In 2024, between July 25 and August 4, nearly 900 Hungarian scouts from 5 continents will participate in the Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris’ Jamboree Camp, held every five years at the Sándor Sík Scout Park in Fillmore, NY. The organizers have been preparing for the current camp since 2015, when the last camp was held, as the 2020 camp had to be canceled due to the Covid pandemic.

The “Jubi Camps,” organized since 1956, are large-scale scout camps. In July 2024, nearly 900 Hungarian scouts are expected at the camp, and with guests during the last weekend, the number should exceed 1,100. The camp is an excellent opportunity to meet and get to know Hungarian scouts, both children and adults, living in other cities and those arriving from other continents. Hungarian scouts mostly come from the United States and Canada, but also from Australia, South America, Western Europe, and the Carpathian Basin: Croatia, Transylvania, Upper Hungary, Vojvodina, and Hungary. Hungarian scouting is a worldwide movement!

“Let’s Build a Nation!” This year’s camp theme is the era of King Stephen, that is, nation and country building. Participants will learn about King Stephen’s admonitions and how they apply to them today. The scouts involved in planning and leading the camp are all volunteers. Camp fees and fundraising cover the camp costs; the camp primarily relies on the generosity of the Hungarian diaspora.

Eszter Pigniczky of Cleveland, the Jubi Camp Commander, said, “We learned that there is plenty of work and challenges in organizing such a large-scale camp and its logistics. However, it’s also a great opportunity for the Hungarian Scout Movement: The experience of the past years shows that everyone happily comes to Jubi Camp every five years. The biggest challenge is to provide a lifelong experience for every scout and for everyone to return home recharged and ready to continue the scout work, which society needs more and more.” Eszter Pigniczky is also responsible for scout leader training and training camps in the organization.

This year’s Jubi Camp awaits scouts with several innovations. The program is not only for the 10-18-year-old scout age group but also for their parents. Parents who are not yet scouts but would like to join the movement can participate in the Swallow Camp (Fecsketábor), where they learn about scouting and help with the central programs. In addition, an Oasis group will be responsible for spiritual programs and organizing activities for all camp participants who, in addition to their own camp life, would like to find silence, spiritual meditation, and support. The 19–22-year-olds are awaited by the Wanderer Camp (Vándor altábor), where in addition to general camp life, they can test themselves in an ironman competition: cycling, rowing, hiking, and long-distance running. The 10-18-year-old scouts will be in sub-camps divided by age and gender, sleeping in tents, and their programs include backpack hiking, building camp structures, campfires, folk dance houses, and participating in a Fair from King Stephen’s era.

“The goal of our Jamboree Camp is to create an exciting scout camp for all ages, away from the noise of the city, where participants deepen their practical scout knowledge according to their age group,” said Eszter Pigniczky.

DIRECTIONS TO SÍK SÁNDOR HUNGARIAN SCOUT CAMP

Mailing Address:

HUNGARIAN SCOUT CAMP
Child’s Name and Sub-Camp
5098 Robinson Rd.
Fillmore, NY 14735

Phone Number: +1 585 567 8594 (For emergencies only; messages will be relayed to campers via camp staff.)

Scout Camp Address: 10993 County Road 15, Fillmore, NY 14735.

IMPORTANT! Most internet maps will not take you to the exact location—you must keep your eyes open for local addresses.

WHAT IS HUNGARIAN SCOUTING?

Hungarian scouting provides age-appropriate activities for boys and girls. Its main purpose: to raise young people of good character who are proud of their Hungarian heritage, and who fulfill their duty toward God, country (both), fellow man, and the Hungarian nation.

Hungarian scout activities are centered on the patrol system. Patrols are led by trained teenagers: young people leading other youngsters. In scouting, we teach by example, and through play and activity. All scouts take an oath to abide by the ten points of the Scout Law.

AGE GROUPS:

5-10     Cubscouts/Brownies (Kiscserkész)
10-17   Scouts and Girl Scouts (cserkész, leánycserkész)
16-27   Rover Scouts
18+      Adult Scouts

GOALS OF HUNGARIAN SCOUTING

* Character building * Hungarian heritage * Skills development * Physical Challenge *
* Scouting Skills * Service *

LEADERSHIP

Hungarian scouting has a well-established system of leadership training. At each level (patrol leader, platoon, scoutmaster), young people participate in the Association’s 10-day camp for their specific cohort and level in Fillmore, NY, as well as follow-up local training weekends.

WHAT IS THE HUNGARIAN SCOUT ASSOCIATION IN EXTERIS (KMCSSZ)?

The Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris has been operating for 79 years. It serves Hungarian youth living outside the borders of the Carpathian Basin. It is headquartered in New Jersey, United States, and has five districts: I. Europe, II. South America, III. USA and Venezuela, IV. Australia, V. Canada. The KMCSSZ has nearly 3,000 members worldwide, with 66 troops in 14 countries.

WHY IS SCOUTING GOOD FOR YOUR CHILD?

The child learns how to be at home in two different cultures. He/she learns to appreciate Hungarian heritage and language. Scouting is an essential complement to more formal instruction: it reinforces knowledge of Hungarian history, folklore, literature and language through role-play, games, and other activities that are engaging and fun.

The child learns the importance of discipline. The scout uniform, belonging to a patrol, and obeying the leader all provide a sense of discipline that complements the family rules at home.

The child makes lifelong friends. Group activities foster community within the patrol and among other scouts at camp.

The child learns to be at home in nature from a young age.

THE 10 POINTS OF THE SCOUT LAW:

A Scout is trustworthy and always tells the truth.

A Scout faithfully fulfills his/her duty toward God, country, and fellow man.

A Scout helps others wherever possible.

A Scout treats all other Scouts as brothers and sisters.

A Scout is gentle toward others but maintains strict expectations of him/herself.

A Scout loves the natural world, is good to animals, and treats plants carefully.

A Scout obeys his/her leaders with goodwill.

A Scout is cheerful and thoughtful.

A Scout is thrifty.

A Scout is clean in body and soul.

THE SCOUT OATH:

On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty faithfully toward God, my country, my nation, and others.

I will do everything possible to help other people at all times.

I know the Scout Law and will abide by it always.

ESZTI PIGNICZKY (DIRECTOR OF JAMBOREE CAMP 2024)

I was born in Lansdale, PA, near Philadelphia. My parents were scoutmasters in the Philadelphia Hungarian Scout Troops, so I started my scouting career early.

For family reasons, we moved several times during my childhood. Fortunately, we always moved to a city with a Hungarian Scout Troop: New Brunswick, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia (again), San Francisco (again), and Cleveland. I completed all levels of leadership training over the years and served in many positions, including scoutmaster. I organized backpacking trips, obstacle courses, winter camps, and summer scout camps for all age groups, including one aimed at parents.

From 1997 to 2004, I led the Cleveland Hungarian Scout Folk Ensemble. Highlights of this period include the Cleveland ensemble’s 1998 gala performance and organizing a three-week tour in 2001 to Northern Hungary and Transylvania. Since then, the ensemble has organized a folk study tour for its teenage members to Hungary and the region every five years.

Since 1992, I have participated actively in scout leadership training camps for teenagers and young adults. These camps are organized for scouts in the West (the Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris) and for the scout troops of minority communities in the countries neighboring Hungary. I was privileged to train Hungarian Scout leaders in Slovakia, Hungary, Argentina, and Australia, as well as at the central Scout Park in Fillmore, NY.

Since 2001, I have served on the Executive Committee of the Hungarian Scout Association in Exteris.

My husband, Endre Szentkirályi, and I have four grown children: Keve, Bendegúz, Vajk, and Enese. He and I work at the same high school: he is a teacher, and I am the administrative assistant to the principal.

My ongoing goal is to implement the best practices of scouting organization and problem-solving throughout the Association, particularly with regard to leadership training. More importantly, my goal is to help our community raise skilled scouts of good character who are proud of their Hungarian heritage and good citizens of their home countries who can use their multicultural background to benefit the Hungarian nation.

MESSAGE FROM THE CAMP DIRECTOR

Our camp motto: Let’s build a nation!

We will do just that…using the tried-and-true methods of our worldwide scouting movement, which holds a Jamboree in Fillmore, NY, every five years.

The goals of the camp: to provide a fantastic and age-appropriate scout camp experience, far from the city’s noise, where all scouts can improve their skills and make friends with fellow scouts from different parts of the world. We will learn about the era of King St. Stephen and his contributions: the founding of the Christian kingdom of Hungary, the first legal code, and the importance of the Crown of St. Stephen for the Hungarian nation.

Welcome!

VISITORS

We warmly welcome all our guests to the closing weekend of Jubitábor. Whether parents, alumni scouts, friends of scouts, Hungarian speakers, or non-Hungarians, your presence is a blessing. The Guest Camp provides a window into camp life and an opportunity to participate firsthand.

The Guest Camp opens at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, and closes at noon on August 4. Interactive programs include music, campfires, and camp tours. On the closing night, more than 1,000 scouts and guests will celebrate Jubitábor with an exciting, spectacular event and dinner.

Click here for details and to register and pay.