Knock on wood, the rain has ended for a few days. Prior to the jamboree’s opening, the U.K. had experienced its worst floods in 100 years. The rising River Thames overflowed its banks in many communities, including hard-hit Oxford.

The jamboree site has its share of mud bogs, but a couple days of sunshine should dry them up. Temperatures are quite cool and pleasant, unseasonable for this time of year. Sunscreen is a must to keep from burning in the bright sunshine.

Many of the jamboree’s program activities take place off-site. Buses transport Scouts to different venues for aquatics, service projects, and a tour of Gilwell Park, home of wood badge and the U.K. Scout Association. Scouts leave after breakfast, carry a sack lunch with them for the road, and return to camp before dinner.

My blog will be on hiatus for a few days, since I’m leaving tonight for Brownsea Island. A 6 o’clock sunrise celebration on Wednesday, August 1, marks the 100th anniversary of Scouting. It’s a date that celebrations will occur around the world.

Brownsea Island is where Baden-Powell took 20 boys camping from all social-economic levels of London to test his “scheme” for Scouting. That scheme, or program, included outdoor living and cooking using the patrol method, a guide to leadership, competitive games, and, of course, fun. A year later, B-P wrote his Handbook for Boys.

Two Scouts from the United States have been selected to camp on the island with representatives of other jamboree countries. They will participate in the sunrise celebration on Wednesday, and I’ll have a full report for Thursday’s blog.

Scott Daniels is the managing editor Scouting magazine. He is submitting a daily blog post from the 21st World Scout Jamboree, Hylands Park, Essex, England.