The Jamboree Cultural Showcase needs you to help highlight Scouting’s core ideals

Update, June 29: The Cultural Showcase, one of the many exciting activities at the 2023 National Jamboree, is looking for Scouts and Scouters who would like to share aspects of their culture in an effort to highlight the core Scouting ideals of kindness and friendliness to all.

“Think of it as an international potluck under the tent of Celebrating Humanity,” says Antonio del Rosario, diversity chair of the Greater New York Councils and one of the volunteer chairs on the Jamboree Celebrating Humanity team. “We want a taste of your culture.”

If you descend from Jamaica, Greece, the Philippines, Ireland, Italy, China, Scotland, Ghana, India or any country that your parents or grandparents identify with, stop by the tent at Jamboree to contribute to their interactive cultural display.

The Cultural Showcase will rely on Scouts and Scouters to showcase their cultural identity by providing an artifact that represents that identity, whether it’s a flag, a piece of clothing, a picture, a poem, a drawing or any item that showcases the diversity of the Scouting world.

You can even stop by the exhibit and share a story about your culture, as oral history is indeed a kind of artifact.

Click here to email del Rosario for any questions you might have on showcasing your cultural artifact.

Below is a post from December we shared about the Cultural Showcase.

There are lots of reasons to be excited about the 2023 National Jamboree, happening July 19-28, 2023, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. Today, we look at one of them: the Cultural Showcase.

Most experts believe the earliest Americans came from Asia, crossing a land bridge that no longer exists. In the 16,000-plus years since then, humans from all over the world have come to America, bringing some elements of their home culture — food, language, customs and traditions — with them.

The National Jamboree will celebrate the different cultures of the United States in an area called the Cultural Showcase.

“We want to celebrate humanity and all of its richness,” says Andrew Miller, a longtime Scouting volunteer at the local, council and national level who’s helping to lead this section of the Jamboree. “One element of humanity’s richness is cultural richness – especially in America, where so many different cultures come together in our nation.”

The Cultural Showcase, which is part of the Jamboree’s larger Celebrating Humanity program, will have designated spaces for different cultures. Each space will feature activities and displays such as games, attire and more.

What’s a Jamboree?

The National Scout Jamboree is a gathering of thousands of the BSA’s adult and youth members, usually held every four years. The 2021 event, however, was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2023 Jamboree has adapted the theme of Forward, representing the Scouting journey. When Scouts encounter a challenge, they don’t stand still – they evaluate, plan and move forward. Scouting as a movement is always moving forward, reaching new generations of young people and equipping them to be leaders in their communities, nation and world.

Over the course of 10 days, participants will experience stadium shows, hikes, adventure sports, merit badges and more.