Camp staff

Two years before the actual Haarlem Jamborette the camp staff starts to meet regularly to set up the next camp. They instruct and coordinate a total of 400 volunteers who will prepare, build and organize your camp within a period of one and a half years.



ROBIN MIDDEL– Camp leader

Robin, age 41, introduces himself: “For a living I work as spokesman for the Netherland’s highest military authority (the boss of the Dutch army, navy and air force). I support him in his day to day routine with media contacts, accompany him during his business travels, write his speeches and much more. “My weekends I like to spend on our sailboat, of course accompanied by my wife Patty and our two sons (twins of 10 years old). We also try to camp out with friends or family as much as we can. But, of course, we are also busy preparing for the 11th Haarlem Jamborette. This is my second time as a camp leader. A camp leader tries to outline the different jobs of all the volunteers as best he can. Since the Haarlem Jamborette only uses volunteers it is of vital importance to make sure their efforts are outlined and guided well. Not to mention the importance of the safety features that needs to be assured in all activities. Together with fellow camp leaders Facilities, Program and Finance, I try to make this Jamborette as successful as possible. You’ll see me often at openings, closings and more. What is important to me is that you realize that many people work very hard behind the scenes to make your stay with us a big success.”



ROBERT VAN WIJNGAARDEN – Finance

Robert, age 53, introduces himself: “I work as a Program Manager at UWV, a government agency, responsible for social security like unemployment insurance. I manage the longer term programs that are usually related to the improvement, integration of purchased companies or the improvement of automated processes (although I am not really an ICT specialist). Outside work I like to travel, play tennis and golf. And scouting is also one of my hobbies of course. It’s going to be my 11th time at the Haarlem Jamborette! The first few times I went were as a participant (of course) and last two times I was also in charge of finances. Finances are hardly exciting business, but absolutely necessary. The same goes for the teams within my group, like IT-support, registration, media, info and transportation which all play an important role to assure the right information relay within the organization. It would be very awkward if the food supply team would have the wrong figures to work with, and fewer busses for excursions would be present than needed etc. It’s my job, together with those teams, to make sure all the information is made available to those who need it. I look forward to the coming Jamborette. You too?”



STEVEN DE JONGE – Facilities

Steven, age 37, introduces himself: “Together with my girlfriend Myra and our German shepherd dog Hero we live in an old house in Haarlem which we totally renovated ourselves. I work as Facility Manager for Bureau Jeugdzorg Noord-Holland, a governmental organization which helps young people and their parents. I make sure that offices, conference rooms and all other things that employees need in an organization are properly taken care for. Everything should be done well, so that they can focus on their job helping young people and families. At the Jamborette I’ll do something similar: I’ll be in charge of the volunteers who’ll arrange all on site facilities. It’s not an easy job to build numerous ‘offices’ in a meadow. They all need power, water (where there is any) and off course everybody needs food. We will arrange that for 400 volunteers and 3.000 participants. The Jamborette might seem a lot like work, but it’s much more fun doing it. I’ve been part of the Haarlem Jamborette for five times now. Four of them I was part of the Trail team and in 2007 I was team leader of ‘Infrastructure’ while learning the trade from the head of Facilities. Last time, just before the camp kicked off, the weather was pretty bad, making the working conditions exceptionally harsh to work in. However, this is where you find the strength of our team: people are enthusiastic and creative and will find a solution to any unforeseen obstacle.”



GONNY HOEKSTRA – Program

Gonny, age 38, introduces herself: “In October 2009 we (my boyfriend Joost and I) welcomed our baby boy Pelle. I also have a daughter named Tessa, she’s three years old. I work as an ergonomic with KLM, the Royal Dutch Airline. This means that it’s my job to provide healthy and safe work places for everybody at KLM. I also train people how they can lift things the right way and when a new machine is going to be used I make suggestions about the safety of the workers. After a busy day I really enjoy my sports: cycling, mountain biking and ice skating. And I’m also an active scouting member. I’ve been to the Jamborette several times as a participant, but also as a team member of the Trail team and last time I was in charge of the program as well. During preparations of the camp I have a lot of meetings with the camp staff and leaders of the teams that develop and carry out all activities. The result of our efforts should be a full, varied and well balanced program for you to enjoy. I’m really excited about the coming Jamborette. We have new plans to organize and improve our activities. You’ll see! It’s going to be great and after ten days you don’t want to leave anymore.”