GUSUKU, Japan - The Boy Scouts of America and the Scout Association of Japan held their 21st Friendship Jamborette, March 3, here at the Tamagusuku Youth Center and Gusuku Road Park.
The Jamborette brought American and Japanese scouts on Okinawa together for a campout; creating a stronger friendship among the troops.
“The theme of the campout is bonds and scouting,” said Robbie Mckain, the co-camp director for the Jamborette. “They bond as a patrol, as a troop and we’re trying to bond with our brother scouts from Japan and make one community of scouting on Okinawa.”
The citizens of Okinawa were part of the Boy Scouts of America until the reversion of the program following World War II, according to Mckain.
“A lot of the older gentlemen here went through American scouting and that bond now brings them back into the American community and ties everyone together again,” said Mckain.
During the Jamborette there were games for the scouts, such as tug of war, balloon-breaking, earthworm tug of war, three-legged race relay and Rock, Paper, Scissors.
“My favorite event is the tug of war,” said Karl Johnson, camp commissioner for the campout. “It’s great when everyone comes together. [The kids] kind of have a fighting spirit, but at the same time they’re working together as a team.”
Johnson explained how valuable the Jamborette was and the importance of the bonds they were creating from his personal experience.
“I grew up as a Boy Scout and we did activities with Canadian scouts similar to this,” said Johnson. “It made me realize that there was a lot more out in the world than just living at home and doing scouting and campouts at the same campgrounds.”
Although the weather did not agree with the plan of the day, it did not stop the scouts from experiencing the overall purpose of the Jamborette, which was friendship.
“They may not make a long lasting friend here, but it will open them up to interacting more with Okinawans and their community,” said Johnson. “This helps grow a cooperative culture. It really expands their horizons. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for most of these kids.”
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