Parent-son (and now parent-daughter) jamboree experiences are tough to beat

I’ve never had a jamboree experience without my dad, and I couldn’t be happier about that.

My dad, Don, and I attended or served on staff together at the 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010 jamborees. And as you can see in the photo above taken backstage at the stadium a few moments ago, we’re both here in 2013, marking our fifth straight jamboree together.

It’s hard to top a parent-son jamboree experience. You get to experience the magic together, and you both return speaking the same “jamboree language.” Countless stories with my dad start with the words, “Remember that time at jamboree when …” And we often quote that official jamboree video from long ago where a guy juggles before saying, “Jamboreeeeee’s a ball!”

Now that Venturers can join the jamboree fun for the first time, parent-daughter experiences will be formed out here, too. Though there have certainly been parent-daughter teams serving on staff at previous jamborees, expect even more now that young women are invited to participate.

Thinking about my fifth jamboree with my dad got me wondering: What other parent-child jamboree teams have attended or staffed jamborees together? If you’re out there, share your story in the comments and tell us what made it special for you.

And thanks to my dad for 16 years of jamboree magic!


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.