Ulf Hoglind, of Sweden, started receiving patches in a plastic bag at the 1993 National Scout Jamboree. Left by an anonymous donor, they were old patches from 1953, 1957, and 1961.  The note just said, “This is for the Swede.”

At the 2001 jamboree, a bag of patches appeared again.  After the jamboree, Ulf sent a letter to the Chief Scout Executive asking him to help solve the mystery of the donor.  Hoglind was put in touch with the anonymous donor and they met at the 2005 jamboree.  Unfortunately, Ulf lost his contact information and was hoping to meet him again at this jamboree.  He remembers this Scouter was from the Chief Seattle Council, in his mid-40s, and had a Swedish wife.  Anyone with information should contact Ulf at Subcamp 7, Troop 713, where he is a unit leader.

“I don’t want to see you sitting around camp or along the roadside trading patches,” Hoglind tells his Swedish Scouts.  “In the daytime, go out and do merit badges or do activities. This is like Christmas.  It is a chance of a lifetime. Make the most of it.”

Other members of the Swedish contingent are here taking notes for the 22nd World Scout Jamboree ,to take place in Skane, Sweden from July 27—August 7, 2011. The theme is ‘Simply Sensational Scouting,’ and about 40,000 Scouts from around the world are expected to attend.  Camp there will be more compact than this jamboree, with no need for cars or buses to get around.  Big military tents will house 12-14 scouts.  All foreign scouts will be assigned to a smaller camp of no more than 300 for one or two nights so they can experience the countryside and see camping as the local scouts see it.

For more information about the 2011 World Jamboree, see Ulf Hoglind in Subcamp 7 or go online at www.scouting.org/worldscoutjamboree.