The concept of the Oregon Youth Jamboree envisions bringing approximately 1,000 young adults to Eugene in the summer of  2014 — for purposes of an experience of life time value.

The kids will be drawn from and led by not-for-profit organizations of a type that are listed here. They will be housed in participating Sorority and Fraternity Houses on or near the campus of the University of Oregon.

The benefits to the kids, their organizations, the Chapter Houses, the University and to Jamboree sponsors are extraordinary. The ingredients for a splendid, jaw-dropping Jamboree are rich, varied and offer a rock-solid, golden opportunity. These include:

• The fabulous success (and model) of The Bach Festival
• The Olympic Trials in 2008, 2012 and 2016.
• The IAFF World Junior Championships in Eugene, July 2014.
• The good use of Fraternity and Sorority Houses during the Trials.
• The good use of the Theta Chi House for ELAW Environmental Conference.
• The experience of and connections made from Eugene Construction Career Day.
• The many, many youth-oriented entities likely to participate.
• The advent and wide acceptance of technology for physical events.
• The (very determined) backing of Michael’s Catering, (Olympic Trials catering contractor) and world leader in operating large sporting events.
• The many, many dozens of sponsors likely to support the Festival.
• A wide, deep conviction by the public that efforts to help young adults prepare themselves wisely for healthy entry into 21st Century training programs and/or college admission and/or for a good start in the workforce — that these kinds of efforts belong at the very top of the American Totem Pole.

What will the kids do when they get to Eugene?

They will “camp out” in grand residences of a kind most have never experienced. They will have a myriad of options (mostly developed by the Organizations) to include hands-on tasks involving cooking, nutrition, exercise, crafts, planting, mowing, landscaping, music playing and song writing, social networking plus “real world” workshops (for both leaders and the kids) these focused on how to improve job skills, job search, event-planning, outreach and fund-raising. (With a large emphasis on how to make good use of the Smart Phone.)

Outdoors too.

There will be outdoor activities to include hiking, biking, swimming, basketball, volleyball, soft-ball, horse-back riding, rafting, rowing, sailing. Baseball at the Ems, roller-skating, bowling, kite-flying, Frisbee-catching and horseshoe-tossing.

Those with a bent toward construction and the art of restoration will be involved in painting, sanding, wiring, plumbing, polishing and making modest repairs. Everybody will have a hand in ensuring that the House is “hospital clean” — all of it managed by carefully selected adults  —  including (we hope) some Eagle Scouts and a few Junior Achievers.

The kind of stuff that makes for a better human being.

The short of it is that these activities will be similar to that enjoyed by kids who have participated in a National Jamboree  – or a Girls Rock Camp. The long of it is an experience they will never forget and will value forever.

So too for the citizens of Eugene

Like the Olympic Trials, The Bach Festival, the World Junior Championships, the Knight Arena, The Learning Center, the brand new Duck Athletic Center, and a hot, hot, hot Duck football team — the Oregon Youth Jamboree will be one more gem in the vast treasure chest also known as Eugene, Oregon.

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{The post-script is this: John Hibbs experience as House Dad (eight years), his leadership in the promotion of e-learning and e-training for twenty years, his involvement in the Eugene Career Construction Day, renting Chapter House space for the ELAW Conference and Michael’s Catering all tell proven history of  story why John Hibbs proves that “action speaks louder than words“.}