I’m writing this from a deck chair in 33° heat, and for once I’m not in my Scout shed. I’m in the Royal Park in Windsor, where Wings 2026, the international Guide and Scout jamboree, has taken over the fields. More than 4,000 young people are here, backed by hundreds of volunteers and leaders.
This place is personal for me. I spent a lot of my childhood summers here: cycling over from my house for picnics, playing on this field, swimming in the lake just across from this field. Seeing it turned into a buzzing tented town, with the castle rising behind it, is surreal.
I only came for the day, but it’s given me plenty to think about as a Leader. Here’s what I learned, and what I’d want to know if I were deciding whether to bring my own group.
Why Wings feels different from other UK jamborees
Catering is done for you, with a twist
At many jamborees you bring your own food and do daily runs to the local shops. At Wings, each patrol collects its rations from a collection point, carries them back to the pitch and cooks. You don’t know exactly what you’ll get, so it’s a bit of a lucky dip.
The organisers give out ideas, tips and tricks for turning the ingredients into a menu. Tonight’s ration is chicken curry, and it’s fascinating to see how differently every campsite approaches it.
Leader takeaway: This is real programme content. Planning a menu from what you’re given, cooking it and clearing up is a brilliant test of teamwork, adaptability and independence, and you don’t have to organise the shopping.
It’s international without the logistics
I met Canadian Scouts, bumped into Italian Scouts and chatted to hundreds of leaders from across the UK. You get the international jamboree atmosphere without passports, flights, or the “do I need to hire a lorry for the kit?” headache.
Leader takeaway: If your group isn’t ready for an overseas trip, or you’re nervous about the responsibility of taking young people abroad, this is a genuine stepping stone. It’s also a good fit for first-time jamboree leaders.
The camping styles are a masterclass in variety
Walking round the camping fields, I saw an old army-style kitchen tent, Coleman shelters, plenty of Decathlon tents and loads of Icelandic tents. No two sites looked the same.
That’s what I love about Scouting. We’re all here for the same purpose, to give young people great experiences, but we all Scout differently. A jamboree puts that on display, and it’s a great place to steal ideas for your own kit and campsite setup.
The setting is unbeatable
The castle is just behind me, and the Long Walk is off to my left. Not many people can say they’ve camped in the back garden of Windsor Castle, but around 4,000 of us in 2026 can.
The programme: what’s included
Activities are all covered in the price. Here’s what I came across:
- UK Army vehicles to show case what they do, havw a look at their vehicles and weapons.
- The Merchants Guild, where Scouts are given money to design, package and promote their own sweets. It’s business skills, creativity and marketing rolled into one, and I’ve heard it’s the best station on site.
- Remote-controlled cars
- Circus skills
- A bushcraft zone, which I spent far too long in, obviously
- Mini Wings, new this year, giving Beavers a taste of the jamboree
The main stage
In the evenings there’s live music on a full Glastonbury-style stage with a proper sound system and lights. Not quite the Pyramid Stage, but not far off. The styles are varied, from rock to salsa, and the headliner tonight is apparently a bit like Mumford & Sons. I’m gutted I won’t be here to see them.
Several leaders told me that for many of their Scouts, this is their first ever gig. That’s a lovely thing to be part of.
The shop (and a few practical details)
The on-site shop sells Wings mugs, keyrings, water bottles, hoodies, t-shirts, socks, bucket hats, sunglasses, bags, pens, woggles and sub-camp badges. Mini Wings badges are there too. I came away with several rubber ducks, which you can turn into woggles.
One handy detail: you can order gas on site. If you run out mid-camp, you don’t need to leave the field.
A little bit of history
I was originally meant to be at Wings in 2020, as part of the Wings Radio team, before COVID intervened. That’s why this one has landed slightly out of step with the usual four-year cycle.
Should you take your group to a future Wings?
I don’t usually run week-long summer camps, mainly for family reasons, so I only came for a day. But it’s changed my thinking. Being here has given me a sense of the atmosphere, and I’m now seriously considering taking my own Scouts next time.
If you’re weighing it up, here are some questions I’d ask myself:
- Is my group ready for a big-event camp? Wings is a big, busy, exciting environment, but it’s still in the UK, which lowers the barrier.
- Do we want a ready-made programme? With activities included, you can focus on your young people rather than planning every hour.
- Are my young people up for cooking from rations? It’s a great challenge, but worth preparing them for in advance.
- Could this be a first step towards an overseas jamboree? For many groups, it’s the perfect one.
- Can we plan early? My own reason for not being here with my Scouts is simply that we didn’t organise it in time. Wings takes forward planning, so start well ahead.
Over to you
If you’ve been to Wings 2026, what’s been your favourite part? And whichever section you lead, where’s your favourite jamboree, in England or around the world? Tell me when and where in the comments. I’d love to hear where I should aim for next.
Until next time,
Mark
No comments