Peter's Random Thoughts

As I said in my post, "My Introduction To Computers", the Exploring program [part of the Boy Scouts of America] played a big part in my early years with computers. My family was living in Houston and I attended Rober E. Lee High School. I was recruited by a newly forming Explorer post, sponsored by the exploration division of Exxon Company, USA. The focus of this post was on data processing [the operations of, hardware used, and programming of computers]. The adult committee of advisors were organized and lead by Hugh Hardy. There were about twenty youth in the post when it first started up. The post was Co-ed, and while the term was unknown/unused in 1973, we were all geeks, boys and girls alike.

Many of the boys were also members of Boy Scout troops. As such we brought with us an enjoyment of camping. As an Explorer post we managed to camp at least once every other month. We did paper drives to earn money for our activities, and we did volunteer work at M. D. Anderson hospital. Explorer posts themselves were very much youth lead, we elected officers who were responsible for the activities of the post. The committee of adult advisers were just there to make sure we didn't do something stupid.

By the summer of 1973 I had been elected the Post President and soon there after I was invited by the Exploring Division of the Sam Houston Area Council to help form an Explorer Presidents Association [EPA] there in the council. From July 1973 through June 1974 I served as the EPA Program Vice-Chair were I brought together and lead the council's Explorer Olympics. From there I went on to be part of the national staging staff for the 1974 National Explorer Olympics held in Ft. Collins, Colorado, where I was one of the stage managers for the main evening events.

During this same period, 1973-1974, I continued to serve as president of Explorer Post 1984. This position earned me a trip to Washington DC for the anuall National Explorer Presidents Conference [NEPC]. Attendance was open to all elected post presidents and council EPA chairs. By my estimation there were at least a 1000+ attendees.Here we elected our National, Regional and Area chairs. We also met with with our respective U.S. Congressional Representatives and our U.S. Senators. The following year I was elected the chair of the Sam Houston Council EPA which again earned me a trip to that years NEPC where I was elected South Central Area Three Chair [1974-1975]. In addition I made my first trip to the Philmont Training Center for a week long meeting of the National EPA Cabinet.

In the spring of 1975 I wound down my involvement in Exploring to better focus finishing earning my Eagle Scout [Yes, I was a "last minute" Eagle] and on my training for participation in the upcoming World Jamboree. I ended my youth involvement in Exploring on a high note. I was awarded the council level Young American Award at the annual Council Recognition Dinner.

US Contingent PatchIn 1975 I was granted the unique opportunity of attending the 1975 World Jamboree in Lillehammer, Norway from July 29th through August 7th, 1975. I served as the third assistant scoutmaster for Troop 75J from Sam Houston Area Council, Houston, TX. I had just turned 18 and the position was reserved for scouts like me who were, at the time of the jamboree were between the ages of 18 and 21.

For many of the boys this was the first time out of the country, not to mention the first time on an airplane. We traveled by bus to Dallas where we met other troops of the US contingent and boarded our plane to Norway. Our eventual destination was near the head of Lake Mjosa, near Lillehammer, Norway.Official Nordjamb '75 Patch

The 14th World Jamboree brought together approximately 17,000+ campers from over 90 countries. Christened "Nordjamb 75" the theme was "Five Fingers, one Hand ". Looking at the Official Nordjamb75 patch this theme is re-enforced by the five mountain peaks representing the five joint Nordic hosts and the five Scout Regions in one Brotherhood.

I have many memories of the my time at the jamboree. From hiking in the mountains in international patrols, a visit to Maihaugen cultural museum, to all the fun of the Saturday Jamboree Country Fair. The King of Norway opened the Jamboree, along with visits by the King of Sweden and the Crown Prince of Morocco.

As a troop we experienced all of these, plus more. I have vivid memories of waking up the first morning at the campsite to find that right next door was an encampment containing girls. I was pleasantly surprised, but it was really fun to watch the boys in my troop [mostly ages 15 and 16] try and impress our neighbors. That same day, or rather that evening, we all discovered the camp canteen. Much to my suprise, for the small sum of 2 Kroner anyone could buy a bottle of official [complete with international scouting symbol] jamboree beer. The next morning we had a bunch of 15 and 16 year old scouts experiencing their first hangover which was further aggrevated by breakfast consisting of hardbread, cheese, and pickled kippers. It was a sight to behold watching the boys.

Green Bar Bill's autograph!

Green Bar Bill in our campI had grown up reading his columns in Boy's Life. The Scoutmaster of our jamboree troop had given each of his adult staff a copy of "Two Lives of A Hero", the biography of the founder of the world Scouting movement, Lord Baden-Powell. Given all that by far my most vivid memory from the jamboree was when Green Bar Bill [William Hillcourt] walked into our camp. Those of us that were in camp when he arrived were in awe of him, and yet I remember him to be a patient and gracious man. I was able to get him to autograph both a copy of his book, "Two Lives of a Hero" and an official Nordjamb-75 envelope.

In the end I will always remember my experiences from the 1975 World Jamboree. To this day I proudly wear my jamboree patch on my uniform for all to see.