06/07/2012
On the evening of Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 a contingent of British Scouts visiting the United States hosted over three hundred fifty Scouts and Scouters from across the region in celebration of the last night of the Diamond Jubilee of their Queen, Elizabeth II. Camp Snyder was the setting for fun and merriment in the spirit of international Scouting and brotherhood. Patches were traded, impromptu demonstrations of the contrasting styles of British and American football, and everyone was stuffed with cake decorated with the Union Jack. How did this come to pass?
Last week, two dozen British Scouts gathered from points across Great Britain for a trek west to the United States. The trip was long in planning, delayed initially by the terror attacks of September 11th and the subsequent uncertainty, then further delayed by the after effects of the great recession and the economic downturn facing the whole of Europe. Eventually the hard work of organizers came to fruition and the trip was arraigned for the first week of June. Participants had to raise money and rally at Heathrow for the day long journey to the US. Planes, trains and motor coaches were all part of the road from London to Camp Snyder at the edge of Washington DC, where the British Scouts and Scouters, boys and girls, men and women came to rest late last week.
Their agenda was as full as you would expect. Woodcraft, a tour of the capitol, a trek to the zoo, Luray Caverns, the Air and Space Museum, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Six Flags all packed into a short week before they made their way home. In the midst of planning their visit the organizers realized they would be away from the UK on the sixtieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The Diamond Jubilee looked to be quite a smashing event, but it appeared the young men and women visiting the US would have to miss it. Rather than skip all the fun, the Group Scout Leader, Del Shephard of Needingworth, Cambridgeshire reached out to Chuck Davidson, the International Representative of the National Capital Area Council. GSL Shepard proposed a campfire celebration for local Scouts who might be interested and anyone who wanted to meet their British counterparts. With only a week before their arrival no one thought there would be much of a response, but Chuck and his committee started to get the word out.
Organizers couldn’t have been more wrong. Despite the short notice the event was quickly flagged by the Communications team at Council as something of note. It appeared in the Capital Connections email and was on the NCAC web site splash page. RSVPs poured in from across the region. The staff at Camp Snyder anticipated a strong turnout and set the Brits up at the Boat Pavilion in the southwest corner of the camp. Union Jack bunting was strung, tea was brewed and signs were posted directing attendees where to park and how to get there. The first Troop arrived forty five minutes early. Scouts from Packs, Troops and Crews trekked to Camp Snyder from every district in the Council. The weather could not have been better and the threat of rain held off for a cool night’s event.
There was a group photo, the exchange of gifts, and some kind words from GSL Shephard, obviously impressed with the turnout. The only glitch in the evening was the imposing “Queen’s Beacon” that had been assembled failed to light as robustly as organizers intended, but the plume of smoke it produced was a signal in itself that something was going on. There was an on key rendition of “God Save the Queen” by the British Scouts, and a louder (if not entirely on key) version of the “Star Spangled Banner.” The Scouts exchanged songs through twilight and into the dark in an impromptu session, which while lacking in choreography was made up for in enthusiasm and volume.
The event closed with the last cups of tea drank and the last piece of cake eaten and the local families made their way to their cars and the British contingent retired to their tents for another night under the stars. The whole affair spoke well of the brotherhood of Scouting, the ability within Council to get the word out and the industriousness of our volunteers and professional staff. For more information on International Scouting in the NCAC, upcoming events and the various international awards available to Scouts and Scouters go to the website of the International Committee of the NCAC or contact Staff Advisor Don Durbin.
