National Jambo Site History

The concept for the NationalJambo.Org site goes back almost 3 decades. Any Scout or Scouter who has ever attended one of these spectacular Jambo events realizes they are part of Scouting history in the making. Months prior to the event, often times even years, an anticipation starts to grow stronger every day for the arrival of the opening ceremony. This passion for such an event extends beyond just the participants and staff. National Jambo alumni, visitors, and friends all feel the same excitement of the coming event as well. Those not attending look forward to seeing pictures and hearing stories about the grand gathering. Participants will literally meet thousands of scouts during the National Jambo. Many of these scouts will become good friends. They may be someone you meet at an activity, or trade a JSP, or even get to know at an arena show. The days will seem to fly by at the Jambo. Before you know it, the time will come to pack up your bags and head for home.

You will take with you lots of great memories and countless new friendships. This is what NationalJambo.Org is all about - helping you to make new Jambo friends and to stay in touch with them after the Jambo is over. My story goes back to the first National Jambo I attended in 1981. Flying home from the event, I had lots of wonderful memories of all the new Scout friendships I had made. The adrenaline level from a Jambo always remains very high for months after the event. However, I soon realized many of the new Jambo friendships I made began to fade as time marched forward. In 1982 as a college freshman, I ran into a Scout that had served on the 1981 staff with me. What a fantastic surprise! Immediately we were sharing stories about our favorite parts of the National Jambo. How I wished I could also relive memories with others who had become such good friends. This thought was the initial spark that began my dream of one day developing a community for National Jambo participants, staff, alumni, visitors, and friends. This community would be a place where they could not only be in touch during the event, but also stay in touch long after the event had passed.

Since 1981, I have had the pleasure of serving on seven Jambo staffs. Somehow, each new one always seems to be the best! My hope is this site will help provide a way for everyone who is a part of the 2010 National Jambo to stay in contact. Treasure all your Scout friendships and keep them alive! Explore this site and its features. You will find some of them to be not only practical, but also lots of fun! Creating this site has been a labor of love for me. I selected the date of July 4th, 2010 to officially launch the NationalJambo.Org site to honor this significant day in our nation's history. The development and launching of this site represents the achievement of a personal Scouting goal of mine. However, now the site becomes yours. Your participation will help make the dream come true of creating an online Jambo community for all to have. Invite your friends to the site and have a great 2010 National Jambo!

Doug Newsom - National Jambo Team