This Friday, the 2nd Braintree & Bocking Air Scout Groups Beavers, Cubs and Air Scouts—embarked on a digital adventure like no other as part of Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) 2025. This global Scouting event brought together millions of young people from over 150 countries, and our group was right at the heart of it.

From our base in Braintree, we reached out across the globe—chatting with fellow Scouts in New Zealand, Australia, and many other countries including Germany, India, South Africa, and the United States. The excitement was palpable as our young members exchanged stories, learned about different cultures, and discovered just how big and welcoming the worldwide Scouting community really is.

Safe, Smart, and Friendly Communication

One of the key themes of our JOTI experience was safe communication. Before diving into chats and digital activities, our leaders guided Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts through best practices for online interaction. We covered:

  • ✅ How to protect personal information
  • ✅ What respectful digital behaviour looks like
  • ✅ How to spot and report anything that doesn’t feel right
  • ✅ The importance of kindness and curiosity when meeting people from different backgrounds

These lessons weren’t just theoretical—they were put into practice as our young members navigated moderated chat rooms, participated in global games, and shared their Scouting experiences with peers thousands of miles away.

Highlights from the Friday night sleepover

  • 📸 The scouts loved having a video call with Scout camps in Australia and comparing uniforms with groups in New Zealand.
  • 🗺️ Scouts took part in digital JID challenge collecting as many as possible from scouts around the world and learned how Scouting traditions vary around the world.

Group Lead volunteer Daniel summed it up perfectly:
“JOTI gave our young people a chance to explore the world without leaving the hall. It was inspiring to see them connect, communicate safely, and realise they’re part of something truly global.”

Looking Ahead

JOTI 2025 was more than just a evening —it was a launchpad for future friendships, learning, and digital confidence. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event and exploring even more ways to connect our group with the world.

To all the Scouts we met: thank you for sharing your stories. To our Beavers, Cubs, and Air Scouts—well done for representing 2nd Braintree & Bocking with pride, curiosity, and care.