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Original poster

Anyone got a Scout or Explorer going to WSJ in South Korea?

630 replies

lazylittlelucy · 16/07/2023 16:57

Just thought I'd start a thread for parents if there are any on here.
My 17yo DD is going as an Explorer and is getting excited now.
Anyone else?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
33
Willmafrockfit · 06/08/2023 16:57

@missingthewinchesterboys
my dd would speak to me and complain - but when things are running smooth, there were be no contact! your dd is safe,

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:08

This thread started as a thread for those with young people attending the jamboree, and has taken on a whole new remit as a support thread for each other.
We do not need to be patronised by anyone who is not directly involved. I did not insinuate that you did not care (I'm sure you do, as do many other scouting and non-scouting posters).

swanling · 06/08/2023 17:23

@missingthewinchesterboys

Stop misquoting me and then attacking me for things I haven't said.

However upset you are, that is not okay.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:25

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:08

This thread started as a thread for those with young people attending the jamboree, and has taken on a whole new remit as a support thread for each other.
We do not need to be patronised by anyone who is not directly involved. I did not insinuate that you did not care (I'm sure you do, as do many other scouting and non-scouting posters).

The number one reason leaders quit? Parents.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:27

I should add parents with unrealistic expectations and demands.

The kids are great.

It's the parents who don't get the pressures on leaders.

Leave them be.

The kids can't do anything else. If they are flat encourage them to throw themselves into everything they can do.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:29

Oh and DH just said he can't know who is there - there aren't lists beyond who is involved directly because they are allowed to share info beyond those who NEED to know. Why? Cos GDPR.

BlossomCloud · 06/08/2023 17:37

missingthewinchesterboys · 06/08/2023 16:00

Also having just FaceTimed my DD it's hard not to be 'distressed' when you can so clearly hear and see how flat and depressed your child is thousands of miles away. She's gone from the most confident and happy she's even been I her life to flat as a pancake.
We're being as upbeat as we can via text and FaceTime but it's fucking awful when she's in pain both mentally and physically and I can't give her a hug.

I think most parents in our situation would be looking around to make sense of all this.

I have the utmost faith in The leaders she went with but it's a hell of a lot for them to deal with.

That must be really really tough.
Your messages will be helping her though

And UK scouting know they are under the spotlight of the UK media and the foreign office so whatever they got wrong at the beginning (and a lot of questions need to be asked) they will be working to sort things now.

If you get very worried then you would be reasonable to contact the foreign office direct.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:38

Our county are currently running a consecutive international this week cos of COVID limiting opportunities. Many of our county leaders are currently abroad with that themselves.

They aren't exactly sitting on their backsides. But I doubt that many of the WSJ parents will even be aware of this.

Seriously, as much as I have sympathy, there's not one suggestion been made that's either reasonable nor viable about what more could be done.

It's just parents who do need to calm down and wait for a couple of days because there isn't an alternative.

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:39

I really don't know what to say other than please read the room.
You have no idea who is on this thread, whether they are leaders, ex-leaders, non-uniform volunteers, but above all else they are parents who have invested energy, time and money to help their DC realise their dreams at the jamboree. Some of these DC are very young teens.
Please consider the impact of your words on concerns parents.

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:40

*concerned

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:41

The number one reason leaders quit? Parents.

This is an utterly vile comment.

elliemac209 · 06/08/2023 17:44

It is hard having the kids far away if they are unhappy. I feel a lot better since talking to my son overnight. The key for me was whether he would want to go to Poland as IST in 4y and it is a definite yes. So that tells everything I need to know about his state of mind currently.

Interestingly there was a huge lack of communication from the leadership after the decision to pull out was made. Nothing on the unit Facebook and nothing yet on the UK contingent. As soon as they were on the bus there were photos and updates again. And more since they have arrived in Seoul earlier today. I guess they couldn't update to say they were all safe and ok until they actually were... I know DS's tentmate needed an IV for dehydration at one point...

At any rate they have had a shower and a good meal and are very lucky to be staying in a snazzy hotel where they are safe and comfortable.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:50

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:39

I really don't know what to say other than please read the room.
You have no idea who is on this thread, whether they are leaders, ex-leaders, non-uniform volunteers, but above all else they are parents who have invested energy, time and money to help their DC realise their dreams at the jamboree. Some of these DC are very young teens.
Please consider the impact of your words on concerns parents.

And leaders and IST.

Yeah ok.

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:52

It's is not all about the parents. There are plenty of other very concerned people.

It's a child centred organisation. Not a parent centred one. Not that parents often realise that

I'll look out for leaders a million times over parents who still haven't come up with a comment about what else the magical leaders are supposed to pull out their arses.

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 17:52

?

elliemac209 · 06/08/2023 17:57

@RedToothBrush FWIW I haven't been offended by your posts or found you inflammatory. I'm grateful for an additional perspective and with a child out there am keen to get as much insight and info as possible.

Original poster
lazylittlelucy · 06/08/2023 18:05

Wow, this thread has taken a strange turn.
@missingthewinchesterboys I kind of know what you mean about the group leaders here at home. Ours have not been too forthcoming with curiosity or empathy about our Explorers in SK and there are 8 from our group in the same Jamboree unit.
I think there's an element of washing their hands while they are the responsibility of someone else.
That said, it is August and they may well be on their own holidays. But unless they have gone to Mars, there is no way that they haven't heard about this.
All I can say is I'm grateful my DD has not been unwell and is lucky enough to have decent alternative accommodation. But I'm equally gutted that it has turned into such a fiasco for her and her unit. After 18 months of hard work, anticipation and excitement this sad end to their dreams is hugely disappointing.

OP posts:
Original poster
lazylittlelucy · 06/08/2023 18:13

Do you know what @elliemac209 I noticed exactly the same. I don't know the reason for this is but can only assume that there on the ground in SK they are focused on the YP and the problems they are facing. Not to mention trying to cobble together a last minute 9 day programme in Seoul...

OP posts:
BlossomCloud · 06/08/2023 18:13

RedToothBrush · 06/08/2023 17:38

Our county are currently running a consecutive international this week cos of COVID limiting opportunities. Many of our county leaders are currently abroad with that themselves.

They aren't exactly sitting on their backsides. But I doubt that many of the WSJ parents will even be aware of this.

Seriously, as much as I have sympathy, there's not one suggestion been made that's either reasonable nor viable about what more could be done.

It's just parents who do need to calm down and wait for a couple of days because there isn't an alternative.

Your comments really don't reflect well on scouting. I don't think they would be wanting you to be making posts with such little empathy

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 18:18

My apologies if I have upset anyone. I did say upthread that I appreciated redtoothbrush's updates and links. What I took from @missingthewinchesterboys is that it stung that their fellow leaders haven't asked after their DC and that it stung. Quite understandable. I would be astounded if anyone involved in UK Scouting was unaware of the situation at this point in time.

handmademitlove · 06/08/2023 18:21

From our perspective ( and I am a scout volunteer but not a uniformed leader) our leaders know less than we do. As parents we are getting regular updates from UK contingent and from unit leaders. We are also getting check in emails from the county InTouch contact. Our DC has emailed to check that both scouts and parents are doing ok. The DC has signed up to the unit jamboree updates and any insta / Facebook accounts so they can follow what is happening. They comment regularly on our young people's photos and updates so we know they are keeping an eye on them.
But they don't have to do this. Jamboree units are organised at a county level so most districts know very little about what is happening other than what they can see on social media.
I updated our group exec so they were aware of what was about to hit the news when we were informed they were pulling out. But that is because I have access to the trustees.

As parents, we absolutely trust the leaders and UK contingent leads to keep our young people safe. But we watch the updates so we are aware how things are. And know that if there is any issue they will get in touch.

It is helpful to share info with other parents here, but I would rather the inquiry waits until everyone is home safe and we have time to talk to our Ds about the whole experience.

Perhaps we can get back to that for now?

On that note, my DS said watching a footy match with 4,500 scouts - one big family - was great!

PuttingDownRoots · 06/08/2023 18:23

As a Cub leader I only know of the situation from the UK press... I have no reason to know of it "officially". Our group has no Explorers for example. DH knows more as he knows one of the leaders in Korea.

We are busy with our own summer Scouting events... upcoming camp and the Village fair.

BlossomCloud · 06/08/2023 18:28

People aren't wanting information though ( I think they recognise that needs to come from official channels) just for their local leaders to acknowledge/check in? That seems just a natural instinct I think?

CheersToMe · 06/08/2023 18:31

Agree that is not unreasonable to expect an interest to be taken considering the leaders may have known the young people since they were 6 years old. Child-centric and all that Wink

MendedDrum · 06/08/2023 18:33

If you know someone has a child out there then it hardly takes much to send a quick message along the lines that you heard on the news that things in S Korea aren't going as smoothly as expected, that it sounds like UK scouting are doing what's necessary to keep the units safe and that you hope DC remains in good spirits. Basic human empathy and kindness.