Exhibit Spotlight: The Failed 1979

World Scout Jamboree in Iran

World Scout Jamborees can be a dream for most Scouts to attend, but what would you do if you were getting ready and the event was cancelled? Scheduled to be held 15-23 July 1979 in Nishapur, Iran, at the Omar Khayyám Scout Park, the 15th World Scout Jamboree was to follow the successful 2nd Asia-Pacific Jamboree that was held in the Summer of 1977.

Starting on 7 January 1978 and lasting until 11 February 1979, the Iranian or Islamic Revolution ultimately ended with the overthrow of the Pahlavi Dynasty in 1979. The revolution replaced the Imperial State of Iran with the Islamic Republic of Iran. This caused the upcoming 15th World Scout Jamboree to be thrown into peril as Iran was the Host Country.

With a new government in power and political upheaval in the region, the decision was made to cancel the Jamboree. This would be devastating for many Scouts planning to visit Iran, the home of “The Stone Badge”. Written by Ebrahim Sadri, the book was a re-imagining of Scoutcraft for Scouts and Associations located in desert areas where there is little wood. At the time, Iran was a mecca for Scouting in the Middle East and considered one of the strongest Scout organizations in the world.

The Shah was a strong supporter of Scouting and saw that the World Jamboree would be held in Iran. All the while the Kingdom planned the upcoming Jamboree, discontent was running wild among the population. With the launching of the White Revolution, a program designed to modernize Iran and reform land ownership in 1963, the Iranian Clergy and landowners realized their power would erode, and helped to fuel the protests.

One key event, the Cinema Rex fire in August 1978, was started by 4 Islamic Extremist Militants dousing the Cinema in airplane fuel. The problem was that most Iranians believed that SAVAK, or the Iranian Secret Police, started the fire, not the Islamic Militants. This caused widespread outrage and discontent that allowed Khomeini to build popular support, leading to the overthrow of the Shah and cancellation of the 15th World Scout Jamboree.

Learn about the Iran Scout Organization

The Cub Scout Motto is Koushesh Kon!, translating as “Try Hard!” in Persian (equivalent to ‘Do Your Best’). Cub Scouts were known as Shirbach’cheh, literally “Lion’s Cubs” in Persian, but carrying the meaning brave children.

The Scout Motto is Aamaadeh Baash, (آماده باش) translating as “Be Prepared” in Persian. The Persian noun for Scouts is Pishahangi Pesharan, and Senior Scouts are known as Salaran.

The Outdoors Code is “As an Iranian, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners, be careful with fire, be considerate in the outdoors, and be conservation-minded.”

Uniforms of the Iran Scout Organization

This was the Scout Uniform of the Iranian Scouts in the 1960s.

This is the Current Uniform of Iranian Scouts

Iranian Scout Emblems

Unlike most other Scouting Emblems of the world, the Iran Scout Organization changes its Scouting Emblem every so often to reflect the political and social climate in Iran. The emblems used over time reflect a shift from the monarchist government to an Islamic Government. You can learn more about the Iranian Scout Organization Emblems below.