{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"Alanah Reid, Creative Content Producer","standfirst":"Imagine speaking to other Scout groups across the world? That\u2019s what millions of Scouts did last October when they took part in the annual JOTA\u2013JOTI event.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI is a Jamboree with a twist. It\u0027s a brilliant event that Scouts all over the world take part in every year. The best part is that it\u2019s completely free.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s taking place on the 20 to 22 October this year.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough it\u0027s a little while away yet, you can \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.jotajoti.info\u0022\u003Esign up now\u003C/a\u003E. By registering now, you can find out handy tips and stay tuned for updates, such as\u00A0\u003Cspan\u003Ethe programme launch and this year\u0027s challenges!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EAs a parent, carer or young\u00A0member, you can contact your local Scout group to see if they are participating in this year\u0027s JOTA-JOTI activities. If they aren\u0027t, you can still register and join as an individual.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs a section, you can reach out to your local Scout community and make plans, so you\u2019ll be super prepared when the weekend comes around. Why not see if a local JOTA-JOTI event is happening near you?\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18099/db-20210929-70844-6128.jpg","width":5000,"height":3333,"altText":"Four smiling Scouts hold their arm around each other as one of them holds a phone to take a selfie.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI in a nutshell\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJOTA-JOTI\u00A0stands for \u2018Jamboree on the Air\u2019 and \u2018Jamboree on the Internet.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOrganised by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.scout.org/\u0022\u003EWorld Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)\u003C/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.jotajoti.info/\u0022\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI\u003C/a\u003E is the world\u2019s largest digital and radio Scout event.\u00A0It takes place online and over the air.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEvery year, the event brings more than two million Scouts together from over 150 countries to promote friendship and global citizenship.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScouts learn all about communication and technology, while making new friends all over the world. It\u2019s all about global citizenship and helping Scouts learn about other cultures, while working as a team.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOne of the best things about JOTA\u2013JOTI is that everyone can take part (even people who aren\u2019t part of Scouts \u2013 yet!)\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/1784/cubs_moving-up-landing-page.jpg","width":5616,"height":3744,"altText":"Two boys chatting at a Cub group wearing their green cub uniform, scarf and woggles","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy you should take part in JOTA\u2013JOTI \u003C/strong\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI is a truly unforgettable event in the Scouts calendar. It\u2019s a unique opportunity to speak to Scouts around the world, learn about different cultures and global issues, and build on communication skills.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile meeting new faces from different places, you\u2019ll step away from today\u2019s technology with JOTA and communicate through radio. There\u2019s something truly special about the crackling of the airwaves and first hearing the voices of a Scout group on the other side of the world!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s also the perfect opportunity to work towards badges. JOTA\u2013JOTI can help you get the International badge, Global Issues badge, World Challenge Award or Communicator badges.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/3196/two-cubs-learning-digital-skills.jpg","width":4928,"height":3280,"altText":"Two cubs looking at a digital lead on the table ","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow to get involved\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019re not sure how to get started, don\u2019t worry. It\u2019s super simple to get involved for the next JOTA\u2013JOTI.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFirst things first, you\u2019ll need to register your group on the \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.jotajoti.info/\u0022\u003EJOTA\u2013JOTI website\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWhy not see if there\u2019s a local or national event your group could take part in? You could also reach out to another volunteer who\u2019s been to a JOTA\u2013JOTI event to find out more.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHere\u2019s what Scouts got up to last year\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWe spoke with a few volunteers who held JOTA\u2013JOTI events in 2022 to see how they enjoyed the experience.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u2018JOTA was held with the help of Braintree and District Amateur Radio Society. They supplied radio stations to give young people the chance to learn about the different modes in amateur radio \u2013 Morse code, Data, Slow Scan TV, the classical analogue radio, and digital radio.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Young people from all sections came along (around 100 in total) and each of them tried all the stations. They learned how radio works and made friends around the world. The excitement when they transmitted their name in Morse code, or spoke with Scouts around the world, was a joy to see.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018On Friday, 1st Earls Colne visited, and they contacted groups in the USA and Canada. We ran the station between 9am and 9pm on Saturday, with all groups in the District attending. We contacted groups in Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and even the Azores!\u00A0We heard the International Space Station, but sadly they couldn\u2019t hear us.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018On Sunday, we saw several young people and leaders come back from Saturday, as they had been bitten by the radio bug, and wanted to have another go! We also had groups from outside our District join us and stayed until we had to close down the station.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We\u2019ll host this again next year, so keep 21 and 22 October free in your diary, and listen out for GB0CHS calling at a JOTA station near you!\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Chris, ADC (Scouts) Halstead \u0026 Colne Valley"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAlex shared a brilliant story about how the weekend helps create and nurture international Scout friendships:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00A0\u003C/strong\u003E\u2018The event I run near Banbury is very much focused on the International Citizenship and Global Friendship side of JOTA-JOTI \u2013 we use the tech to get and improve our international contacts.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018JOTI is a hard sell to the young people if they\u2019ve never done it before. But, once they realise they\u2019re communicating with a Scout in New Zealand or Indonesia, the event suddenly clicks with them.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Our friendship with Visoko Scouts in Bosnia started in 2015, through one JOTI call. In August this year, 10 volunteers and 29 Scouts from Oxfordshire visited Bosnia. We spent some time in Jajce and finished off our trip visiting Sarajevo and stayed in a town called Visoko. We were looked after by Visoko Scout Group, and we got in touch with them this weekend at JOTI.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018They were asked to show us around town. Their Scout meeting place is opposite Bosnia\u0027s equivalent of Tesco \u2013 called Konzum!\u00A0The Scout Leader was trying to show Visoko\u0027s Pyramid \u2013 we\u2019re told it\u2019s a real pyramid.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Most of my international contacts have come about because of making contact with them over JOTA-JOTI weekend.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Alex, UK JOTI Coordinator"}]}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"03 March 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Visit the JOTA-JOTI website","url":"https://www.jotajoti.info","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Learn how to run a JOTA-JOTI event","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/jota-joti/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Get ready to meet other Scouts around the world","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/remote-contact/","newWindow":true}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Keeping Scouts safe online","url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-life-issues-and-young-people/digital-safeguarding/staying-safe-online/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Keeping young people safe online with the NSPCC","url":"https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/","newWindow":true}],"id":48750,"nodeName":"Start getting ready for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","title":"Start getting ready for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/3196/two-cubs-learning-digital-skills.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dae3322a50f6b0","caption":"Two Cubs learning digital skills","type":"jpg","size":2414665,"width":4928,"height":3280,"altText":"Two Cubs in yellow and brown neckers looking at an electrical cable"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Start getting ready for JOTA\u2013JOTI 2023","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Find out more about JOTA-JOTI, hear from some 2022 participants about their experiences and register for this year\u0027s event.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODc1MCJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/march/start-getting-ready-for-jota-joti-2023/"}