A delegation of scouts and leaders representing Homenetmen Western United States is traveling to Armenia to participate in the 13th Pan-Homenetmen Jamboree, bringing together young Armenians from communities around the world for one of the organization’s most important international gatherings.
The jamboree will take place from July 24 through August 2 in Byurakan, Armenia. Western Region scouts have spent months preparing for the journey through camps, training activities, chapter programs and regional gatherings designed to strengthen their scouting knowledge, leadership abilities and readiness for the international experience.
The Pan-Homenetmen Jamboree is considered the pinnacle of Homenetmen’s global scouting program. Held in Armenia, it allows scouts from more than 15 countries to live, work and learn together in their ancestral homeland. Homenetmen Western Region describes the jamboree as a gathering of more than 1,000 scouts centered on cultural immersion, community service, leadership development and worldwide Armenian unity.
The Western Region delegation includes scouts from chapters across the region, each carrying the identity and traditions of their local Homenetmen family while jointly representing the Armenian community of the Western United States.
Among those traveling to Armenia are members of the Homenetmen Crescenta Valley “Shant” Chapter. The chapter recently organized a send-off dinner honoring its participating scouts and recognizing the work of its Scout Council, leaders, parents and supporters who helped prepare the delegation. The scouts also attended a special church ceremony before their departure, receiving the community’s encouragement and blessings as they prepared for the journey.
The Western Region will also hold a position of responsibility in the administration of the jamboree. Homenetmen Western Region member Shahan Atmajian has been named the jamboree’s հերթապահ, a senior duty and coordination role reflecting years of scouting service, leadership and participation in Homenetmen camps.
For the participating scouts, the jamboree represents far more than an overseas summer camp. It is an opportunity to experience Armenia directly, visit historic and cultural sites, undertake service projects and form lasting friendships with fellow Armenians raised in different countries and communities.
Daily camp life traditionally includes flag ceremonies, scouting exercises, educational activities, cultural programs, Armenian songs, campfires and collaborative projects. Scouts are expected to practice discipline and self-reliance while learning to work across linguistic, cultural and geographic differences.
The gathering also carries special significance at a time when strengthening ties between Armenia and the Diaspora remains an urgent national priority. For many young participants, the jamboree will be their first extended experience in Armenia and their first opportunity to encounter the worldwide reach of Homenetmen.
Founded in Constantinople in 1918, Homenetmen was established to provide Armenian youth with physical and moral education following the Armenian Genocide. Its scouting and athletic programs have since grown into an international movement dedicated to developing responsible, disciplined and community-minded generations of Armenians.
The first Pan-Homenetmen Jamboree was held in Greece in 1978. Subsequent jamborees have gathered hundreds of scouts from Homenetmen regions across the world. The 12th jamboree, held in Byurakan in 2023, brought together 681 scouts from 26 regions.
The jamboree’s traditional purpose is expressed through Homenetmen’s enduring motto, “Elevate Yourself and Elevate Others with You.” Participants are encouraged not only to improve their own skills and character, but also to return to their chapters prepared to serve, teach and lead others.
As the Western Region delegation joins its fellow scouts in Armenia, its members will carry with them the support of their chapters, families and the broader Armenian-American community.
Their participation reflects the continuing vitality of Homenetmen in the Western United States and the organization’s enduring role in connecting Armenian youth to one another, to their heritage and to the homeland.
