2007 Canadian Scout Jamboree

A&WMA and Environment Canada Host Successful Exhibits at the 100th Anniversary of Scouting

 

The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) worked in partnership with Environment Canada (EC) to provide environmental educational outreach opportunities at the 2007 national Canadian Scout Jamboree (CJ'07). The Jamboree was hosted by Scouts Canada in celebration of 100 years of scouting which also coincided with 100th year of environmental stewardship for A&WMA, 1907-2007. CJ'07 was held at Camp Tamaracouta, the oldest continuously operated scout camp in Canada, near St. Sauveur, Quebec, from July 23 - August 3, 2007, and was staffed by five A&WMA volunteers and 17 EC volunteers.


The A&WMA Exhibit and Educational Environmental Outreach in partnership with the Environment Canada at the national Canadian Scout Jamboree (CJ'07) was a great success. It was an exhausting but rewarding experience for each of the A&WMA volunteers and the EC team members, as well as for the 8,000 scouts and leaders from all the Canadian provinces and territories who visited the exhibits and displays. Scouts from countries around the world including Australia, Taiwan, Switzerland, Ireland, United Kingdom, and the United States were also in attendence. The A&WMA-EC volunteer team found that providing for the environmental outreach at CJ'07 was a lot of work, but also lots of fun.

 


The Education Council and its Scouting Committee would like to thank all the volunteers and the members of the Environment Canada who made this outreach possible. 
Special thanks goes to AW&MA Volunteers: Stephanie Meyn of Vancouver, BC; Prof. Tom Marrero, of Columbia, MO; Jerry Howard, Russellville, MO; Clifton Game, New Bern, NC; and to Jim Ryckman, Dayton, OH, and additional appreciation and thanks goes to our Environment Canada partners and team leads: Lisa Vitols and Paul Whitfield of EC-PYR, Vancouver, BC and to the 15 other EC volunteers from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and the British Columbia, Pacific, and Yukon regions (click here to see a team photo); and special thanks to Ian Mitchell, Manager of the Canadian National Scouts Jamboree for his support of the A&WMA Exhibit and acceptance of our offer of service.  

The A&WMA-EC staff worked at a display tent area (known as the X-Centre) and at five Scout Program activity areas, processing approximately 300 scouts per day over the 10 day period. Scout participation in the program exhibits reinforces messages about making informed environmental choices. The scope of the educational activities included meteorological, environmental, and interactive activities.

  • UV Testing, Weather Awareness
  • Weather Radio Alerts and Weather Preparedness
  • Salmon Life Cycle, Biodiversity and Climate Change
  • Alternative Energy and Climate Change
  • Solar/fuel Cell Cars
  • Solar ovens to make mini camp cooking
  • Carbon Offsets transportation footprints
  • Energy Choices for Home and Travel
  • Air Quality and Lung Health
  • Air & Waste Management:  highlighting air quality, reducing emissions and waste, pollution prevention and sustainability, global and local responsibilities, and environmental careers
  • Water Quality, Pond Life, Biodiversity
  • Leave No Trace -light weight camping and hiking principles
  • Community Sustainability
  • Post Card - Badge or Crest Program.  Approximately 3000 scouts completed this program earning the environmental crest or badge.

Testimonials

"Through our on-the-ground experiential activities delivered in partnership with Scouts, we reach and actively engage youth and their adult leaders who have a vested interest in our environmental future and as potential leaders in environmental stewardship."  EC, Lisa Vitols Team Lead

 

"To observe and participate in environmental educational activities is incredibly rewarding, as it provides on-the-ground opportunities for Canadian citizens to learn and ask questions.  It is amazing to see how much information on climate change and air quality has already been absorbed by youth and the high level of engagement by both youth and adults in the programs offered."  EC Volunteer

 

 "This is environmental education at its very best.  The impressionable age group at scout jamboree's is perfect for young people to get a taste of what it takes to make environmental changes and to take on future environmental challenges.   Where else can you reach several thousand young people in one week's time?"  A&WMA Volunteer

 

Additional photos on the CJ event may be found at www.scouts.ca/cj07 .  The Scouting Committee is still working to post the A&WMA-EC photos at the A&MWA Web site, coming in 2008.

 

The Scouting Committee is currently setting its advanced plans and its sights on possibly providing similar exhibits at the Central Canadian Scout Jamboree in 2009 (Ontario Canada), and at the Boy Scouts of America Centennial Jamboree Celebration in 2010 (Fort A.P. Hill, VA), and at the World Scout Jamboree in 2011 (Sweden). Interested volunteers are asked to contact the A&WMA scouting committee.