148Th Edinburgh Guides Haarlem 2007

GIRLGUIDING EDINBURGH - HAARLEM JAMBORETTE 2015

68 GIRLS HAVE BOOKED - WE ONLY HAVE 12 MORE PLACES AVAILABLE

Have you ever thought about going abroad to an International Camp with other guides? Some girls will have already heard about the County’s plans to take girls to the Haarlem Jamborette, an International Guide and Scout Camp at Spaarnwoude near Amsterdam in The Netherlands, at Festival Adventure 2013. We now have 68 girls from Girlguiding Edinburgh who have booked to go to the Haarlem Jamborette next year. At the Jamborette we will be splitting into 4 groups on different subcamps, each group with their own 4 leaders.

I have taken groups from my own Unit to the Haarlem Jamborettes of 2003, 2007 and 2011. Going abroad to an international event is an amazing experience for the girls but as it involves a large financial outlay we have had plans in place for some time to allow parents to save and to enable fundraising.

The trip will take place from Friday, 24th July to Thursday, 6th August 2015 (this includes travel time). A minimum of 2 nights camping experience with Guiding, under canvas, is required by the time you go to Haarlem. Anyone in the County who will be 11 by 26th July 2015 can attend. Participants require to be under 18 on 26th July 2015.

The cost of the 14 day/13 night trip would be in the region of £850 but the County will pay £50 per participant which reduces the cost to around £800. The following would be included:

· the camp fee (we already have a group reservation which will reduce the camp fee by €30 per person)

· food; including buffet dinner and breakfast on the ferry to and from Amsterdam

· travel to Newcastle – train from Edinburgh to Newcastle return and coach to/from ferry terminal or return coach from Edinburgh to the ferry terminal;

· travel to The Netherlands - return ferry to Amsterdam

· return coach from ferry terminal to campsite

· travel insurance

· contingent t-shirt, hoodie, badge and international and tartan neckies

· Group outings in The Netherlands (this is over and above the 2 camp excursions – 1 is usually to a theme park and there is a choice for the other trip, e.g. canal trip in Amsterdam; visit to Ajax stadium; Amsterdam science museum

· Van hire and fuel - for equipment and luggage

· Provision of canvas and cooking equipment, including table and bench hire and purchase of gas

· Contingent training events

· Administration

At this stage it is very difficult to be exact about costs. Some costs will increase and some cannot be ascertained yet and we have no idea what the pound/euro exchange rate will be in 2015. We have 4 Parent Groups arranging fundraising to subsidise the cost. Girls will only be allocated fundraising monies from a fundraising event if they help with that event. I think I have likely over estimated costs as I would prefer to deliver a trip below budget than have to ask for more money.

The website for the camp is: http://www.haarlemjamborette.nl/ You can still visit the website for Haarlem 2011 - http://www.haarlemjamborette.nl/2011/

Are you interested in attending? Yes – then complete the application form and return it with a non-returnable deposit of £50. This is the only way to book a place – places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. As at 10/8/14 we have 12 places available. Once they have gone that’s it – we cannot take more than 80 girls.

We will offer an instalment plan for the Event as we realise this is a very large outlay. On booking you will be advised of the payment stages and cancellation policy. The later you book the more you will need to pay in the short term.

If you decide to make payments by monthly standing order the final payment will be due by 31st May 2015. We see payments by standing order as a way of offering parents a way of making regular payments towards the cost – we will leave it entirely to parents to decide (1) the amount of the monthly payment and (2) the date of the month the payment is made, with the last payment being made during the month of May 2015. The final payment for those paying in set stages will be due by 30th April 2015.

Jennifer Hamilton

County International Adviser

August 2014