The 20th National Boy Scout Jamboree took place July 19-28 at the Summit Bechtel Reserve (SBR) in Mount Hope, W. Va., with 21,000 scouts, scout leaders and volunteers from across the nation in attendance. It was the first Jamboree held since 2017 due to the Pandemic which canceled the event in 2021.

Twenty-four Scouts and four adult leaders attended from throughout the Susquehanna Council. They boarded a bus on July 18, embarking on a 10-day unforgettable adventure, filled with excitement, growth and lifelong memories.

After an early morning arrival on July 19, they quickly constructed their camping area and it was time to start exploring to see what the Summit had to offer. Scouts quickly adopted the Jamboree theme of “Forward,” representing the Scouting journey that when scouts encounter a challenge, they don’t stand still — they evaluate, plan and move forward.

Armed with a buddy and the Jamboree app, scouts quickly figured out how to navigate the 10,000 acres around the event.

PHOTO PROVIDED Lock Haven Boy Scout Troop 711 members Aden Dupert and Dylan Crawford are pictured during the jamboree.

First up were the high adventure program areas consisting of Climbing, Skateboarding, Ropes Course, Shooting Sports, Mountain and BMX Bikes, Ziplining and Aquatic Activities.

Contingent member, Drake Grohowski, from Troop 415, stated, “I really liked the BMX bikes and doing the jumps.”

The scouts also explored hundreds of other program areas related to STEM, Merit Badges, Conservation Trail, Disability Awareness &Challenges, Military, Sustainability, Religions, Pioneering, Titan Trial obstacle course, a disc golf course, branding, welding, West Virginia Day, LGBTQ events, Women in Scouting and a Boy Scouts of America Museum.

Most of these areas offered a special 2023 Jamboree patch if you completed certain requirements.

Speaking of patches, it didn’t take long for the scouts to grasp the concept of patch trading — located everywhere were crowds of scouts displaying their patches on blankets, cots, carts and picnic tables.

PHOTO PROVIDED Local scouts took part in the National Boy Scout Jamboree’s Hometown Celebration.

The Council’s Order of the Arrow patch with a buffalo ziplining was a hit with other scouts. They soon learned how two patches can be traded to lead to a whole set; as many scouts were heavily into this pastime.

The fun didn’t stop as the sun went down. Scouts were treated to four basecamp bashes held throughout the site. During these mini concerts; Scouts and leaders laughed, sang, danced and made friends from around the country.

Despite having so much fun, Scouts still found time to give back to West Virginia and surrounding communities by participating in a service project to create 5,000 flood buckets. The 5-gallon buckets were filled with supplies (i.e. cleaning solutions, work gloves and masks) that will allow flood victims to reconstruct their lives. Before being sealed, scouts had the opportunity to personalize buckets with hand-written messages.

Contingent member, James Donlin from Troop 520, said that he “found joy in preparing the flood buckets and wished [he] could have done more.”

The Susquehanna Council contingent celebrated our own Williamsport Little League Museum for their Hometown Celebration. The scouts created a poster board full of Little League facts, handed out Little League pins, bubble gum and sunflower seeds. In addition, they played a miniature whiffle ball game that was fun for all.

Scouts from other states joined the fun, which was the whole idea behind the event to promote curiosity, inclusion, diversity and belonging. The Scouts also explored what other units were showcasing such as popular food items from different states, dance moves from Hawaii and traditional Mardi Gras customs from Louisiana. Scouts could tour the country while never leaving the Jamboree.

In keeping with the “Forward” theme, this year’s Jamboree made history as it was the first to have female scouts attending.

These scouts had the same Scouting opportunities that millions of young men have had for over a century. As a way to honor the female scouts, a bronze statue was dedicated to the first class of female Eagle Scouts, and a little more than 1 in 5 scouts at the Jamboree were girls.

One of the most meaningful programs the Jamboree offered was “Leadership Heights” which was designed to elevate scouts’ knowledge of leadership.

The experience was meant to challenge scouts and their commitment to lead our world “Forward.” After climbing a mountain that truly depicted the Trail to Eagle journey, Scouts reveled in their accomplishment while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia.

Scouts also had the privilege of listening to Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient James “Doc” McCloughan who delivered a poignant speech regarding joining the Army.

Because of his small stature, he was unable to do his first career choice in the military, which devastated him. But knowing everyone has a job that is right for them in this world, he quickly figured out he was destined to be a medic.

Scouts expressed the most moving part of his speech was when he explained how a seven-year-old girl asked him to answer the hard question about war and hearing him describe making a split-second decision to tell the truth or not, left a profound effect on numerous scouts as he stated he told her the truth.

After his successful military career, McCloughan went back to his teaching and coaching jobs where he was just as successful and inducted into a number of Coaches Hall of Fames. He continues to do speaking engagements around the country to encourage young people to never give up on their dreams or let anything hold them back.

As the Jamboree began to wind down, the local scouts and leaders from the Susquehanna Council had one more activity left to partake in — a once in a lifetime white water rafting experience down the New River Gorge National Park surrounded by the stunning West Virginia scenery.

Contingent member Ethan Bobb, Troop 415, stated he “really enjoyed the white-water experience.”

Getting to enjoy Class 2 and 3 rapids while wearing all the proper protective gear to stay safe was a blast. A group of local scouts were lucky enough to have a boat with squirt guns and a few enjoyed soaking their leaders in the other raft.

After some intense paddling, they were encouraged to jump into the calm waters of the gorge to cool off from the hot temperatures. The river guides were serenaded with 100 people singingJohn Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”

When asked to sum up his overall Jamboree experience, Noah Fisher, Troop 520, stated “Amazing.”

They got to explore everything the National Jamboree had to offer from high adventure areas, to educational sessions, to patch trading, a service project, Leadership Heights, basecamp bashes, Hometown Celebrations and a white-water rafting experience.

Jaimee Fisher, Troop 415 Scoutmaster, stated, “I always tell my scouts, they don’t grow unless they challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zone. I believe this event did just that. Seeing the smiles on their faces, listening as they explained overcoming a fear or challenge, watching the professionalism they showed when trading patches, the respect they gave leaders when addressing them, their willingness to strike up a conversation with anyone and to create a friendship helped to renew my faith in humanity and made everything that went into this Jamboree all worth it.”

For 10 days, young men and women from the Susquehanna Council experienced a National Jamboree unlike any other. The historic jamboree embraced a new forward-thinking Scouts BSA organization where diversity and inclusion are at the forefront.

Contingent members, Robert and Ryan Lombardi from Troop 66, expressed, “it was a great experience to meet and make new friends from around the nation, while having fun and trying new activities in the name of scouting.”

Scouting as a movement is always moving forward, reaching new generations of young people and equipping them to be leaders in their communities, nation and world.