7th Boston Swineshead Scouts will take part in JOTA-JOTI 2026 from 16–18 October, joining 12th Lincoln Scouts for a weekend camp centred on amateur radio, international friendship and practical skills. It is an opportunity for our young people to look beyond their regular meetings in Lincolnshire and discover the wider Scouting community through conversations over the airwaves.
Our Jamboree on the Air camp will combine radio activities with badge work, time together at camp and a choice of bouldering or a visit to the games warehouse. For Scouts who enjoy technology, meeting people or trying something unfamiliar, the weekend offers several different ways to get involved. Families can find the practical arrangements on the JOTA camp event page, including the payment deadline, arrival and collection times, and kit list.
What is JOTA-JOTI?
JOTA-JOTI stands for Jamboree on the Air and Jamboree on the Internet. The official JOTA-JOTI website describes it as the world’s largest digital and radio Scout event. Its purpose is to bring young people together through communication, friendship and global citizenship, using radio and online activities to make connections across borders.
JOTA is the amateur-radio part of that shared experience, while JOTI brings Scouts together through the internet. The official programme includes opportunities such as moderated online conversations, group video calls and challenges exploring international connections, sustainability and skills. Our local camp is focused on JOTA: giving Scouts the chance to experience radio communication alongside the rest of the camp programme.
The international event takes place on 16–18 October 2026. Its scale is part of the appeal, but a meaningful experience can begin with one conversation. Hearing another Scout explain their favourite activity, or asking how their group spends a weekend outdoors, can turn a distant place on a map into somewhere connected to a real person.
Why our Swineshead Scouts are taking part
Scouting offers young people opportunities to try things they might not encounter elsewhere. For 7th Boston Swineshead Scouts, this camp brings together several of those opportunities in one weekend: working with another group, exploring communications technology and building confidence through unfamiliar experiences. Taking part with 12th Lincoln Scouts also gives our young people a chance to get to know fellow Scouts from elsewhere in the county.
A joint camp creates room for different strengths. Someone who is comfortable speaking may enjoy starting a conversation; someone who prefers to listen may notice an interesting detail and suggest the next question. A Scout who likes practical tasks may be curious about the equipment. There is value in each of those contributions, and plenty to discuss afterwards about what went well and what they would like to try again.
We want this to be an experience our Scouts can connect to their own lives. Learning to listen carefully, explain something clearly and show interest in another person is useful far beyond a radio session. These are skills that can help when working in a group, meeting new people or finding the confidence to ask a question.
Conversations across countries and time zones
During the camp, we hope to make radio contact with Scouts internationally, including countries such as Australia, the United States and South Africa. These are possibilities to look forward to rather than confirmed contacts. Each conversation will depend on who is available during our radio sessions, so part of the experience will be discovering whom we can reach.
Time differences add another dimension to the weekend. When our Scouts are thinking about an evening activity, a group elsewhere may be starting its day or following a different schedule. Some of our radio sessions may therefore run late into the evening to give young people opportunities to connect across time zones. Parents should read the camp information and speak to the leaders about any questions concerning their Scout’s needs.
Scouts could prepare a few simple questions before camp. What is your favourite outdoor activity? Which badge have you most enjoyed working towards? What food do you like cooking at camp? What would you recommend to someone visiting your country? These are suggestions for starting a friendly conversation, not a fixed script. The most interesting follow-up question often comes from listening to the answer.
Radio communication and respectful participation
The official JOTA-JOTI Be Safe guidance explains that licensed amateur-radio operators supervise young people using their radios and monitor conversations. It also makes an important point: radio conversations are not private, and personal contact information should not be shared over the airwaves.
The same guidance encourages participants to involve an adult, treat others respectfully, protect personal information and speak to a trusted adult if something makes them uncomfortable. Families exploring the online side of the international event should read its registration, adult-supervision and online-safety guidance together. The official website provides the current requirements and learning resources.
For our Scouts, preparing for a conversation can be as simple as thinking about what they are happy to share about Scouting. Favourite games, camp cooking and badge activities offer plenty to talk about without sharing private details. Being curious about another person’s experiences also means allowing them time to answer, recognising that people may use different words, and being patient when something needs explaining again.
Working towards four Scout badges
Our camp programme includes opportunities to work towards the Communicator, International, Electronics and Survival Skills badges. Together, these give the weekend a mix of communication, understanding, technology and practical camp experience. They also offer different starting points for Scouts whose interests are not all the same.
The radio theme provides a reason to think carefully about how a message is delivered and understood. International conversations offer opportunities to ask questions about other people’s experiences. The electronics element adds a practical technology focus, while the camp setting brings outdoor learning into the weekend. Leaders will guide the planned activities and the badge work associated with them.
Working towards a badge does not mean every participant will automatically complete it during one camp. Each Scout’s progress depends on the requirements and the work they have already done. Families can ask the section team about progress after the event. Our Scouts resources page is also a useful place to find uniform, badge-placement and Promise information.
Bouldering or the games warehouse: make your choice
Alongside the radio and camp activities, Scouts will have the opportunity to take part in either bouldering or a visit to the games warehouse. The two activities will happen at the same time, so each young person needs to choose one. Please indicate that choice clearly on the nights-away form when returning it.
It is worth talking through the options with your Scout before completing the form, rather than choosing on their behalf without discussing it. If you have questions about accessibility, additional support or whether an activity will suit your young person, speak to the leaders before the deadline. The section team can discuss the arrangements; this article does not replace that conversation or the information supplied for the activity.
Key camp information for parents and carers
The camp runs from Friday 16 October to Sunday 18 October 2026. Arrival is at 7pm on Friday, and collection is at 2pm on Sunday. Parents and carers are responsible for transport to and from camp. Please use the event page and the information form when planning your journey, and log in to view the campsite address.
The cost is £45 per Scout, payable by 1 October 2026. The completed nights-away form must also be returned to Dannielle Blackhorse-Hull by 1 October. Payment is by cash or bank transfer as described on the form. This camp is not bookable online. Reading the event page does not reserve a place or replace returning the required paperwork.
Please make sure the form includes the activity preference and the emergency-contact and health information requested by the leaders. Share that information directly through the arrangements given by the group, rather than posting it publicly. Keep the information section of the form so that the event contact details are available when you need them. If you are missing the form or need payment details, contact the Scout leaders.
Getting ready for an October camp
The supplied kit list asks Scouts to arrive in full uniform and bring suitable warm clothing, waterproofs and spare clothes. It also specifies a sleeping bag rated for at least three seasons and a foam sleeping mat or Karrimat. Camp beds are not permitted because of the space they take up in the tents. Check the full JOTA camp kit list before packing rather than relying on a short summary.
Encouraging your Scout to pack their own bag helps them know where their belongings are. They can check off the list, put related items together and practise finding their torch or waterproofs without emptying everything out. The form recommends a rucksack or sports bag they can carry themselves; suitcases are not suitable for the tents. Every item should be clearly labelled with their name.
Scouts may bring a mobile phone at their own risk, but the form states that there are no facilities for charging phones and that the group cannot take responsibility for loss or damage. Families should take that into account when deciding what to bring. The essential preparation is having the right personal kit and making sure the leaders have the information they need.
A local camp with a wider view of Scouting
For our young people in Swineshead, the appeal of JOTA is the chance to take part in something much bigger than one group while enjoying a shared camp with Scouts from Lincoln. A successful weekend might mean speaking on the radio for the first time, learning something unexpected from another Scout or coming home with a new interest to explore.
We look forward to seeing what our Scouts discover during JOTA-JOTI 2026. For the international programme and its latest guidance, visit the official JOTA-JOTI website. For our group’s arrangements, use the camp event page and information form. If this story has sparked an interest in local Scouting, explore the Scouts section at 7th Boston Swineshead or contact our team to ask about joining.
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