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The '''national Scout jamboree''' <!--- Only capitalized when referring to a specific jamboree. --->is a gathering, or [[jamboree (Scouting)|jamboree]] of thousands of members of the [[Boy Scouts of America]], usually held every four years and organized by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  Referred to as "the Jamboree", "Jambo", or NSJ, Scouts from all over the nation and world have the opportunity to attend. They are considered to be one of several unique experiences that the Boy Scouts of America offers. The first jamboree was scheduled to be held in 1935 in [[Washington, D.C.]] to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Scouting, but was delayed two years. The 1937 jamboree in the Nation's Capital attracted 25,000&nbsp;Scouts, who camped around the [[Washington Monument]] and [[Tidal Basin (District of Columbia)|Tidal Basin]].<ref name=Time>{{cite web|title=National Jamboree|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time magazine]]|date=1937-07-12|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,788126,00.html|accessdate=2008-09-24}}</ref> The event was covered extensively by national media and attended by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]].
{{ThisPageWasImported}}


Following the disruption of [[World War II]], the next jamboree was not held until 1950 in [[Valley Forge National Historical Park|Valley Forge]], [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>[http://www.nps.gov/archive/vafo/treese/treese8.htm Valley Forge National Historical Park: Making and Remaking a National Symbol (Chapter 8)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Subsequent jamborees have been held around the country as a means to promoting Scouting nationally. Since 1981, the jamboree has been located [[Fort A.P. Hill]], [[Virginia]].  Future jamborees will be held at [[The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve]] in West Virginia.
A '''national Scout jamboree''' is a gathering, or [[jamboree (Scouting)|jamboree]] of thousands of members of the [[Boy Scouts of America]] (BSA), usually held every four years and organized by the BSA National Council. Referred to as "Jambo", or "the Jamboree", Scouts from all over the world have the opportunity to attend these jamborees, considered to be one of several unique experiences that the BSA offers. The first jamboree was scheduled to be held in 1935 in [[Washington D.C.]] to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Scouting, but was delayed until 1937. The idea of holding the event on a regular basis did not take root at first, the next jamboree wasn't held until 1950 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania<ref>http://www.nps.gov/archive/vafo/treese/treese8.htm</ref>.


A jamboree is held for ten consecutive days and offers many activities for youth participants and the 300,000 members of the general public who visit it. It is considered to be Scouting at its best.
The jamborees were then held around the country as a means to promoting Scouting nationally. Since 1981, the [[U.S. Army]] has allowed the BSA to use Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia as the home location of national Scout jamborees. A jamboree is held for ten consecutive days and offers many activities for youth participants and the 300,000 members of the general public who visit it. It is considered to be Scouting at its best.  
[[Image:Closing Arena Show, 2005 National Scout Jamboree.jpg|thumb|Recent national Scout jamborees have ended with a spectacular arena show]]
{| style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; width: 252px; border: #FFFFFF solid 1px"
|[[Image:White House radio broadcast Feb 8 1937.jpg|thumb|right|[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]] in a national radio address announcing the 1937 national Scout jamboree, [[Washington, D.C.|Wash., D.C.]]]]
|}


==Organization==
[[Image:Closing_Arena_Show,_2005_National_Scout_Jamboree.jpg|thumb|Recent national Scout jamborees have ended with a spactacular arena show.]]
Like the Boy Scouts of America's national organization, the jamboree is divided into regions&nbsp;— Central, Western, Northeast, and Southern. Each region is made up of five to six subcamps, with twenty in all. Each subcamp has its own latrines, shower facilities, food commissaries, with one "action center" per region. Each subcamp contains a number of troops, identified by a three or four digit number depending on the location of the subcamp within the encampment.
The [[2005 National Scout Jamboree]] had 20 subcamps, identified by number and named after famous explorers (e.g. [[Robert Ballard]], [[Steve Fossett]], [[Joe Kittinger]], and [[Will Steger]].)


===Troops and contingents===
== Organization ==
Like the BSA's national organization, the jamboree is divided into regions - Central, Western, Northeast, and Southern. Each region has at its disposal five to six subcamps, with twenty in all. Each subcamp has its own latrines, shower facilities, food commissaries, with one action center per region. Each subcamp contains a number of troops, identified by a three or four digit number depending on the location of the subcamp within the encampment.
The [[2005 National Scout Jamboree]] had 20 subcamps, identified by number and named after famous explorers (e.g.Bob Ballard, [[Steve Fosset]], [[Joe Kittinger]], and Will Steger.)
 
=== Troops and contingents ===
[[Image:scoutsmulticulture.jpg|thumb|Scouts from all over the country and the world showed up for the jamboree.|200px|right]]
[[Image:scoutsmulticulture.jpg|thumb|Scouts from all over the country and the world showed up for the jamboree.|200px|right]]
[[Image:Bushatjamboree.JPG|thumb|Seven presidents have appeared at the jamboree.|200px|right]]
Going to the national Scout jamboree is an intensive and expensive process. Considering the logistics of having thousands of youth and their leaders concentrated in one area at one time, the National Office coordinates the entire jamboree process. A normal Boy Scout troop cannot petition the National Office to attend the jamboree as participants, instead, the local council establishes a jamboree committee who is charged with promoting and facilitating the experience to their members. Local council committees typically have volunteer members responsible for finance, fundraising, training, recruitment, transportation, touring while en route to the jamboree site, and other functions where appropriate.  
Attending the jamboree is an intensive and expensive process. Considering the logistics of having thousands of youth and their leaders concentrated in one area at one time, the Jamboree Division of the National Council coordinates the entire jamboree process. A normal Boy Scout troop cannot petition to attend the jamboree as participants, instead, the local council establishes a jamboree committee which is charged with promoting and facilitating the experience to their members. Local council committees typically have volunteer members responsible for finance, fundraising, training, recruitment, transportation, touring while en route to the jamboree site, and other functions where appropriate.
 
Youth members sign up for the jamboree through an application process to the local council, who then places each boy into the jamboree troop. Large councils are granted multiple jamboree troops. Each troop comprises four adults (a [[Scoutmaster]], and three assistant Scoutmasters) and 36 youth in four traditional patrols of eight boys each, plus a leadership corps of four older boys (senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, quartermaster, and scribe).  After being assigned a jamboree troop, members are given their troop numbers, a participant's patch for wear on the Scout's field uniform, and a jamboree council shoulder patch.  Training and preparation for the jamboree often begins more than a year before the actual jamboree begins. Most troops require the adult leaders to obtain Basic Scoutmaster training and [[Wood Badge]], an intensive management training course offered by the BSA.
 
Before the jamboree begins, many troops visit [[Washington, D.C.]] and other areas of interest near Fort A.P. Hill.
 
===Staff===
[[Image:Dutchess Council NY troop 1977 Jamboree.jpg|thumb|[[Scouting in New York#Hudson Valley Council|Dutchess County Council (NY)]] troop at the 1977 jamboree, held at [[Moraine State Park]], [[Pennsylvania]]]]
Youth and adult volunteer and professional Scouters, plus members of the military and government provide a number of services to the jamboree by being on staff. Jamboree staff are given a special hat and neckerchief as tokens of their service, plus many of the different staff groups have special patches or pins that are sought after by youth and adult participants. In addition to the regional staff that provide services in subcamps and at the regional activity centers, many other staff members work in areas that serve the entire jamboree.  Staff members arrive a number of days before the jamboree begins and usually depart on the same day or several days after participants leave, depending on their assignments. Regional staff members often stay within the subcamps, while National staff members stay in barracks locations within the post itself.
 
==First national jamboree==
The first national jamboree was held in Washington, D.C. for ten days in July 1937, attended by 25,000&nbsp;Scouts, most of whom arrived by train. Region campsites were set up around the [[Washington Monument]] and [[Tidal Basin (District of Columbia)|Tidal Basin]].<ref name=Time /> The event was covered extensively by radio and newspapers. A press tent accommodated 626&nbsp;news media reporters, photographers, and broadcasters. Sixty-four news releases were issued and the BSA assisted in the making of 11&nbsp;newsreels and 53&nbsp;magazine articles.<ref name=Jambo37>''The National and World Jamborees in Pictures'', New York: Boy Scouts of America (1937).</ref> The three major U.S. radio networks of the time, [[NBC]], [[CBS]] and [[Mutual Broadcasting System|Mutual]], had broadcasting studios near the jamboree headquarters to produce almost 19&nbsp;hours of live, on–site jamboree coverage broadcast coast–to–coast. Celebrities also visited the jamboree, including well–known broadcaster [[Lowell Thomas]] and U.S. President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]. While at the jamboree, Scouts also attended a three-game baseball series between the [[Minnesota Twins|Washington Senators]] and the [[Boston Red Sox]] at [[Griffith Stadium]], as well as touring nearby [[Mount Vernon]].<ref name=Jambo37 />
 
==List of jamborees==
[[Image:Comanche Trail Council Indian Camp 1937 National Scout Jamboree.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Scouting in Texas#Texas Trails Council|Comanche Trail Council]] Indian Camp at the National Scout jamboree in Washington, D. C., July, 1937. The [[swastika]] emblems used for decoration still held their ancient meanings of luck and well-being, and were not widely associated with Nazism.]]


The National Scout Jamborees have been held at a number of different locations.<ref>[http://bsajamboree.org/bulletins.html?url=http://scouting.org/RSS%20Feeds/JamboreeBulletins.aspx&item=2009January January 2009 Jamboree Bulletin]</ref><ref>[http://www.westtexasscoutinghistory.net/jamboree.html West Texas Scouting History]</ref><!--Need a sentence to hang the references off of, better solution wanted-->
Youth members sign up for the jamboree through an application process to the local council, who then places each boy into the jamboree troop. Large councils are granted multiple jamboree troops. Each troop comprises four adults ([[Scoutmaster]], and three assistant Scoutmasters) and 36 youth in four traditional patrols of eight boys each, plus a leadership corps of four older boys (senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, quartermaster, and scribe). After being assigned a jamboree troop, members are given their troop numbers, a participant's patch for wear on the Scout's field uniform, and a jamboree council shoulder patch, or JSP. Training and preparation for the jamboree often begins more than a year before the actual jamboree begins. Most troops require the adult leaders to obtain Basic Scoutmaster training and [[Wood Badge]], an intensive management training course offered by the BSA.


{| class="wikitable sortable"
Before the jamboree begins, many troops visit [[Washington D.C.]] and other areas of interest near Fort A.P. Hill.
!  width="60" | Jamboree
!  width="100" | Location
!  width="*" | Theme/Notes
!  width="150" | Dates
!  width="50" | Attendance
|-
| 1935
|[[Washington, D.C.]]
|BSA [[Silver Jubilee]] (25th)
|{{dts|1935|8|21}}–{{dts|1935|8|30}}
| cancelled due to a [[Poliomyelitis|polio]] epidemic.<ref>{{cite web|title=1st National Jamboree (1935)|publisher=Pine Tree Web|url=http://www.pinetreeweb.com/1937-1935-nj1-jamboree.htm|year=1998|accessdate=2009-06-18}}</ref>
|-
|1937
|Washington D.C.<ref>{{cite web|title=1st National Jamboree (1937)|publisher=Pine Tree Web|url=http://www.pinetreeweb.com/1937-nj1-jamboree-home.htm|year=1998|accessdate=2009-06-18}}</ref>
|
|{{dts|1937|6|30}}–{{dts|1937|7|9}}
|{{nts|27238}}
|-
|1950
|[[Valley Forge National Historical Park|Valley Forge]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|"Strengthen Liberty"
|{{dts|1950|6|27}}–{{dts|1950|7|6}}
|{{nts|47163}}
|-
|1953
|[[Irvine Ranch]], [[California]]<br>(Area now called [[Jamboree Road]])
|"Forward on Liberty's Team"
|{{dts|1953|7|17}}–{{dts|1953|7|23}}
|{{nts|45401}}
|-
|1957
|Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
|"Onward For God And My Country"
|{{dts|1957|7|12}}–{{dts|1957|7|18}}
|{{nts|52580}}
|-
|1960
|[[Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]]
|"For God and Country"<br>BSA [[Golden Jubilee]] (50th)
|{{dts|1960|7|22}}–{{dts|1960|7|28}}
|{{nts|56377}}
|-
|1964
|Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
|"Strengthen America's Heritage"
|{{dts|1964|7|17}}–{{dts|1964|7|23}}
|{{nts|50960}}
|-
|1969
|[[Farragut State Park]], [[Idaho]]
|"Building to Serve"
|{{dts|1969|7|16}}–{{dts|1969|7|22}}
|{{nts|34251}}
|-
|1973
|Farragut State Park, Idaho and [[Moraine State Park]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|"Growing Together"
|{{dts|1973|8|1}}–{{dts|1973|8|7}} (ID)<br>{{dts|1973|8|3}}–{{dts|1973|8|9}} (PA)
|{{nts|73610}} (Combined)
|-
|1977
|Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania
|"Forward Together"
|{{dts|1977|8|3}}–{{dts|1977|8|9}}
|{{nts|28601}}
|-
|1981
|[[Fort A.P. Hill]], [[Virginia]]
|"Scouting's Reunion with History"
|{{dts|1981|7|29}}–{{dts|1981|8|4}}
|{{nts|29765}}
|-
|1985
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"Scouting's Reunion with History"<br>BSA [[Diamond Jubilee]] (75th)
|{{dts|1985|7|24}}–{{dts|1985|7|30}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Participants in the 1985 National Jamboree|work=West Texas Scouting History|publisher=[[Scouting in Texas#Texas Trails Council|Texas Trails Council, BSA]]|url=http://www.westtexasscoutinghistory.net/jambo_comanche1985.html|accessdate=2009-06-18}}</ref>
|{{nts|32625}}
|-
|1989
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"The Adventure Begins...With America's Youth"
|{{dts|1989|8|3}}–{{dts|1989|8|9}}
|{{nts|32717}}
|-
|[[1993 National Scout Jamboree|1993]]
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"Scouting...A bridge to the Future"
|{{dts|1993|8|4|}}–{{dts|1993|8|10}}
|{{nts|34449}}
|-
|1997
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"Character Counts...Be Prepared for the 21st Century"
|{{dts|1997|7|28}}–{{dts|1997|8|6}}
|{{nts|36015}}
|-
|2001
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"Strong Values, Strong Leaders...Character Counts"
|{{dts|2001|7|23}}–{{dts|2001|8|1}}
|{{nts|42002}}
|-
|[[2005 National Scout Jamboree|2005]]
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"Character Not Only Counts, It Multiplies"
|{{dts|2005|7|25}}–{{dts|2005|8|3}}
|{{nts|43000}}<!--approximate?-->
|-
|[[2010 National Scout Jamboree|2010]]
|Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
|"Celebrate 100 years of Scouting"<br>celebrating the 100th anniversary of the BSA.
|{{dts|2010|7|26}}–{{dts|2010|8|4}}
|
|-
|2013
|The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve
|
|
|
|}


National jamborees are now traditionally held two years after a World Jamboree. 2010 is a slight aberration in the schedule (which resumes in 2013) due to the 100th anniversary of BSA.
=== Staff ===
Youth and adult volunteer and professional Scouters, plus members of the military and government provide a number of services to the jamboree by being on staff. Jamboree staff are given a special hat and neckerchief as tokens of their service, plus many of the different staff groups have special patches or pins that are sought after by youth and adult participants. In addition to the regional staff that provide services in subcamps and at the regional activity centers, many other staff members work in areas that serve the entire jamboree . Staff members arrive a number of days before the jamboree begins and usually depart on the same day or several days after participants leave, depending on their assignments. Regional staff members often stay within the subcamps, while National staff members stay in barracks locations within the post itself.


==The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve==
== List of jamborees ==
The BSA announced in June 2008 that locales interested in permanently hosting the National Jamboree should submit applications to BSA. Permanent Jamboree site considerations include {{convert|5000|acre|km2}} to be donated or leased for 100 years, water, natural beauty, transportation, ability to also host World Jamborees, and use as a BSA high adventure/training center in non-jamboree years. The site will be named [[The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve]] and was the recipient of a $50 million gift from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve |url=http://scouting.org/100yearspre/100years/SiteFiles/1000/documents/Final_Fact_Sheet.pdf |accessdate=November 18, 2009]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Boy Scouts to Bring World-Class Center of Scouting Excellence to West Virginia |url=http://www.pitchengine.com/free-release.php?id=33923 |date=November 18, 2009 |accessdate=November 18, 2009]]}}</ref>
* (1935) [[Washington D.C.]]– celebrated the 25th anniversary of the BSA; cancelled due to [[Poliomyelitis|polio]] epidemic.
* (1937) Washington D.C.
* (1950) Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
* (1953) Irvine Ranch, California
* (1957) Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
* (1960) Colorado Springs, Colorado– celebrated the 50th anniversary of the BSA.
* (1964) Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
* (1969) [[Farragut State Park]], Idaho
* (1973) Farragut State Park, Idaho and [[Moraine State Park]], Pennsylvania
* (1977) Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania
* (1981) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
* (1985) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia– celebrated the 75th anniversary of the BSA.
* (1989) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
* (1993) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia ([[1993 National Scout Jamboree]])
* (1997) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
* (2001) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
* (2005) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia ([[2005 National Scout Jamboree]])
* (2010) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia– celebrating the 100th anniversary of the BSA.


Goshen Scout Reservation in Virgina was selected for the new site in February 2009,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/boy-scouts-of-america-to,713809.shtml|title=Boy Scouts of America to Pursue Negotiations With Sites in Eastern Region to Establish National Scouting Center|date=2009-02-11|work=The Earth Times|accessdate=2009-02-12}}</ref>
== Jamboree traditions ==
<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-11-2009/0004970873&EDATE=#|title=BSA Project Arrow Committee settles on site for National Scouting Center|date=2009-02-11|work=PR Newswire Association LLC|accessdate=2009-02-20}}</ref> but was withdrawn due to significant restrictions on land utilization<ref>{{cite journal |date=2009-07-29 |title=Boy Scouts No Longer Looking At Goshen |journal=The News-Gazette |url=http://www.thenews-gazette.com/atf.php?sid=8953&current_edition=2009-07-29|accessdate=2009-08-04}}</ref> and local community opposition.  Instead, a 10,000 acre reclaimed mine site near [[Beckley, West Virginia]] was selected.<ref>http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/214254 Goshen Will Not Host Scout Jamboree </ref>
[[Image:Jambogateway.jpg|thumb|right|A simple gateway]]


==Jamboree traditions==
[[Image:Patch Collection.jpg|thumb|left|A Patch Collection from the 2005 National Scout Jamboree]]
[[Image:Patch Collection.jpg|thumb|A patch collection from the 2005 National Scout Jamboree]]
*'''Gateways'''- Each unit that attends the jamboree is designated a campsite. In front of the camp site, the troop constructs a gateway to display trademarks of their council or state. Gateways can range from the very simple to the extremely elaborate.


===Gateways===
*'''Patch Trading'''- Each troop that goes to the jamboree has a special patch, or series of patches, made especially for the jamboree. Once at the jamboree , Scouts trade their council's patches for patches from across US and even the world. At each jamboree there are always several hot patches, that everyone seems to want, usually a patch relating to something in pop culture. At the 2005 National Scout Jamboree, popular patches displayed such things as [[Ron Jon Surf Shop]], [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]] from ''[[Halo]]'', ''[[Star Wars]]'' characters, [[Sobe]] energy drink, and the fake, yet still sought after, [[Hooters]] patches.
Each unit that attends the jamboree is assigned to a campsite. In front of the camp site, the troop constructs a gateway to display trademarks of their council or state. Gateways can range from the very simple to the extremely elaborate.


===Patch trading===
== Funding controversy ==
Most troops that attend the jamboree has a special patch, or series of patches, made especially for the jamboree. Once at the jamboree, Scouts trade their council's patches for patches from across US and even the world.  At each jamboree there are always several hot patches, that everyone seems to want, usually a patch relating to something in [[pop culture]]. At the 2005 National Scout Jamboree, popular patches displayed such things as [[Ron Jon Surf Shop]], [[Master Chief (Halo)|Master Chief]] from ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]'', ''[[Star Wars]]'' characters, [[SoBe]] energy drink, and the unofficial, yet still sought after, [[Hooters]] patches.
Some contend that federal support for the National Jamboree is unconstitutional. For details on this controversy, see [[Winkler v. Rumsfeld]].


==Military support lawsuit==
== See also ==
On April 4, 2007, a US Court of Appeals ruled that federal support for the national jamboree may continue. For details on this controversy, see [[Winkler v. Rumsfeld]].
*[[Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California#Jamboree Road|Jamboree Road]]
 
== External links ==
==See also==
* [http://www.scouting.org/ Boy Scouts of America]
{{Scoutingportal}}
*[[Jamboree Road]]
 
==References==
{{reflist}}
 
==External links==
* [http://www.bsajamboree.org 2010 National Scout Jamboree], official BSA website
* [http://www.emeritbadges.org/ IEEE emeritbadges.org Program]
* [http://www.emeritbadges.org/ IEEE emeritbadges.org Program]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=13551 Harry Truman's address to the Jamboree]
* [http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=13551 Harry Truman's address to the Jamboree]
== Notes ==
<references />


{{Scoutorg BSA}}
{{Scouting}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Scout Jamboree (Boy Scouts Of America)}}
[[Category:Boy Scouts of America]]
[[Category:Boy Scouts of America]]
[[Category:Scouting jamborees]]
[[Category:Scouting jamborees]]

Latest revision as of 16:47, 6 May 2012

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A national Scout jamboree is a gathering, or jamboree of thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), usually held every four years and organized by the BSA National Council. Referred to as "Jambo", or "the Jamboree", Scouts from all over the world have the opportunity to attend these jamborees, considered to be one of several unique experiences that the BSA offers. The first jamboree was scheduled to be held in 1935 in Washington D.C. to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Scouting, but was delayed until 1937. The idea of holding the event on a regular basis did not take root at first, the next jamboree wasn't held until 1950 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania[1].

The jamborees were then held around the country as a means to promoting Scouting nationally. Since 1981, the U.S. Army has allowed the BSA to use Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia as the home location of national Scout jamborees. A jamboree is held for ten consecutive days and offers many activities for youth participants and the 300,000 members of the general public who visit it. It is considered to be Scouting at its best.

Recent national Scout jamborees have ended with a spactacular arena show.

Organization

Like the BSA's national organization, the jamboree is divided into regions - Central, Western, Northeast, and Southern. Each region has at its disposal five to six subcamps, with twenty in all. Each subcamp has its own latrines, shower facilities, food commissaries, with one action center per region. Each subcamp contains a number of troops, identified by a three or four digit number depending on the location of the subcamp within the encampment. The 2005 National Scout Jamboree had 20 subcamps, identified by number and named after famous explorers (e.g.Bob Ballard, Steve Fosset, Joe Kittinger, and Will Steger.)

Troops and contingents

File:Scoutsmulticulture.jpg
Scouts from all over the country and the world showed up for the jamboree.

Going to the national Scout jamboree is an intensive and expensive process. Considering the logistics of having thousands of youth and their leaders concentrated in one area at one time, the National Office coordinates the entire jamboree process. A normal Boy Scout troop cannot petition the National Office to attend the jamboree as participants, instead, the local council establishes a jamboree committee who is charged with promoting and facilitating the experience to their members. Local council committees typically have volunteer members responsible for finance, fundraising, training, recruitment, transportation, touring while en route to the jamboree site, and other functions where appropriate.

Youth members sign up for the jamboree through an application process to the local council, who then places each boy into the jamboree troop. Large councils are granted multiple jamboree troops. Each troop comprises four adults (Scoutmaster, and three assistant Scoutmasters) and 36 youth in four traditional patrols of eight boys each, plus a leadership corps of four older boys (senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, quartermaster, and scribe). After being assigned a jamboree troop, members are given their troop numbers, a participant's patch for wear on the Scout's field uniform, and a jamboree council shoulder patch, or JSP. Training and preparation for the jamboree often begins more than a year before the actual jamboree begins. Most troops require the adult leaders to obtain Basic Scoutmaster training and Wood Badge, an intensive management training course offered by the BSA.

Before the jamboree begins, many troops visit Washington D.C. and other areas of interest near Fort A.P. Hill.

Staff

Youth and adult volunteer and professional Scouters, plus members of the military and government provide a number of services to the jamboree by being on staff. Jamboree staff are given a special hat and neckerchief as tokens of their service, plus many of the different staff groups have special patches or pins that are sought after by youth and adult participants. In addition to the regional staff that provide services in subcamps and at the regional activity centers, many other staff members work in areas that serve the entire jamboree . Staff members arrive a number of days before the jamboree begins and usually depart on the same day or several days after participants leave, depending on their assignments. Regional staff members often stay within the subcamps, while National staff members stay in barracks locations within the post itself.

List of jamborees

  • (1935) Washington D.C.– celebrated the 25th anniversary of the BSA; cancelled due to polio epidemic.
  • (1937) Washington D.C.
  • (1950) Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
  • (1953) Irvine Ranch, California
  • (1957) Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
  • (1960) Colorado Springs, Colorado– celebrated the 50th anniversary of the BSA.
  • (1964) Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
  • (1969) Farragut State Park, Idaho
  • (1973) Farragut State Park, Idaho and Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania
  • (1977) Moraine State Park, Pennsylvania
  • (1981) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
  • (1985) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia– celebrated the 75th anniversary of the BSA.
  • (1989) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
  • (1993) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia (1993 National Scout Jamboree)
  • (1997) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
  • (2001) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia
  • (2005) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia (2005 National Scout Jamboree)
  • (2010) Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia– celebrating the 100th anniversary of the BSA.

Jamboree traditions

File:Jambogateway.jpg
A simple gateway
A Patch Collection from the 2005 National Scout Jamboree
  • Gateways- Each unit that attends the jamboree is designated a campsite. In front of the camp site, the troop constructs a gateway to display trademarks of their council or state. Gateways can range from the very simple to the extremely elaborate.
  • Patch Trading- Each troop that goes to the jamboree has a special patch, or series of patches, made especially for the jamboree. Once at the jamboree , Scouts trade their council's patches for patches from across US and even the world. At each jamboree there are always several hot patches, that everyone seems to want, usually a patch relating to something in pop culture. At the 2005 National Scout Jamboree, popular patches displayed such things as Ron Jon Surf Shop, Master Chief from Halo, Star Wars characters, Sobe energy drink, and the fake, yet still sought after, Hooters patches.

Funding controversy

Some contend that federal support for the National Jamboree is unconstitutional. For details on this controversy, see Winkler v. Rumsfeld.

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.nps.gov/archive/vafo/treese/treese8.htm
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