met a Dutch contingent that arrived without camp or sleeping gear.
In the Far East, Hurricanes are called Typhoons. Some of our Scouts experienced this last year in Korea. In Iceland, they had winds on day one that surpassed those of the typhoon in Korea. In Iceland, they call these hurricanes "wind". It's apparently expected and the local Scout Units brought huge military grade tents.
Our group discovered that some of the tents we brought were not designed for the high winds at camp. The first tent we erected was flattened by the wind, causing the aluminum poles to snap. We reinforced another with heavy duty guylines and hiking poles and it was struggling to stay together in the wind. It was clear that some of gear was not suitable for Iceland.
We worked with Matthew Dineen, the outgoing Program and Coordination Manager, and borrowed Norse tents from camp that were designed for high winds and heavy snow. Some of the tents we borrowed had huge holes in them and were unserviceable. One of the tents we erected had a hole in it that we had to cover with a trash bag and creative guylines. Other tents could not be repaired and were traded in for new ones, one after the other. Putting up tents in the pouring rain isn't fun when you find out they are leaking after you put them up.
It was a struggle, but we were able to get our camp set up before dark. Good thing, because darkness doesn't come until later in the season.
Map using InReach Mini App
Top Message - Campsite for our Contingent
Middle Message - Camp HQ
Bottom Message - Camp Entrance
Our campsite prior to setup
Rented Cookset
The tent to the right was flattened by the wind and the aluminum pole snapped
The tent to the left is undergoing the Icelandic Wind Tunnel Test
Atypical adult tents in back are holding up against the wind
The camp ran out of picknick tables
We found this in the IST area and wondered if it would work
Wind is testing tents in the Canadian Camp.
Norwegian made Tent loaned by camp
This one uses a ridged center pole and 3 flexible poles on the rainfly for support
It is vital that you stake down all the corners and ALL the guylines!
Putting up 3rd tent
The Canadian Contingent showed up several days prior to the start of the Jamboree and had established camps. Here is a shelter they built.
Ironically, they were not able to set up the Nordic Tents we were using and asked us to come over and help them set it up for them.
We did have a nice view from out cooking shelter
REI tent holding up against the wind with a little help from extra guylines and trekking poles
The Mountain Hardware Space Station Tent wins the award for most tent poles
Military grade tent in background used by Iceland troop
Swedish Contingent in the Primus tent city
It was clear that were were underprepared compared to these other contingents with Huge dining and cooking shelters
Some had wooden floors
Heavy wind and rain continued through Day 2
These are tents from a different contingent and weren't doing well with the wind
Dome tents for the most part didn't do as well as tunnel tents
This Swedish (Frilufts) tent has broken poles after a night of heavy winds
We were lucky that our site didn't flood. Much of the rest of camp did and trenching was required to drain water away from tents.
Some participants weren't totally pleased with the first two days of downpours, but this Adult Leader had his own fishing spot in his tent
These Icelandic Scouts were quick to come visit us and were eager to trade and make new friends
Trading begins
The Scout Center was very popular. It was dry and warm, and power to charge up phones and had a gift shop and snack bar. It was generally very crowded on rainy days.
Goodies from shopping excursion
Meal time in the cook shelter
Icelandic Scouts are getting an introduction to American cooked food
Morning Meeting with Chief of Camp Kolbrún Ósk Pétursdóttir
One US Contingent (not wanting to be identified as being from Florida) showed up late on Day 1 and didn't get a cooking shelter or stove and appeared to be really struggling. Their cooking shelter consisted of a wet tarp brought from home wrapped around a box of greasy dishes. They said there were doing fine, but it obvious they weren't.
This Luxemburg Troop had an Adult Lead from Iceland and borrowed gear from a local Icelandic Unit. They were well sheltered and offered to help other troops, starting with the troop from Florida. They invited all of us to cook and eat with them.
We called this the "Viking Tent"
This cook station was often used to cook "vegetarian" meals for some of the Florida contingent
Eggs seemed to be the main vegetarian meal
This is a different Icelandic Tent that we visited
We worked with the California Troop next to us to build this structure. We called it the Oregon Shelter.
We later widened it to decrease the chance it would blow over and kill someone.
Back to the Viking Tent for Snack Time
Foam House
Icelandic approach to Scout showering
I wonder why our Scouts are wet all the time?
Most Icelandic camp gear is not what we would consider ultralightweight in the US
The Luxemburg contingent borrowed much of this gear from an Scout Unit in Iceland
It would be hard to fit a lot of this in our check in luggage
Viking Wok
Watching "Football" game
This Jamboree had a lot of younger Scouts
This Icelandic Unit brought this truck
Hanging out with Scouts from Florida, Canada and Sweeden
The Gang
Scouts from Canada, Sweden, Florida and Washington State
Schedule in Viking Tent
Viking Drying Tent
Margaret turned this shelter into a drying tent
She has a propane heater helping dry out everything
Icelandic Sleeping Tents
Scouts working hard in the kitchen
Shared cooking between the Iceland and US Contingents
Line Dancing in front of one of the Icelandic Scout camps
Camp in the Morning
Red ones are borrowed from Camp
Black and Light Green ones are Adult Tents
Out Campsite
Three red tents were borrowed from the camp
Scout tent is partially seen to left of leftmost red tent
Rightmost red tent partially obscures Green Scout tent and Adult Pyramid shelter
Black hammock structure seen between to right red tents
Directly behind rightmost tent is the "Oregon" structure
To the right of rightmost red tent is our cooking shelter with 2 tarps and then the green Ductch mega tunnel tent
This UK Contingent appears to be well funded
Family Camping area behind Hong Kong Contingent
We helped cook breakfast and cooked up a pile of bacon
Their contingent leader said their Scouts generally don't eat bacon for breakfast - that's a US and UK thing
Looks like these Scouts really liked the bacon
Some things are just more heavy duty in Iceland
Another Adult Meeting in the IST Tent
The sun came out!
Portable Hamock brought by Adult Leader
Dutch and Alaskan Contingents shared resources and put together a double rental shoulder covered with a giant green tarp
Taiwanese Scouts showing how to use a Diabolo
Awards for completing tasks in book
Working on World Sheep Award and learning a new dance
Wood Badge Reunion was 1.5 hours of continuous singing
Another picture of this interesting setup
IST Tent with giant cubes of water keeping it from blowing away
Handing out Neckers to Contingent Leaders
Camp Staff getting Medals
Iceland President talking to Canadians
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