Our IST…

IST stands for International Service (or Staff) Team and includes all those adult scouts who voluntarily joined the Jamboree to help and work. It is those scouts who make this camp happen and a great experience for the young scouts being participants.

In an earlier blog I already said we have troubles with some of those and I feel to write a bit more about it as it may seem a little confusing in the first place.

Having 550 Swiss IST on place and about 8’000 in total is a challenge to make everyone happy. It is a challenge for us, the Swiss Head of Contingent as well as for the English organiser.
Some want to do this or that, want to party at night, socialise or just hit the pillow to get some sleep after (mostly) a very busy shift.

We have loads of brilliant IST among our Swiss Contingent. Nearly all of them work very hard, are friendly, support us in various ways and are just great to have around. Of course some have some minor issues we are happy to solve or address accordingly. However, they tell us they are happy and enjoy the camp very much.

Unfortunately there are a few Swiss IST causing me headache. Either they do not show up, being impolite to other scouts because they do their work or actually bend (or try to) the rules given.
We have an issue concerning the “bed time” which is supposed to start at 11pm. Granted, this is quite early and we really try to convience the British to do something about it taking into consideration that the young IST who want to party will not work anymore if they do not get the chance to party.
Some IST understand that, some others let us that this issues needs to be solved soon which is okay.

They are not causing me headache because they want a place at the night to be and chat, they are causing me headache because they are simply stubborn and intolerant (in my humble opinion).
Some compare everything to how it is managed in Switzerland and how they do scouting in their own group.
While this usually is not a problem at all those scouts are just trying to convience us and themselves that their way needs to be adapted. At least that is what I feel after over two hours of talking.
Of course that can simply NOT be done.

Maybe I am simply naive or too traditional or just stubborn myself, but I get the feeling that some IST are simply not ready for the international experience and should not have joined us here.
Some IST just managed to make us think very hard how to select the “right” ISTs for the next Jamboree because the number of 550 is simply way to big.

Sweden being just little farther than England the coming Head of Contingent will very likely run into the same or very similar problems.

Enough of ranting…they are just very few…the most are just a brilliant bunch and are patient scouts.
Thank you very much to all of those.