2013 National Scout Jamboree at the Summit

[wagionvigil]

Got a call yesterday from a National Guy about the 2013 NSJ. Wanted to know if I was on board for climbing and I of course said yes after He outlined what they have planned. 20000 sq ft of climbing and rappelling throw in a couple zip lines, a water feature ( have no idea) and a caving area for the participants. Add another smaller one in the Visitors Village. Staff of close to 200 to operate. Yeah Baby I am In big time. The action centers will be by appointment or something like they use for other out back areas. You just cannot walk up and do it. No more regional action centers. National will operate "the" action center but it seems that it will be spread out throughout the Jamboree area.

[smtroop168]

And still no Partials.

[wagionvigil]

And still no Partials.

[Billiken]

And still no Partials.

ROTF
LOL

[RWSmith]

Jamboree Plans Announced at National Scout Reserve Groundbreaking
Posted: 17 Dec 2010 12:41 AM PST (BSA ProSpeak - Insights)

Written by Renee Fairrer, Marketing

On October 22, ground was officially broken on phase two of The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve that will cover 10,600 acres of West Virginia and border the National Park Service’s New River Gorge National River area.

During the groundbreaking ceremonies, it was announced that the first jamboree in West Virginia will take place July 15–24, 2013. The National Scout Reserve, located in the Glen Jean–Mount Hope area, will permanently house the national Scout jamboree and a new national high-adventure base to complement the three existing national bases in New Mexico, Minnesota, and Florida. The high-adventure component of The Summit is expected to open in 2014.

The National Scout Reserve is also a contender to host the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. The world jamboree, held every four years, attracts tens of thousands of international Scouts. The event will be held in Sweden in 2011 and in Japan in 2015.

Donations Exceed $100 Million

An economic impact survey conducted in August 2009 estimated that phase two of development of the National Scout Reserve will support more than 600 new local jobs and $30 million in additional local income directly on the project. Contracts to West Virginia companies for more than $20 million have been awarded for work on the reserve.

Donations to develop the National Scout Reserve have surpassed $100 million, including the initial $50 million gift from the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation; a recent $25 million gift from The Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation; and a major gift from Mike and Gillian Goodrich.

Walter Scott Jr. is a Distinguished Eagle Scout and the former CEO of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Incorporated. He credits Scouting’s lessons of setting goals and achieving them as being a formative factor in his success.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to learn new things, I enjoyed the camaraderie with my fellow Scouts, and I especially enjoyed the camping,” Scott said. “The love and respect for the outdoors and our natural environment that Scouting instilled in me continues to this day. But my childhood troop in Omaha could never have imagined anything like what The Summit will be. It is simply spectacular.”

The $25 million donation from The Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation will result in the Scott Scouting Valley, which provided the backdrop for the groundbreaking by BSA leaders, West Virginia elected officials, and donors.

Mike Goodrich, also an Eagle Scout, is the retired chairman and CEO of BE&K, Inc., an international engineering and construction firm headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. His wife, Gillian Comer White Goodrich, and her family helped establish the Comer Scout Reservation, known as Camp Comer, in the BSA’s Greater Alabama Council. In honor of the gift, the National Scout Reserve’s primary lake will be named Goodrich Lake.

“It only made sense that we should give back to an organization from which I have received so much,” Mike Goodrich said. “And not just me, but millions upon millions of young boys and men can make the same claim I can that Scouting was a formative and transforming experience.”

Added Joe Manchin, governor of West Virginia: “We are celebrating great news for the Boy Scouts of America, and great progress for the state of West Virginia. The incredible show of support from generous donors speaks volumes about the caliber of the BSA. We are proud to be a part of this team, and couldn’t be more thrilled about the jobs and interest that are being generated in our local communities and our state, and the opportunities for fun and leadership that await millions of young people.”

The BSA’s Next Century

Rex Tillerson, BSA national president and CEO and chairman of Exxon Mobil Corporation, spoke of how the National Scout Reserve fits into the BSA’s strategic outlook for its next century.

“It’s imperative that we sustain our momentum—even elevating our expectations—by setting transformational goals,” said Tillerson, an Eagle Scout. “We are supporting the vision and philanthropy we’ve witnessed today with a robust strategic plan that addresses core pillars of the Scouting experience. This includes a continuation of dynamic and relevant programs that attract and interest today’s youth.”

More information, including updated construction renderings and new videos of the National Scout Reserve, is available at <untrusted link removed by admin>.

[mt_goodrich]

Looking forward to seeing things grow. Also, kind of neat that the lake there will have the same name as my last name.

[wagionvigil]

Makes ya want to go
 The Jamboree will be held at the Summit in West Virginia.
 There can be five adventure activity categories (attached).
 There will be two program areas:
o Summit Center with activities available for visitors (suggested a visitor fee of $80 per day). Each activity category could have some events. In the Summit Center – e.g. a bike pump course, BMX, etc. Pioneering is recommended for the center due to the high interest and excellent demonstration of scouting in action.
o The Summit Center will contain the conservation area and most of the Thomas Road exhibit type events.
 The second program area will be in base areas – i.e. the high level activities geared to exciting the paid customers. These activities could range from Olympic type BMX, huge rappelling facility, mountain biking, aquatics and boating, field archery, on & on.
 Coal strippers left 67 miles of trails at 1% grade.
 Summit Center may have a skateboard park.
 BSA has hired companies whose expertise is planning and building high adventure activity areas.
 We are looking to give the 13+ year old a tidy-widy, butt clinching experience.
 All activity most likely will have progressive levels so the scouts can improve their skill levels for these events – i.e. green (low), blue (intermediate), and black (advanced) mountain biking courses.
 Every participant to be given a “J” phone with his schedule, tracking chip and personal information. Each scout will select their program prior to attending. This schedule will be on their “j” phone.
 The phone will also serve as a “ticket” for scheduled events. The phone will have a camera that can be downloaded at the Jambo media center.
 We own the property – we can do it right. The Jambo is the gateway to the Summit so we must do it right. Much of the development will be for high adventure as well as the Jamboree.
 The outside specialist will be planning and building things like climbing walls, outer (natural walls), zip lines, challenge courses, shooting sports areas, archery games, BMX courses, skateboard parks, mountain biking courses, etc.
 There will be five villages. Each village will have four sub-camps, the same number sub-camps as A. P. Hill.
 There will be two scheduled days for all:
o Service Day
o Trek Day – A hike to the top of the mountain to participate in Buckskin Games, Indian villages, etc., and finish with an outdoor BBQ. They will be bussed back to the main area. Plan is for OA to lead Trek and Service Day activities.
o Both days will either be scheduled by sub-camp or entire village – still in planning.
 Longest distance from troop site to Summit Center is 1.3 miles.
 Majority of staff will be housed in two-man platform tents (Philmont style) located in the adult camp. Some staff in sub-camps and remote areas (i.e. Buckskin).
 Total professional staff 12-15, balance volunteers. Other professionals attending will go as volunteers. No more director chair teams.
 Venturers and explorers can participate. They will be in a separate sub-camp area with an intense program. Could be outside Jambo footprint.
 Goal is to have all “stuff” needed on site and of top quality – target is to have staff and participants come with duffle bag of personal gear with all other “stuff” provided.
 Troops will be provided tents, cook gear, etc. So equipment trucks will no longer be needed.
 Parking remote. Everyone will be bussed into the Jambo.
 Should program staff need to bring extra “stuff,” there will be “points of transfer” where the “stuff” will be containerized and delivered to the Jambo. At closedown, the “stuff” will be put into the container and delivered to the transfer location. Personal gear should not be put into the container at the transfer location. Some big stuff like pioneering and buckskin games may be handled differently – again, no cars, trucks, or trailers will be able to be driven onto the Jambo site.
 It will be a walking jamboree. Since there will be remote program areas, there will be buses for staff only.
 Logistics are under retired Admiral Dan McCarthy, an NER volunteer. Dan was responsible for large Navy warehouse operations. Since staff feeding will be at the adult camp, Dan was asked how to handle this. His reply: we feed 5000 each meal on a carrier. I don’t see a problem.
 All bills of material will be finalized in 2011 with all material in the warehouse by December 2012.
 Troops will be housed in backpack type two-man tents. All troop equipment will be available to the councils to buy after the Jambo.
 Class A uniforms only required one day – Sunday.
 Sunday Plans: No program. Religious service and an all Woodstock-type concert in the arena with the arena show Sunday night.
 As I write this, there are 945 days until Jambo 2013.
 Visitors limited to Summit Center.
 There will be mobile concessions at activity base camps.
 400-person shower facilities.
 Utilities all in place at program areas (plans).
 Possibility of ½ time Jamboree Staff Experience at ½ cost.
 Most base program areas within one mile of adult camp.
 Trek mountaintop is 2900 feet with great view – mountain top program area is flat.
 No region camps – council troops could be in different sub-camps. Since only personal gear is required by participants and council troops.
 Some Buckskin activities such as branding could be in Summit Center.
 Bikathlon-type events could happen on mountain bike trails.
 Summit Visitor Center – 90 acres with 85,000 seating in arena.
 Registration planned for May 2011.
 Program will run 12 hours, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with three shifts.
 Lunches will be issued with breakfast. No sub-camp large commissaries. Food packed off-site in troop size issues.
 Program, if scheduled at a base program area, may be in four-hour chunks.
 Brown Sea Island will be on an island.
 Considering two 18 year olds on troop staff.
 Safety talks – considering doing once with proof of completion on “J” phone. Can then go directly to activity.
 Considering “Summit Event” – say on Saturday – complete one event in each of five program base camps.
 Tech Quest in Summit Center.
 No Merit Badge Midway. Merit badge opportunity for those badges not normally available at summer camp or in troop. Not yet defined. Two world-class instructors planned each day in arena area.
 Patch trading planning is leaning toward a supervised area.
 All participants will be issued a daypack with “stuff” like “J” phone, tee shirt, etc.
 Duffle bags may be furnished – not sure.

Remember, all this is “first time” planning. Any and all items are subject to change.

Have a great 2011.


C

[wagionvigil]

Some things I find very interesting
All Equipment will be furnished,Tents,Tarps, Cook Gear( If you cannot carry it in you will not have it.)
Two Scheduled days Trek and Service. I can hear the Bitching now
No Sunday Program
Venturers will take part Hearing some special activities for these guys. Will make the Boys Scouts Jealous.

No One will drive into the jamboree Remote Parking. This is a walking Jamboree except staff busses for the remote areas.

Visitors will be restricted to the Visitors Village

Patch Trading in special areas only and those areas will be supervised.

Offering a day pass for $80.00 per person or scout and that will also be in the visitors village. Special Activites like climbing ,rappelling etc will be there also. For those that Pay!
More later

[biglou]

Just wondering who is going to be the head of the complaints department when the visitor fee is officially announced?

[wagionvigil]

Just wondering who is going to be the head of the complaints department when the visitor fee is officially announced?

If you wish to visit and not partake in the action activities there will be a fee like in 2010. the 80.00 is to allow the visitors take part in the action area that will be in the Visitirs area.

[scoutaholic]

...
There will be two program areas:
- Summit Center with activities available for visitors (suggested a visitor fee of $80 per day). Each activity category could have some events. In the Summit Center – e.g. a bike pump course, BMX, etc. Pioneering is recommended for the center due to the high interest and excellent demonstration of scouting in action.
The Summit Center will contain the conservation area and most of the Thomas Road exhibit type events.
- The second program area will be in base areas – i.e. the high level activities geared to exciting the paid customers. These activities could range from Olympic type BMX, huge rappelling facility, mountain biking, aquatics and boating, field archery, on & on.
...
Visitors limited to Summit Center.

An area for visitor activities is a great idea. The visitor fee will cover the costs of the activities, and those who don't pay won't think they should be allowed on the activities that the Jambo participants paid for.
I do, however, foresee some problems with this approach:
If a friend/relative who lives nearby wants to visit with a participant, but not participate in these activities, do they have to pay $80, park remotely, ride a bus to the Summit Center, and not be allowed to visit his campsite or meet his troop leaders/friends?
There are likely to be people who want to visit/see the whole jamboree, but not pay to participate in these activities. Maybe there need to be varied types of visitors and visitor fees. (ie. low or no cost to wander around and see, an admission fee for visiting the arena show, a daily participation fee to do activities in the Summit Center)

...
Every participant to be given a “J” phone with his schedule, tracking chip and personal information. Each scout will select their program prior to attending. This schedule will be on their “j” phone.
The phone will also serve as a “ticket” for scheduled events. The phone will have a camera that can be downloaded at the Jambo media center.

This sounds cool if they can build the infrastructure to support such a plan.
Phone service at the last Jambo was spotty and intermittent. Our troop had planned on phones for communcation at the 'Most Connected Jamboree ever'. My phone mostly didn't work.
There were not enough facilities to charge phones at the last Jambo.
What does a scout do while his phone is charging if the phone is also his event ticket and schedule?
Prescheduling everything is guaranteed to be a nightmare. Boys won't know ahead of time what is cool, and what they will want to schedule with friends, and how long they will want to spend at some activities. There is always something that comes up and necessitates changes to the schedule, or missing scheduled events.
There will be a lost-and-found full of J-phones, and a bunch of boys who lose it and it never makes it to a lost-and-found.
How many J-phones will be ruined in the water activities?
I've never seen a phone with a quality camera built in. Don't waste the money to give them all bad cameras.

...
There will be two scheduled days for all:
- Service Day
- Trek Day – A hike to the top of the mountain to participate in Buckskin Games, Indian villages, etc., and finish with an outdoor BBQ. They will be bussed back to the main area. Plan is for OA to lead Trek and Service Day activities.
Both days will either be scheduled by sub-camp or entire village – still in planning.

Good ideas, but I can already imagine the whining when we tell they boys they HAVE to.
Buckskin Games and Indian village will only be accessible on trek day?
Every day at AP Hill was a trek day.

...
Longest distance from troop site to Summit Center is 1.3 miles.

So I can expect to visit any troop site by walking 2.6 miles from my camp? And all activities are within 1.3 miles of my camp?
I can't imagine a way they could layout everything that close, but it sounds good.

...
Venturers and explorers can participate. They will be in a separate sub-camp area with an intense program. Could be outside Jambo footprint.

If they are to be in a separate area with separate activities, just do it the next week and don't pretend to be part of the same event.

...
Goal is to have all “stuff” needed on site and of top quality – target is to have staff and participants come with duffle bag of personal gear with all other “stuff” provided.
Troops will be provided tents, cook gear, etc. So equipment trucks will no longer be needed.

Nice dream, but I don't believe it.
If everything fits in a duffel bag, will there be no troop gateways? No troop or patrol flags? No paperwork that SM/ASM has to keep track of? (I had a separate bag just for all the paperwork at the last Jambo. SM had 4 extra boxes of stuff.)
Is national planning to triple the participant fees to cover all this equipment cost?

...
Parking remote. Everyone will be bussed into the Jambo.
Should program staff need to bring extra “stuff,” there will be “points of transfer” where the “stuff” will be containerized and delivered to the Jambo. At closedown, the “stuff” will be put into the container and delivered to the transfer location. Personal gear should not be put into the container at the transfer location. Some big stuff like pioneering and buckskin games may be handled differently – again, no cars, trucks, or trailers will be able to be driven onto the Jambo site.
It will be a walking jamboree. Since there will be remote program areas, there will be buses for staff only.

There are remote program areas with buses for staff? If the program area is that remote, who will walk there?

...
Troops will be housed in backpack type two-man tents. All troop equipment will be available to the councils to buy after the Jambo.

10 days cramped into a 2-man backpack tent with a buddy sounds like a good way to make my buddy into my enemy.
Our council uses 4-man tents, and usually plans 2 boys per tent, or 1 adult.
Many councils already have jambo tents and equipment.
National will lose a lot of $$$ if they buy a bunch of equipment and expect to sell it all off after the event.
If there are no equipment trucks, how will the councils buy equipment and take it home?

...
Class A uniforms only required one day – Sunday.

1 day in 10? Why bring a uniform at all?

...
Sunday Plans: No program. Religious service and an all Woodstock-type concert in the arena with the arena show Sunday night.

sounds like it will probably be nap day.

...
Utilities all in place at program areas (plans).

Can I charge my phone (and/or J-Phone) without begging the AT&T kiosk for a time-slot?
Can I charge the lap-top and/or camera? (Last Jambo, I had staff friends charge it in their tents.)
Can I plug in the c-pap machine? (Last Jambo, I just went without. Nearby tents probably didn't like hearing me.)

...
Possibility of ½ time Jamboree Staff Experience at ½ cost.

Good idea for allowing more staff positions, and available to people with less time to give.
Could be difficult for training some of the staff in the middle of the event.
How about all staff positions at low or no cost? They are working for the Jambo, they shouldn't have to pay to work. Staff costs should be no more than the cost of their food and supplies.

...
No region camps – council troops could be in different sub-camps. Since only personal gear is required by participants and council troops.

Interesting idea, but there is something to be said for camping near your council and getting to know the other 600 boys from your council. With smaller councils, the boys may already know each other, but not where I come from.

...
Considering two 18 year olds on troop staff.

I don't think our council had any 18-year-olds. AFAIK, all the ASM3s were older. Our troop had 8 adults, and none were 18. In general, I don't think national allows enough adults in contingent troops. The things I did as ASM3 may not be the best jobs to assign to an 18-year-old.

...
Safety talks – considering doing once with proof of completion on “J” phone. Can then go directly to activity.

Several areas were marking in the participant books when the safety talk had been completed, and then you didn't have to do it again. I like this idea. I still have my reservations about being able to do it electronically.

...
No Merit Badge Midway. Merit badge opportunity for those badges not normally available at summer camp or in troop. Not yet defined. Two world-class instructors planned each day in arena area.

I thought the midway was in important part of the Jambo. Most participants spent some time there, although most did not make it their primary focus.
I'm curious to see which MBs they deem worthy of making Jambo opportunities.
World-class instructors in the arena? I don't care how good the instructor, you can't teach anything to the whole arena.

...
Patch trading planning is leaning toward a supervised area.

I don't want to be in charge of supervising this area, I don't even want to go to this area.
I can't imagine that they will be able to restrict trading to just the supervised area.

...
All participants will be issued a daypack with “stuff” like “J” phone, tee shirt, etc.
Duffle bags may be furnished – not sure.

sounds expensive. Will anyone be able to pay the national registration fee?

[smtroop168]

We are looking to give the 13+ year old a tidy-widy, butt clinching experience.

Is this allowed in the G2SS?

Logistics are under retired Admiral Dan McCarthy, an NER volunteer. Dan was responsible for large Navy warehouse operations. Since staff feeding will be at the adult camp, Dan was asked how to handle this. His reply: we feed 5000 each meal on a carrier. I don’t see a problem.

Dan was my boss twice in the Navy...Good man...he'll figure it out

[biglou]

Just wondering who is going to be the head of the complaints department when the visitor fee is officially announced?

If you wish to visit and not partake in the action activities there will be a fee like in 2010. the 80.00 is to allow the visitors take part in the action area that will be in the Visitirs area.

You know I was just kidding right?

[wagionvigil]

scoutaholic
. These are preliminary plans
THey are pretty solid on only participants are permitted in the Jamboree Proper.
THis will be a totally different Jamboree then the past ones at the hill You will not be able to just walk up to an activity and do it you must be scheduled. This (in theory) will eliminate lines.
Supervised patch trading(to eliminate outside traders bringing crap in and ripping off the kids. And adults.

If you do not pay the activity fee you will be restricted just as in past jamborees as to activities. Pay the fee and enjoy the zip lines,climbing walls,BMX,Skateboard. Yes these will be in two places in the jamboree proper and in the visitor areas.

What they have planned for the Buckskin Games sounds fantastic.

The Service day will be a non option. It will be a requirement for something.

Ventureres will be taking part in all Jamboree activities plus several that will be Venturers only.

18 year olds assistamts WERE REQUIRED the past Jamboree I don't know how your council got away with not having them.

[wagionvigil]

Tents and gear. Our council had the opportunity to cut the cost to the kids and go with backpacking tents they refused said we need them for camp let the kids pay. Our council used cooking gear from past jamborees but still charged each kid. I think the idea is to lower the cost to the scout. At least I hope that is what it is.

Our camp gives you two adults free after that they pay the camp fee. I would like to see that be the case for the council troops at the Jambo. ALso why cannot the councils cover those leaders fees? Wow there is an idea.

The idea of mixing the troops is for the kids to met scouts from outher areas of the country and wow think of the trading in the Village. I believe that would be were that supervised PT area could be. One in each Village.


I had no problem ever with cell phone either in 05 or 10 I always had full bars. I am on Verizon. My DROID worked better than the Phone I was issued by the Jamboree.

Remember the medical clearances for the Jamboree and they may be made more stringent. Think of this coming Jamboree as attending Philmont or Northern Tier.

[Billiken]

No equipment trucks???
Excellent. We don't have worry about building gateways.

[wagionvigil]

No equipment trucks???
Excellent. We don't have worry about building gateways.

Gateways may be a thing of thing of the past or maybe Natural Gateways? Lashing etc.

[scoutaholic]

...
18 year old assistants WERE REQUIRED the past Jamboree I don't know how your council got away with not having them.

I never saw anything that said they were required. The 3rd ASM could be as young as 18, but I don't remember seeing a maximum age for that position.

Having been, I'm still not sure I would have given the job to a younger ASM. I probably would encourage them to go as youth staff.

[wagionvigil]

...
18 year old assistants WERE REQUIRED the past Jamboree I don't know how your council got away with not having them.

I never saw anything that said they were required. The 3rd ASM could be as young as 18, but I don't remember seeing a maximum age for that position.

Having been, I'm still not sure I would have given the job to a younger ASM. I probably would encourage them to go as youth staff.

THIRD ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER
Be at least 18 years of age (but not yet 21) by September 1, 2010.
Have served actively in a troop leadership position.
Complete the appropriate leader specific training.
Have participated in the prejamboree training experience.
Have filed a Jamboree Personal Health and Medical Record, Class 3, before the prejamboree training with the council jamboree committee.
Complete the 60-minute Youth Protection training.
Be approved by the local council.
Be able to serve as a role model of physical fitness.

[scoutaholic]

...
18 year old assistants WERE REQUIRED the past Jamboree I don't know how your council got away with not having them.

I never saw anything that said they were required. The 3rd ASM could be as young as 18, but I don't remember seeing a maximum age for that position.

Having been, I'm still not sure I would have given the job to a younger ASM. I probably would encourage them to go as youth staff.

THIRD ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER
Be at least 18 years of age (but not yet 21) by September 1, 2010.
Have served actively in a troop leadership position.
Complete the appropriate leader specific training.
Have participated in the prejamboree training experience.
Have filed a Jamboree Personal Health and Medical Record, Class 3, before the prejamboree training with the council jamboree committee.
Complete the 60-minute Youth Protection training.
Be approved by the local council.
Be able to serve as a role model of physical fitness.

Apparently, I just didn't remember the maximum age on those qualifications.
Our ASM3 was 40.

I think councils just approved whomever they wanted regardless of qualifications, and National didn't check. I know several of the SMs from GSLC were not qualified (based on the published qualification of being SM 3 of the last 5 years.) Few, if any, of the ASM3s in UNPC were under 21.