Glen Jean, WV (WVDN) The remote hills of West Virginia are alive with the sounds of Scouting, as close to 20,000 young men, women and volunteers from around the United States and the world have descended upon the Appalachian wilds for the 20th National Scout Jamboree, July 19-28, 2023.
Typically held every four years, this year’s event was postponed for two summers because of the COVID outbreak, just as the first Jamboree set for 1935 was postponed two years due to a polio epidemic.
Once the remnants of vast mining operations, the reclaimed lands of the Summit Bechtel National Scout Reserve have been reborn into a playground of learning and adventure for America’s youth. Adjacent to New River Gorge National Park, this wilderness preserve spans nearly 18 square miles in Fayette and Raleigh counties.
Thousands of scouts crossing from one of the Jamboree’s tent cities to enjoy program activities. Credit A. Addison
Even the bears were eager to attend. Credit A. Addison
Scouting has come a long way from its founding by Lord Baden-Powell in the UK 116 years ago. A re-enactment of the original Brownsea Island scout camp, replete with staff clothed in turn-of-the-century garb, is one of many learning stations around the large lake on the West Virginia National Scout Reserve this week for the Jamboree. British educator Rosemary Ghosh came all the way from her home in Austria to help lead the effort. After completing a degree on Scouting’s value in informal education, she attended the World Scout Jamboree in Japan some years back and became hooked on teaching Scouting’s Heritage.
American John Eure ably played the character of Lieutenant-General Robert Baden-Powell, replete with mustache and British accent, recounting tales of the hero of Mafeking’s experience with native Scouts in South Africa during the Boer War. It was Baden-Powell’s 1908 book on scouting that launched the worldwide Scout movement which today empowers 57 million young men, women and volunteers in 173 countries.
Scout Theo Adler of Kensington, California staffs the Brownsea Island re-enactment, replete in turn-of-the-century costume. Credit A. Addison
The British flag flies over Brownsea Island on Goodrich Lake at the Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve. Credit A. Addison
High Adventure
Attendees have no shortage of adventure this week, from numerous professionally supervised shooting sports, including trap and skeet, to archery and even paintball. Ziplines are wildly popular, with the Summit’s Big Zip accelerating riders to 50mph as it descends three-quarters of a mile off a mountain and over a lake. A massive waterfront with boating and an iceberg obstacle course, plus what is said to be the world’s largest man-made climbing wall, as well as even skate and BMX courses are also offered.
But learning is just as important as playing, so Greg Corio from the Provost’s office at West Virginia University in Morgantown brought a team spanning medicine to physics and material science to help bring the “Science Behind the Sport” alive to participants at each station. Doctoral student Raphael Oladokun, who came from Lagos, Nigeria, to study at WVU, for example, taught curious scouts how the polymer chemistry of the wheels of their skateboards improves their ride.
Jamboree staffer Henry Addison, a Life Scout from El Cerrito, California prepares to test ride the Big Zip prior to participant arrival. Credit A. Addison
Jamboree staffer Henry Addison, a Life Scout from El Cerrito, California demonstrates climbing at the smaller of the Reserve’s giant climbing walls. Credit A. Addison
Badges Galore
From Fishing to Forestry, Radio to Robotics, or Welding and Mining, requirements for nearly forty merit badges could be earned from the hundreds of skilled volunteer professionals from across the world who came to serve on staff. While Dr. Nitro (Will Schwab, an IT Manager from Pennsylvania) taught chemistry with hourly explosive demos, Vietnam Veteran Jack Compton traveled from Southern California to help introduce Scouts to the welding profession. The author of the Welding Merit Badge pamphlet, he was aided by a team from the American Welding Society and Miller Electric, who brought trailers of virtual and real welding gear for the youth to learn with.
Life Scout Calvin Boucher of Towner, North Dakota shows off his catch with Fishing Staffer and jamboree veteran Frank McPhillips. Credit A. Addison
Welding expert Jack Compton holds the Scouting Merit Badge pamphlet he authored in front of a virtual welding exhibit. Credit A. Addison
Dr. Nitro (Will Schwab, an IT Manager from Pennsylvania) prepares for another chemistry demo at the STEM pavilions as Scouts look on. Credit A. Addison
A Rare Record – Scout Earns All 138 Merit Badges days before 18th Birthday
Eagle Scout Josiah Richardson reached a rare milestone at the Jamboree, completing his 138th merit badge of the 138 total now available. He traveled to the event with the goal of finishing Bugling, often considered one of the hardest of the elective badges, just 6 days shy of the deadline of his 18th birthday. A team from Bugles Across America, which bugles live taps for military and first responder funerals free of charge, were on hand to teach and sign him off. What is next for Josiah? He tells us he is off to West Point in the fall.
Eagle Scout Josiah Richardson completes his 138th and last Merit Badge, Bugling, with Larre Robertson (l) and Carol McCutcheon (r) from Bugles Across America. Credit Shannon Robertson
From West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, to General Stanley McChrystal and NASA astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren, to numerous CEOs and executives, scouts are hearing from inspirational leaders up close in daily talks.
Congress even mandated military support with regular, reserve, and national guard troops from across the US helping at the event, including airborne soldiers out of a battalion from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. Combat Medic Specialists, or 68Whiskeys as they are known, warmly cared for the scouts attending. The large Humvee Field Litter Ambulances were an important safety addition, but also a hit with the young scouts who crowded around to see them in action.
Humvee FLA. Credit A. Addison
Art and Scouting Align
West Virginia native son Jamie Lester feels “really fortunate” to have had the opportunity to work with Scouting. Attending with his wife, mother, and colleagues from their Love Hope Center for the Arts, they taught Scouts Sculpture, one of 138 merit badges in the Scouting program. A noted artist who designed the West Virginia’s 2005 quarter, Lester was raised not far from the Summit Reserve in small town Oceana. Although Scouting was not an offered option for him growing up in a company mining town, he tells of the impact working with Scouting has had on him, and how it aligns with the West Virginia culture of being a good neighbor.
Artist Jamie Lester at work. Credit A. Addison
The son of a miner, he says his Dad “didn’t quite understand my world” at first, but as Jamie’s artistic success grew his father embraced it. He was proud to have his father help him install his first full-life bronze statue just before his Dad sadly passed away from lung disease at only 60. He speaks of his worries for the many miners who continue to suffer from black lung, yet fear losing work if they have it officially diagnosed. Yet, ever positive, in true Scouting spirit this mandolin player and artist remains proud of his West Virginia roots, and loves giving back to the community.
