Boy Scouts from around the world are attending one of the largest and longest birthday parties ever held this July 26 through August 4. More than 40,000 Scouts and leaders plus thousands of guests will gather on Fort A.P. Hill, VA to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Boy Scouts of America (BSA) at the National Jamboree.
In just a few hours on July 26, bus loads of Scouts will arrive to carry their gear, tents, and other necessities to their campsites. By the end of the day, Fort A.P. Hill becomes known as Jamboree City, boasting more than 18,000 tents, 3,600 patrol kitchens and 43,000 Scouts and leaders.
Once the Scouts are settled, they will begin exploring their home for the next 10 days. Dozens of activities including mountain boarding and motocross can be done just for fun or to earn merit badges. Watch the video at the bottom of this article for a sampling of what Scouts were able to do at the last National Jamboree held in 2005.
The celebration not to be missed by Scouts of all ages is held at the Jamboree on July 31 at 8 pm. Plans are in the works for a nationwide broadcast of the Centennial Celebration Show, A Shining Light across America. Check for availability on the web or in your community.
Although most spots to attend with as a member of a Jamboree troop have been taken, you can check with your local council for possibilities. Visitors are welcome most days from 9 am to 5 pm. Visitors will be asked to pay $10 and become an Official Centennial Jamboree Supporter. Once you are in Jamboree City, you can visit dozens of exhibits and watch Scouts as they complete activities. Visitors are also welcome at the arena show and advised to come early.
In August, some of the Occoneechee Council BSA Hometown News Correspondents will share their adventures on this page. To subscribe to receive those and future Parenting Tweens Examiner articles, click on the subscribe tab at the top of this article and enter your email, which will not be shared.
Comments
Nice article. Jamborees are a lot of fun. However, I wanted to let you know that the video link isn't there. At least I can't see it.
Thanks Bob! you may need to temporary allow pop-ups for the video to play - check for a tab at the top of your screen to do that. You can also access it directly on YouTube at this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue_H-PsSsaw
This is a great organization. Happy Birthday Boy Scouts of America!
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