Three youths from Saline Boy Scout Troop 457, Alan Barnes, Neal Ellsworth, and Matthew Gramer, spent time this summer getting to know other scouts from Michigan, the U.S., and the world while attending the 2004 Michigan International Camporee from July 25-August 8 in Lupton, Mich. 

The aim of the Camporee was to bring together young people from a wide range of different countries to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience and, at the same time, provide an example to the world of diversity and brotherhood.  A total of 19 other countries from five continents were represented, including the first-ever scouting visitors to the U.S. from Mongolia.  Troop 457 hosted the international scouting contingent from Zimbabwe in southern Africa: leader Norman Scott and scout Joseph Rose of Bulawayo, Matabeleland, Zimbabwe.  The troop also hosted a youth staff member from the Czech Republic, Petr Fbera.

The International Camporee involved two weeks of scouting. The first week was spent hosting international scouts and their leaders in area homes. The troop welcomed their visitors at the airport and learned their first Czech word of greeting – "dobr den," which means "good day." The Zimbabwe scouts were recognized at the airport by their unique scout hats with hatbands made from zebra skin.

The visiting international international scouts were taken to different places around Saline, Ann Arbor, Lansing and Detroit, and shown what lives in Michigan are like.  They admired the architecture, local museums, the countryside, and unique shops, but were most impressed by the friendliness of the people they met in Michigan. 

Wednesday was the most fun and thrilling part of the host week, with a trip to Cedar Point.

The camporee began on Sunday, Aug. 1 when everyone went to the Northwoods Boy Scout Reservation.  All the camporee events were geared toward meeting people from other countries and sharing international friendship and goodwill.  During the day the scouts went to different activity areas, participating in games, archery, riflery, swimming, and canoeing.  In the evening there were many opportunities for the international guests to share songs, games, and other scouting activities from their countries. 

There was much to learn and many people to get to know.

Every country had its own uniforms and patches, many of which were quite colorful.  Especially fun for the scouts was the youth dance and the trading for patches and commemorative T-shirts, which was fast and furious. 

An international festival was held on the last day of the camporee.  The scouts walked around to different booths, tasting foreign food and learning about each country that was there. The Zimbabwe group made koeksisters, a traditional sweet dessert that is similar to fried dough, but much smaller and coated with corn syrup instead of powdered sugar.

During the international night on Tuesday, every visiting country shared something about their culture.  The Hungarian contingent acted out a folk tale.  The Australians explained why Waltzing Matilda is not the national anthem. The contingent from Trinidad/Tobago brought their entire steel drum collection, and had the audience on their feet.  The salsa dancing by the Netherlands Antilles group amazed the scouts, and the Ugandan scouts had practically the entire camp down on the stage dancing when it was their turn.  The evening really broke the ice for everyone, and set a positive, energetic tone for the rest of the week.

At the Visitors Day, the groups from Egypt and Jordan had very informative booths that were well visited.

All the scouts, local and international, felt that any experience where one can share the diversity of people and learn that we are more the same than different is worthwhile.