This summer, local Boy Scouts attended the National Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P Hill, Va.
This national gathering of more than 45,000 Scouts from all 50 states and other countries was in celebration and recognition of 100 years of Scouting. Twelve local Boy Scouts from various Sycamore and DeKalb troops – 2810, 16, 40, 33 and 2 – came together with additional troops from Three Fires Council to become Jamboree Troop 1010, which included John Beck, Alex Ekstrom, Skylar Fugate, Tyler Greenwood, Brian Gumino, Alex Handel, Jacob Marx, Jordan Peterson, Jason Ruetten, Nathan Ruetten, Kyle Stanevich and Logan Wright.
Adult leaders included Scoutmaster Tim Ruetten, 1st Assistant Scoutmaster Terry Handel, 2nd Assistant Scoutmaster Daniel Weisler and 3rd Assistant Scoutmaster Chris Handel.
This once-in-a-lifetime Scouting experience offered the Merit Badge Midway with more than 95 merit badges to choose from; the Action Center with obstacle and confidence courses, rifle shooting, archery, motor cross, mountain boarding and rappelling tower; and Outback Fun with fishing, canoeing, conservation, scuba, kayaking and snorkeling. Other sections included the American Indian village, Brown Sea Island, disabilities awareness, patch trading and nightly arena shows.
The Scouts made a side trip to Washington D.C. and visited the White House, U.S. Capitol, National Air and Space Museum, Arlington National Cemetery, many national memorials and various other sites.
“It was very fun and the weather was great,” Terry Handel, assistant Scoutmaster, said in a news release. Handel shared the experience with his two oldest sons.
“It was an awesome experience that you’ll keep with you for the rest of your life,” said Alex Handel in the release. “It was fun to watch the patrols and troop develop as a team. The Scouting spirit was incredible!”
The National Scout Jamboree is considered to be Scouting at its best, according to the release, and is offered to Scouts between ages 12-17 with at least a First Class rank.
The next Jamboree will be in 2013 at the new high adventure camp, the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, in West Virginia. It will be a multi-purpose, year-round destination for Scouting activities and adventures – from a permanent home for the National Scout Jamboree, to a high-adventure program base, to a national flagship Scout camp, and a leadership and training center
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