From 27 July till 8 August 2007, the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford in the United Kingdom was on the air with GB100J.

GB100J found itself in an excellent location on the camp side, right in between the Global Development Village and the World Scout Centre. This meant lot's of visitors during day time and even at night. The international team of operators was lead by the UK National JOTA Organizer Richard Gaskell, G0REL.. After some initial struglle to get all the equipment together and working, the only thing missing were the light bulbs. But there was no way to stop the enthusiastic operators. Yes, you can of course operate the short wave radio's at night and simply use a flashlight to read the station log....!
A daily contact was maintained with the amateur radio base at Brownsea Island GB100BI, with Gilwell Park GB2GP and with the reunion station at Sutton Coldfield GB4SP.
Some clever operators discovered that one could ask each visitor to make a short radio contact with them and in this way earn en extra point for the centenary radio-scouting award. Never thought that the award would even encourage the Jamboree participants to make a radio contact, but so it did.

The Jamboree programme guide presented a full page with all the details of the activities available at GB100J; click the logo and have a look.

GB100J was housed in a large tent on the central part of the campsite. Two large beam antenna's plus a number of wire antennas in between the masts were the Jamboree's liveline with the outside world. Numereous contacts were made with Scouts all over the world.
An exciting foxhunt and a kitbuiling project were there to complete the radio adventure for the participating Scouts.

JOTA's history explained by World Organizer Richard Middelkoop, PA3BAR, at the 50th JOTA birthday party, hosted by GB100J on August 4.
The display shows a re-enactment of the first amateur radio station ever to operate from a World Jamboree, GB3SP in Sutton Coldfield in 1957. This station sparked the idea of an annual get-together for Scouts via amateur radio.
Unfortunately, the founding fathers of JOTA, Les Mitchell G3BHK and Len Jarrett VE3MYF could not be physically present at the party, but checked in by Echolink later on.
The JOTA birthday party enjoyed the company of 120 Scout leaders from 86 different countries. Special guest was RSGB vice-president Colin Thomas G3PSM and his XYL. An excellent opportunity to exchange ideas amongst the radio-Scouts of many nations. It was in the same informal atmosphere that the JOTA idea came up in 1957. This time the focus was on the 50th edition of the JOTA next October.

Of course, no party without a birthday cake. The GB100J team had them specially made with the logo of the 50th JOTA on top.
Symbolic of JOTA's rich history and future: the most experienced Scout radio amateur on site, Tormod Nordeng, LA8RU, cuts the JOTA birthday cake together with the youngest Guide with a radio licence, Maura M3URA.
Delegations from the Scout Associations in Japan, China and Oman offered presents to WOSM in recognition of the support given to the JOTA each year.

A contact was made on 4 August at 21:10 GMT with the International Space Station on one of its passes over the World Scout Jamboree. The International Space Station has an amateur radio station on board that can be used by crew members with a radio licence. The radio amateur with the crew was Clay Anderson KD5PLA. The space station's call sign is NA1SS.
Quite a crowd gathered at the large tent were the preparations for the space uplink had all been made. Coordinated by Ivor G4GET, the uplink contact worked just perfectly. It was a clear night and not only could the Scouts speak with the Space station, they could also see it passing over in the sky above the Jamboree.

Have a look at the video made of the contact wih the World Scout Jamboree,

or download the audio recording.

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