It was an early wake-up call this morning for the 260 Scouts from 130 countries camping overnight on Brownsea Island. The 4:30 alarm had Scouts out of their tents and dressed in full uniform by 5 o’clock. The sunrise awakening was necessary because these young people would lead the world in celebrating Scouting’s 100th anniversary on the very site that Baden-Powell established a camp for boys in 1907.

The focused calm of a 20-minute tai-chi meditation quickly gave way to cheers and singing as the excited Scouts paraded with their national flags to the ceremony site on the southern shore of the island.

Broadcast worldwide via satellite TV, U.K. Chief Scout Peter Duncan opened the festivities by blowing the same kudu horn that Baden Powell had used at the camp. (A kudu is a large antelope-like animal in South Africa with twisted prong horns.)

The Chief Scout then asked the Scouts to rededicate themselves to the movement by raising their hand in the Scout sign and reciting the Scout promise in his or her own native language. The blended voices provided a dynamic illustration of the jamboree’s theme, “One World, One Promise.”

British Scout Alastair Frankl then showed how Scouting’s mission remains as true today as it did 100 years ago by reciting Baden-Powell’s words. “Our aim is to bring up the next generation of useful citizens with a wider outlook than before and thereby develop goodwill and peace in the world with comradeship and co-operation.”

B-P continued to say that this would be “in place of the prevailing rivalry between classes, creeds, and countries which have done so much in the past to produce wars and unrest.”

The ceremonies concluded with each Brownsea Scout crossing the Peace Bridge, giving the Scout sign, and shaking the hand of a Scout from another country.

“I feel greatly honored to participate in this ceremony,” said a Scout from the United States. A Scout from Korea added, “My heart was thumping with excitement as the Chief Scout blew the Kudu horn.”

Besides the Scouts on Brownsea Island and those at the World Jamboree site in Hylands Park, millions of Scouts around the world observed the centenary today by reciting the Scout Promise in their own cities, towns, and villages.

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.