Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI)

World Scouting’s Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA) and Jamboree-on-the-Internet (JOTI) are held every year on the 3rd weekend of October, October 14 to 16 in 2022, and October 20 to 22 in 2023. In the Jamboree on the Air, Cubs, Scouts, and Venturers around the world communicate with each other on amateur radio. In the Jamboree on the Internet, they communicate with each other and do activities together over the Internet.

There is no charge to participate in either JOTA or JOTI. JOTA/JOTI patches can be ordered from an MCC Scout Shop and presented to participants at unit award ceremonies. MCC dens, packs, troops, and crews, groups of MCC packs, troops, and crews in a community, and MCC districts are encouraged to plan and organize JOTA events, JOTI events, and combination JOTA/JOTI events. These events are often held on the Saturday morning or afternoon or the Sunday afternoon of JOTA-JOTI weekend and are great recruiting activities.

To learn about JOTA/JOTI weekends, go to the JOTA/JOTI info page. If your unit is interested in hosting a JOTA or JOTI event, please download the JOTA/JOTI event guide.  The current year’s JOTA/JOTI emblem will be able to be ordered at the Scout shop website prior to the event.  Stay tuned for 2023 info!

Jamboree on the Air (JOTA)

Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and hams around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. This jamboree requires no travel, other than to a nearby amateur radio operator’s ham shack. Many times you can find the hams will come to you by setting up a station at your Scout camporee, at the park down the block, or perhaps at a ham shack already set up at your council’s camp. [READ MORE]

Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI)

Jamboree-on-the-Internet, or JOTI, is an annual international Scouting event sponsored by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Each year, during the third weekend in October, Scouts from around the world gather online to learn about other cultures and the activities in which other Scouts participate. They communicate with each other using Internet-enabled devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. Last year, JOTA-JOTI had over 1.5 million Scouts and leaders participate in more than 160 countries! [READ MORE]

INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TROOPS AND CREWS

INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING OPPORTUNITIES IN AND NEAR MICHIGAN

The easiest way for Michigan Crossroads Council troops and crews to experience International Scouting is to spend a weekend camping with Canadian Scouts at a cross-border international camporee.  Most of these camporees are in Canada and involve international travel. The two annual spring cross-border international camporees in southwest Ontario, CanAm and DIBC, were canceled in 2020, 2021, and 2022 because of Covid-19.  They resumed operating in 2023 and expect to be bigger and better in 2024.

View OPPORTUNITIES FOR MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL TROOPS AND CREWS TO CAMP WITH CANADIAN SCOUTS (v.1-1-24)for information on Scouting in Canada and a list of cross-border weekend international camporees, their dates and locations, and links to their websites.

View DOCUMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL CONTINGENTS DRIVING TO AND FROM ACTIVITIES IN CANADA (v.1-1-24) for information on border crossing documents and procedures and driving in Canada.

Since the last CanAm and DIBC in 2019, Scouts Canada announced new requirements that BSA troops and crews must meet to participate in Scouts Canada events.

Learn HOW A CONTINGENT FROM A MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL TROOP OR CREW CAN MEET SCOUTS CANADA REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR EVENTS (v.1-1-24).

Learn HOW A CONTINGENT FROM A TROOP OR CREW FROM A BSA COUNCIL OTHER THAN THE MICHIGAN CROSSROADS COUNCIL CAN MEET SCOUTS CANADA REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR EVENTS (v.9-14-23).

TRAVEL OVERSEAS WITH SCOUTS AND VENTURERS

Every summer, countries around the world hold national jamborees and there are international jamborees in different parts of the United Kingdom.  All of them welcome international participants, especially contingents from the USA. Jamboree organizers will usually be able to arrange a host troop that will share their campsite with your contingent and lend you group camping equipment. In addition to jamborees, there are many Scout centers throughout Europe. Some of these offer dormitory facilities and food service so you don’t need to bring tents or cooking equipment. A troop or crew trip to another country can provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your Scouts and Venturers. In the document TROOPS/CREWS CAN PARTICIPATE IN JAMBOREES AND STAY AT SCOUT CENTERS you will find the latest information on jamborees and international Scout Centers in other countries. The MCC International Scouting Committee will be glad to assist you in your planning.

INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUAL YOUTH AND ADULTS

WORLD SCOUTING EVENTS

2023 World Scout Jamboree
in South Korea

The World Scout Jamboree is held once every four years. Youth participants are 14 but not yet 18 years old at the time of the jamboree.  The next World Scout Jamboree will be held from August 1 to 12, 2023, in South Korea.  Applications to be part of the BSA contingent will be closed soon.  Learn more and request additional information on the MCC World Scout Jamboree page.  If you are too young for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree, it is not too early to start thinking about the 2027 World Scout Jamboree in Poland.

STAFFING OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer as a staff member of a Scout camp in Europe (ages 18 to 30)

The BSA European Scout Voluntary Program offers older Venturers and young leaders the opportunity to learn more about Scouting in Europe by spending at least 6 weeks of their summer volunteering at a European Scout center. This program is offered by 24 different Scout Centers in 11 different countries. See information on the European Scout Voluntary Program.

Serve on the staff of a jamboree in another country (ages 18 up)

Any registered BSA member who will be 18 or older at the time of a jamboree held by a National Scout Organization that is a member of the World Association of the Scout Movement can apply to be a member of the jamboree’s International Service Team (IST).  There is usually an IST fee.  View information on upcoming jamborees.

 World Conservation Awards for Youth

The World Conservation Award involves both advancement and project work to encourage all youth members to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment.

• Requirements for the Cub Scout award: There are different sets of requirements for Wolf Scouts, Bear Scouts, and Webelos Scouts.
• Requirements for the Scouts BSA award.
• Requirements for the Venturer and Sea Scout award.

The application is the second page of the requirements. To purchase the emblem, take the completed and signed application to your local MCC Scout Shop.

Click here for a plan for members of a group of Scouts BSA to earn the World Conservation Award and the International Spirit Award in one program year.

Interpreter Strip for Youth and Adults

An Interpreter Strip is a small patch indicating that the wearer knows a language other than English. The language he or she speaks appears on the patch in that language, “Español” for Spanish, “日本語” for Japanese, etc., so speakers of that language can easily spot a willing interpreter. For a discussion of how to earn an Interpreter Strip, click here. To see the 19 different strips that can be ordered at a MCC Scout Shop, click here.  To learn more about the Interpreter Strip including how to special order an Interpreter Strip for a language that is not on that list, click here.

 Messengers of Peace for Youth and Adults

Scouts are already doing great things in their community. Through good turns and community service, Scouts are making the world a better place and spreading a culture of peace. The Messengers of Peace program aims to highlight this work. To learn about how to become a Messenger of Peace and earn the MESSENGERS OF PEACE ring emblem that goes around the World Scout Crest on your uniform, click here. Messengers of Peace ring emblem can be ordered at an MCC Scout Shop.

International Scouter’s Award for Adults

The International Scouter’s Award encourages Scouters to broaden their involvement in Scouting through participation in world Scouting activities and recognizes Scouters for their contributions to world Scouting. Click here for more details.

There is a great YouTube video on this award by Scouter Stan.  International Scouter’s Award YouTube Video.