We have asked Scouts in both troops to send in a message on their Jamboree experience. The message below is from Eagle Scout Rohan with Jamboree Troop 1632.
Hi, my name is Rohan and I was with troop 1632 during our 15 day adventure at the jamboree. I loved the jamboree and the places we got to tour before it. We explored Philadelphia for the first time for me and got to go to New York which is the city I was born in. I really liked it when we got to go to Washington D.C. and find out about our nation’s history and the creators of our nation. The Jamboree part of it was a blast to. I got to do many activities that I would not have been able to do at a normal campout, and I got to meet new people from around the world. In addition to that I was able to exercise my patch trading skills and acquire and few good sets. The shows blew me away and liked the performances. All in all, for me the Jamboree was an adventure of a life time that I would do love to do again.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Note from an ASPL
We have asked all our Scouts to comment on their experience at the Jamboree. The note below is from Sergei, ASPL for troop1633 -
Hello, my name is Sergei. I am the ASPL for troop 1633, and I would like to share some of the great memories I made at the 2010 Jamboree. Although I attended the 2005 Jamboree when I was 12 years old, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend my 2nd Jamboree in 2010. I was very excited to visit New York once again. Can you imagine my excitement, as a huge gamer fan, when I saw the store “GameStop.” What an awesome store to have downtown. I also enjoyed being on the top floor of the “Rockefeller Plaza,” looking down at the beautiful city lit up at night. What could be better than our time visiting Philadelphia and getting the chance to see and feel some our nation’s most historical sites like the liberty bell and the passage way that Benjamin Franklin used. Although I have been to Washington D.C. several times, I enjoyed visiting the Pentagon and returning again to see the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Arlington cemetery still brings chills to my soul. What a price so many men and women have paid for our freedom. And finally to the 2010 Jamboree!! Those who know me, know my passion is acting or being in front of a crowd. What a great opportunity was given to me when I was asked to co-host the preshow for the “Shining Light Across America” performed July 31st. With my microphone in hand and an ear piece in my ear, I experienced truly a dream come true. I was having “the time of my life.” I will definitely remember this Jamboree for the rest of my life. I would also like to give a huge thanks to the amazing adult leaders that helped make this all possible. Yours in Scouting, Sergei
Hello, my name is Sergei. I am the ASPL for troop 1633, and I would like to share some of the great memories I made at the 2010 Jamboree. Although I attended the 2005 Jamboree when I was 12 years old, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend my 2nd Jamboree in 2010. I was very excited to visit New York once again. Can you imagine my excitement, as a huge gamer fan, when I saw the store “GameStop.” What an awesome store to have downtown. I also enjoyed being on the top floor of the “Rockefeller Plaza,” looking down at the beautiful city lit up at night. What could be better than our time visiting Philadelphia and getting the chance to see and feel some our nation’s most historical sites like the liberty bell and the passage way that Benjamin Franklin used. Although I have been to Washington D.C. several times, I enjoyed visiting the Pentagon and returning again to see the grave of the Unknown Soldier. Arlington cemetery still brings chills to my soul. What a price so many men and women have paid for our freedom. And finally to the 2010 Jamboree!! Those who know me, know my passion is acting or being in front of a crowd. What a great opportunity was given to me when I was asked to co-host the preshow for the “Shining Light Across America” performed July 31st. With my microphone in hand and an ear piece in my ear, I experienced truly a dream come true. I was having “the time of my life.” I will definitely remember this Jamboree for the rest of my life. I would also like to give a huge thanks to the amazing adult leaders that helped make this all possible. Yours in Scouting, Sergei
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Daily Blogs by Peter Ferris
Peter Ferris is the father of Duncan Ferris in Jamboree Troop 1633. He served on the Commissary Staff in our sub-camp and paid visits to our campsite. Amy Peck and Bob Perkins and Grace Davidson are other parents of Scouts that served on Jamboree staff. Peter wrote a daily blog for Troop 42 parents. I want to share them with everyone. This entry is huge! To see other entries use the directory on the right-hand side of the blog, about half-way down
Day 1, 26 July 2010
Hello Troop 42!
Well the boys arrived today around 11:00 am as part of the 52 Troops that are part of our Camp (Camp A, Sub Camp 16). Sub Camp 16 is nothing but Texas Troops.
The weather here is great, the high today was about 90 and it should get down to about 65 tonight. The 100 plus degree heat we saw last week did not show itself today. Some of you may have heard about Scouts experiencing heat exhaustion in the parade in DC. Our boys were not in that parade, it was mainly local Troops. Our boys are doing fine as far as I can tell. Also, the rain has stayed away from the Jamboree site so far.
We have been diligently prepping and working out any kinks in the camp before their arrival.
You will all be happy to know that the boys are not allowed to leave their camp without their water bottles and there are constant reminders over the PA system, adults and staff to hydrate at the rate of 1 quart of water per hour. This goes along with wearing sunscreen and a hat.
Amy and I were part of the welcoming committee and spent all day meeting buses and directing Troops to their campsites. Grace was moving through the camp helping direct as well as watching for hydration and keeping up morale.
Our boys arrived in good spirits and after unloading all their Troop gear proceeded to set up camp. They were issued their lunches and by the evening their camp was completely set up with the gateway, tents, etc.. By 7 pm they were fixing their dinner and getting recharged. While they were setting up, Army Sky Divers jumped from a helicopter and landed in the camp. If this wasn't enough there was a live band performing for about an hour this evening and then some of the Raven Cheerleaders showed up to pose for pictures and sign autographs. I will let each family determine if their son has new "friends" on Face Book or have a "hot" screen-saver picture on their phone. I assure you none of the adults took notice as we are focused on your sons and their health, happiness, and safety.
I want to also let you know that we are not always aware of media coverage or actions in all parts of the camp. News travels slow so please do not expect the BSA equivalent of a CNN update. Harry and Brian have the provisions in place to get you important news as soon as they get it, we only work off of facts. Hopefully, by the time you get my update the facts have been sorted out.
Yes, the boys are taking showers and getting ready for bed on their own. I was walking the campsite this evening just to say hello and saw many of our boys already trading patches, playing cards, or just hanging out and talking. They have had a whirlwind tour the past few days and I heard more than one boy say, "I didn't know Mr. Bubeck could walk that fast".
I am composing this after taps (10:15 pm). I went over to the Troop area around 11 and there was not a single light or person to be found. They were all out cold recharging for an action packed day tomorrow.
I hope this update satisfies your curiosity. Please write any complaints or suggestions on a $20 bill and send it to Peter Ferris at the BSA National Jamboree.
More to come, but I'm off to unload a truck for the boy's meals for tomorrow.
Good night/morning,
Peter
Day 2, 27 July 2010
Hello, Troop 42!
Well taps has just sounded so day 2 has come and gone and these guys are becoming Jamboree veterans. After breakfast they cleaned up their mess gear and area and headed out to explore the Jamboree. Brian, Harry, David and the other Scoutmasters kick the boys out of their campsite and they are not allowed to hang out or return until mid afternoon. This is not really an issue but there is always one or two with their own agenda...I know none of you know what I'm talking about so I guess that observation only pertains to my son!
The boys are in good shape. From the time I spent in camp today, about an hour all told, there did not appear to be any health issues. Summer Camp in Texas prepares you for the blistering 95 degree days and 65 degree nights in Virginia. We got a 20 minute drizzle that actually did a great job of dampening the ground to knock down the dust and cool things off about 10 degrees. You couldn't ask for better conditions.
The boys are getting into a routine of exploring the sites. The Jamboree is broken out into three "Action Areas" that have the same basic displays such as Pioneering, Shotgun Shooting, Mountain Boarding, Archery and others. It is about a mile and a half walk from Area "A" to "Area "C" ("B" is in the middle). The unique areas near our camp are related to the Order of the Arrow...OA Mysterium. I'll let the boys explain it when they get back but my understanding is it a combination of Video Gaming, Scout Skills and Scout Virtues. It is only for the boys, adults are not allowed to partake.
The arena is near Area B along with the Merit Badge Midway. Tomorrow the boys pick up their breakfast materials between 5 and 6 am because they have to be heading out for the Opening Ceremony by 7:20. The Ceremony lasts from about 8:30 to around 11:00. I'll fill you in on those details tomorrow.
As for the first full day, many of the boys had plenty to do exploring our area but others have done basic reconnaisance into Areas B & C. They are meeting boys from all over teh country and even Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the Phillipines and others.
All this leads me to my biggest observation of the day. Many of you have probably heard of the phenomenom of "Patch Trading". This is something you have to see to believe. I can best describe it as a combination of New York street vendors and a Turkish bizarre. All the little merchants have their plot of earth marked with a towel or their "collection" and are trying to make the best deal they can. The main criteria is find what you like and get a good deal (i.e. more than one patch and if possible a "complete set"). As in most things some boys are better than others and some could care less. The cool thing about it is the boys are all having a great time meeting others and making memories. I am convinced that these "treasures" will end up in shoe boxes all over America but woe be to you who throws these away. They will need them again in 2013 where the value of the "Centennial Patches" have gone through the roof and are now worth twice as many patches!
Thanks to Harry, our boys are well educated and well prepared for this endeavor and appear not to have many bad trades. Texas is popular in Areas B & C.
If your son dabbled in this BSA free market enterprise simply ask him if he did any patch trading and then ask him to explain what he got and what he traded for it. It will border on the tales of Marco Polo and the spice trade as they return home with treasures from far away places. As a parent it is like watching the magic of Christmas through your son's eyes hearing the significance of the patches and why it is such a great deal...you remember, the "cute years", when whatever Santa brought him was exciting...ah the sweet days before the man child that now lives in your house showed up!
All this being said they are doing much more than just "Patch Trading" so have no fear, they will not come back with a bag full of patches and no uniforms. Also know that unlike Summer or Winter Camp this is not about Merit Badges either. Here they are "Free Range Scouts" having the time of their lives with no TV or video games just great outdoor experiences. They will be reigned in for the proper time to trade and spend more time at the exhibits as their spheres of interest expand.
They are also growing as leaders as they tackle their Troop responsibilities and become more self sufficient and confident as Scouts.
It's midnight, Wednesday's delivery is here, and tomorrow is another big day so that's it for now.
Until tomorrow,
Peter
Day 3, 28 July 2010
Hello All,
Today's update is coming late because this is my day to work 24 hours in the Comissary, your sons' grocery store. I don't pick the food I just deliver it! Tell your son to come complain to me in person if they have a problem with my service, I need to know when we can get his next Scoutmaster conference scheduled in early 2012...ha! Amy and I only get about 3 hours sleep due to deliveries and staging everything for each Troop. The boys' needs keep interfering with my personal time!
Well, Day 3 has come to a close and the boys are out after a full day that started at 5 this morning. I don't think they even waited for taps.
Today was the opening ceremony. The boys had to get up, eat and be ready on the road at 7:30 for the mile and half walk to the arena. It was amazing to see over 45,000 Scouts and Scouters from about 900 Troops. Some were in "zombie mode" as they became a river of khaki heading to the arena while others continue to have unlimited energy. The walk was not that much of a challenge due to the morning coolness. There were water stations about every 100 yards where bottled water was being dispensed. Once we got to the arena we were directed to our area. Every 20 feet there was a case of bottled water so not only hydration not an issue but it reinforced the seriousness of drinking water.
You may have heard that President Obama was not able to speak to the boys. I think many of them were hoping he would but he was replaced by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He was very inspirational because he actually was an Eagle Scout who had attended the 1957 Jamboree. He spoke from the heart and personal experience.the boys appeared to enjoy it as well. There were several other speakers, some better than others and a lot of patriotic moments. Miss America spoke and began by welcoming "all you young women". The boys were good sports but they were starting to get tired of everyone celebrating the 100th for them. Try having your son sit on a grassy hill for a couple of hours in the sun and talk. It ended on a high note with more parachutists followed by howitzers accompanying the combined bands playing "the 1812 orchestra".
To the organizers the guns signified the end of the ceremony, to the boys it was a starter pistol on steroids. Well behaved but ready to go, they hit the road to explore new parts of the Jamboree. The now seasoned traders began peddling their wares to a new customer base en route to new exhibits and displays. Across the Jamboree you can hear the radio station QBSA "The Eagle" playing music. While the mix is nice and varied it seems that Journey's "Don't Stop Believe'n" gets played every 90 minutes. This "Glee Phenomenon" hit it's apex for me on the hike to the opening ceremony when I had to listen to a choir of tone deaf pubescent males screech the lyrics for about an hour.
The boys are getting around on the buses, meeting Scouts from other areas and broadening their horizons. The Patch Trading is still going strong but it is now becoming more of an activity that leads to queries such as, "what's that area like?, where are those Troops from?, etc.
Rain continues to threaten but has stayed at bay.
It has taken me almost 18 hours to compose this so I will close for now. If you have any complaints about my correspondence skills please write them on a $20 bill and send them to Peter Ferris, Sub Camp 16, BSA Jamboree. If you want your complaint to move up to the top of the list I suggest larger denomination stationery.
Until Tomorrow,
Peter
Day 4, 29 July 2010
Hello All!
Another day has come and gone. I am running on raw energy after my shift but you are not reading this to find out how my day has been. I've been meaning to speak to most of you about this because quite frankly it hurts my feelings. My therapist says it will be OK if I just relax as I cry myself to sleep instead of desperately hoping some of you will eventually like me. Alas, I digress.
Today was actually a more typical Jamboree day. The boys started at the regular their time and I saw several of them this evening when I went over to their camp. As I am writing this there are about 300 boys next door in the Staff dining hall watching "National Treasure" The population of Sub Camp 16 is about 2300. We would probably have more but it has been raining intermittently during the day. Most of the day has been in the middle to low 90's. It rained for about 20 minutes this afternoon around 1 but it was welcomed by the boys. Any excuse to get soaking wet and cool off or to "have to" strip off their shirts appears welcome. It is actually fun to see this generation enjoying the simpler things in life.
From a leader's perspective the rain has kept the heat casualties down to a minimal count. To my knowledge none of our boys have had any issues. As for our Camp the bigger issue is the dust and its affect on the kids with asthma. The other thing is there have been 17 cases of ingrown toe nails. The medical team consists an ER doc and two Podiatrists so we are covered.
Our stage continues to get some of the better venues. This afternoon Jeff Gordon and Dale Ernhardt, Jr. were there for a couple of hours talking with the boys, signing autographs and having their picture taken. Even though these guys are big names in NASCAR I don't think any of the boys were wearing "racing stripe" underwear since they appear to be doing Field Laundry on a regular basis. For those of you unaquainted with this it consisits of a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet plunger acting as the agitator. They basically churn butter, then go into rinse mode in two other bucket.
After dinner an effort was made to set the world record for the most people playing with a yoyo. If I heard the facts correcty, the record was about 800 and we had about 2000 so I think we own it for the moment. The boy swere focused on the free yoyo.
The Patch Trading continues but they are now on the hunt to complete sets or find an elusive patch or patches.
I heard today that many of the boys in our Troops were selected to participate in the Closing ceremony on Saturday. Don't get confused. The Jamboree does not end on Saturday it is just when visitors can come and observe. Their role has been choregraphed by a guy from Disney and I am told it is a series of body movements. I will pass on the website where you can see their performance as soon as I have the info. They are part of a group of 300 that got chosen for this based on signing up for the opportnity.
I went to the Camp tonight after the boys had completed their "Iron Chef" competition. I do not know how that all went down since I got over there as they were cleaning up. There were small groups doing a variety of things from football to playing cards and talking. They were all in good spirits as usual. I happened to show up with a case of "extra" Danishes that we had in our Commisary that needed to "find" a new home.
I am running on fumes and heading to the showers to sleep the sleep of the weary. Tonight's load is coming in and I don't want to get asked to volunteer!
Best Regards,
Peter
Day 5, 30 July 2010
Hello All!
I didn't get a chance to do this last night because I did my Brotherhood walk for the OA. Yea, I know what you are thinking, "good for you Peter but what about the boys?". Before you know it they're going to start making all this Scouting stuff "all about the boys"! I thought it was about the cool uniforms, colorful patches and BSA bling! If you visited any of the trading posts you would think it ONLY about the BSA bling! I see eBay and PayPal making a tidy profit in the coming months!
I can't believe I've been here 10 days, even though the boys have only been here 5 days.
Last night, me, Amy and Grace got a treat. The Camp Director made the offer to have Staff members invite their sons to dinner with the Staff. They weren't sure if they wanted to miss hamburgers at the Troop but obliged their parents anyway. They were very happy to eat salad, garlic bread, and pasta with meatballs the size of golf balls. It was nice to have time with them and introduce them to our new friends. It was also meant to be a reminder of why we are here...the boys mainly saw it as a small price to pay for good food.
Well there are many changes afoot. First, Danny has given me distribution privileges so I can cut out the middleman. Secondly, Harry and Brian are updating the blog with info and pictures, and the most important change is with your sons!
The boys that arrived here 5 days ago were the ones that I knew. The ones that I am seeing now are young men. Have no fear Mom's, your boys still love and miss you but what I see are kids that have gained some confidence and may feel a little more independent than when they left. When I see them they are still in good spirits and smiling but speaking a little louder and walking a little taller.
Three years ago, if you would have told me that for just $700, plus air fare, I could live in a tent with 9 strangers (7 of whom snore) and cater to the needs of over 2000 boys, I would have just stood there and waited for the punch line. I have not only met some great people but made some great friendships. The best part is serving the boys. They seem to have a good time no matter what you throw at them and adjust and adapt with each day. They are in essence "free range" youth with a multitude of activities and they decide if and when they will do them.
If one friend doesn't want to do something with them they just find another buddy and off they go. It is refreshing to see them have this opportunity in a time where a lot of things are scheduled and they need a ride to get there. These guys are walking anywhere from 3 to 6 miles daily and still have energy to play and talk about the day back at camp. The Patch Trading is starting to settle into the "completing my collection" phase to the "I'm done" phase. Their interests have been broadening over the last couple of days to do the things that the more adventurous boys discovered earlier in the week. This is everything from "easy" merit badges (i.e. no partials) to shooting and kayaking. The shotgun and black powder are very popular since they are close to our camp. The new badge of honor is a shotgun shell casing hanging around your neck. The purpose is to let the instructor know you have had the Safety and "How To" lectures so you can go straight to the firing line. I guess the boys that have 10 shell casings get to go there 10 times faster! Like their patches, woe be to you if you throw away these treasures. TSA will be a different story if they don't pack them in their "big" bags on the truck.
There are no health issues that I am aware of at this point except maybe a foot blister or two.
The fun thing that the boys do not know happened was the Army had helicopters doing an aerial survey to make sure all Troops were away from power lines. In the process of their sweep they found that one of the Troops, in a more remote camp site, had built their own private above ground swimming pool! It was so well camouflaged at ground level that none of the camp inspectors noticed it for the two days it was up! Needless to say it is up no more!
I'll end this with the same topic that I started it with and that is the OA Brotherhood induction. I was inducted along with all our eligible boys. Over 70 Scouts and Scouters were inducted from the Mikanakawa Lodge (the OA Lodge our Troop belongs to). The most impressive part was that the ceremony was conducted and led by all Troop 42 Scouts. Whether or not your son is in OA, know that our Troop is producing leaders that others count on.
Until Tomorrow (later today actually, date wise),
Peter
Day 6, 1 Aug 2010
Hello Again,
Well we're back from the closing Ceremony and as the boys passed by the Commissary tent most stopped by to pick up some snacks. You'll be happy to know all we had was cheese and crackers, apples, and fruit cups. I'll go into the ceremony a little later. Today is also the day I am on duty (24 hours...with a couple of one hour naps). This one may be late getting out as I am working on it off and on.
Today the boys had a continuation of the kind of day I described yesterday. The only difference is it got cut short due to the performance in the Closing Ceremony. Most of the boys in both Troops were selected to be on stage in the bleachers. This privilege meant that they had to be on buses to get them to the Arena at 4:00 for a show that started at 8:00. The rest of us got the privelege of walking, see Wednesday's story. Same stuff, different day, this includes the tone deaf Glee fans!
Thiis exercise also continued the Wednesday tradition of "hurry up and wait". This is necessary due to the logistics of mobilizing a crowd of over 45,000 (regardless of how well behaved and polite they are!). Personally, it reminded me of my time in the Marines because it took about an hour to go a mile and a half. The weather was cool and pleasant with many commenting that this was the coolest Jamboree they had ever attended. Previously, they had stationed water along the route and then placed it every 20 feet in the arena. This time was different. They had twice as much water on the route with cases of water double stacked every 20 feet. All this meant was that I had to go to the "plastic sweat locker" to dehydrate (if you know what I mean) twice as often. As the show was getting ready to start mist became larger drops and we were sure we would be rained on. It turned out to be Virginia condensation that continued ittermittently throughout the show.
Now I'll cover the high lights of the show based on feedback from the boys. Some of you may have watched it on the link I sent out. Harry said they sent it out as well but I do not know if it is archived for play later on. Rest assured that the BSA will find a way to put the 100th anniversary spin on it. If this stays true to the doctines of patch trading and the contents of the Trading Post then, "this is a limited edition offer that has not been availabe for the last 5 years and you wont get an opportunity like this for another 3 years!" . The coup d'grace will be that, "this is the last Jamboree held at Ft. A. P. Hill! Hurry now, their operators are standing by and if you order now you'll get 4 Centennial Sham-WOW's!, one for each Patrol cook box! Just dial 1-800-BSASTUFF!".
On with the show. We began with Presidnet O'Bama giving an opening address. For whatever reason he could not attend, I am OK with it because I am told, when President Bush (43) attended in 2005 there was heightened security, the boys could not bring back packs, there was no pre-staged water, they had to arrive sooner to clear secuity, and the heat casualities were high. This exercise is still referred to as "The Death March".
After that guess what we saw, if you were to guess Parachutists you would be correct! Back to the high-lights, Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs (an Eagle Scout himself) spoke about trying to get Clean removed from the Scout Law since boys get dirty dooing Scouting! The boys loved it! Later, they were shown a video of the new Jamboree site in West VA. for the 2013 Jamboree. This is BSA property and is being designed from the ground up. Look it up on the web is is called "The Summit".
Towards the end a band called Switchfoot performed. It was rock and the boys went ballistic! The lead singer worked and walked the crowd. If you have ever been to a concert then you know when a band does a good job of involvung the crowd. We also discovered a new way to find all the boy's cell phones. When the lights were off you could see a sea of small screens recording this in stills or movie form. Check YouTube for BSA Jamboree and Switchfoot.
When everyone finished thanking each other (like a Blue and old Banquet gone awry) they closed with a 20 minute fireworks show! Let them tell you how it was but it had everything a boy could want, approval to get dirty, explosions, rock music and the promise of a new place to play that is a 8 hour train ride from the nearest airport/parent!
While our boys were chosen to perform and got bus rides there they had to trade their "rubber wheels for rubber heels" and hoof it back home. Brian, Harry and the other leaders did a masterful job getting them all back safely aroung midnight. Like snack frenzeid moths to a refrigerator light they were drawn to the Commisary tent where they knew Amy and I happened to be on duty and would have snacks available. Like well mannered sharks circling their prey, they waited for a bucket to appear that interested them and politely asked if they could have some, quickly followed with a, "can I take some back for my Patrol or my friend?"...believeable?...I'll leave it up to the parents to decide!
Well it is an early day tommow because everyone is going to Church. Yes, a Scout is Reverent but if you know the Scout Law then you will also know that Obedient and Cheerful come before Reverent which means Attendance and Happiness are mandatory for all Scouts!
Continue to to think kind thoughts of us on the Lord's day as the leaders begin comparing notes to calculate the return fee for your son!
Finally, I know the blog is now more active and pictures are beginning to flow but I have included a link to the local paper that has been covering the Jamboree. Look at picture 4 of 71 from the local paper that has been covering the Jamboree and play "Where's Waldo?". If you can't find Waldo you might find your son...hint, he is the one with the khaki shirt with his arms in the air!
http://fredericksburg.com/topics/boy_scout_jamboree/jamboree-pictures-day-1/index_html?qstart=4&s=L
That's it I've been up since 6:30 am Saturday morning and it is now 2:30 am on Monday morning. I'm still having fun and so are the boys.
Enjoy,
Peter
Day 7, 2 Aug 2010
Hello all!
I am rested and ready for typing. The weather continues to be fantastic! We are getting to the point where we a in the low 80's to high 70's. Night is in the mid to high 60's. Park close to the gate at the airport, the boys may not be able to make it to your car without a bottle of water and a rest break.
The morning started off with a full breakfast to help make up for all the bagged food they got the night before due to the Closing Ceremony.
Church started at 9 as scheduled. Going to Church was optional for all the boys. They could go to any worship service they wanted but they all went to one. The Lord must be pleased because we continue to have magnificent weather! Only at Jamboree can you get a 100th Anniversary BSA bible and a patch for attending! Rumor has it that some faiths will feel more guilty that others if they trade these patches so I think these are just keepers.
The term circulating the camp for patches is "PLOP", People Like Our Patch. Ad hoc design committees are being discussed as are marketing ideas and strategies. I'll leave it at that but suffice it to say that when I asked the group that I was with if they were ready to go home they all said "No!, we were still having a great time!". Not that they don't miss all of you but for many, this is a freedom and independence they have not experienced before.
I know I talk about "Patch Trading" in some form or fashion in most updates but it is now just a "buzz" and not the all consuming activity it was earlier. Clearance sales, finding that last elusive patch, and desperation trades are taking place as the end is in sight.
Know that the Troop leaders have kicked the boys out of camp after breakfast every day and they have to go out and explore every day. The group dynamics change each hour as boys link up with their buddies that have similar interests or goals.
There has been live performances every evening at the stage by our boy's camp. Last night it was a band that was playing everything from Led Zeppelin and AeroSmith to Abba and Gloria Gaynor. I kept thinking there was a couple of bands but it was just that one. After that, the girl that was the warm up act for the Closing Ceremony performed. She did the same songs but she is very talented and easy on the eyes so the boys liked the more personalized performance. A Scoutmaster asked if she had traded patches with any of the boys, she said, "No, but I have gotten 27 phone numbers and two marriage proposals tonight!".
The dinner the boys cooked tonight was Asian Stir Fry. Don't let these guys tell you they can't cook. I heard some were actually quite good and others had Plan B...a PB&J sandwich.
Today is the last full day of the Jamboree, tomorrow is camp tear-down, packing, prepping, staging, and loading so the boys are making the most of this last day. They no longer pay attention to the helicopters overhead and know all the tricks of optimizing their time.
That should cover it for now, no need to be redundant, but I did remember to do spell check before I sent this one.
Until tomorrow,
Peter
Day 8, 2 August 2010
Hey Quad Deuce!
I was so tired that I did not realize that there are 31 days in July so I have the days in the right sequence but I messed up the calendar dates. You know the drill for submitting complaints.
I think all the pieces are in place for the boys to get a hint that this is coming to an end. Tomorrow is the last "Program Day" and they have to be back in camp by 3:00 to start their tear down. They will be sleeping under the stars tomorrow night since the buses start arriving around 6:00 am. Our boys leave between 8 and 9.
The added incentive is that everything that is temporary structure like the showers and latrines are approaching the end of their useful life having supported over 2000 boys and young men for the past 10 days.
With each round of new information, finality is in the air. You should take this as a wake up call that your son is really coming home. To that end, reality has to set in for you as well. All his stuff that you moved into the attic or garage to make the "new spare room" into a media room, weight room, etc. has to be undone. I know you missed them for the first couple of days but now that you have gotten used to a glass of wine after dinner, catching a show, letting the siblings "borrow" what they need and researching the value of his clutter on eBay but it is time to get ready for this triumphant return.
I will try to inject humor into this next part but at the core I am serious. His re-indoctrination into the family and society is not a 12 step program but it is a process. Your son has grown a lot in the past two weeks, he has done a lot and seen a lot becoming more self sufficient in the process. He has been in an environment that was devoid, for the most part, of electronic stimulation. He has learned to listen to his body and become self reliant while still having to be part of a team.
You all know your child better than I do but he has changed, hopefully for the better. We all know that experiences like these last a lifetime. I am pretty sure he will not want to sleep on the floor but don't be surprised if he stares into his dresser or closet when you tell him to get dressed, he has not had to make a fashion decision for about two weeks..he may stick with earth tones for a while. Please remind him that the toilets and showers are in the house and he does not need to take a buddy. There is a chance that your alarm may go off about 2:00 am the first couple of days after he gets back...have no fear he is just groggily going to the latrine...old habits are hard to break. Do Not, I repeat Do Not, use terms like "KP" or "Mess Duty" around him. He knows how to cook and clean but this but this was not his favorite part. If you want more out of him when doing his chores you may offer a patch as motivation but also know that after dinner he will want to trade so make sure you have your own!
On the more serious side, I recommend you leave the TV and video games off for a couple of days, they've survived just fine. As I said in an earlier update, ask him to show you what patches he has and ask what makes them so great. Have them explain Patch Trading to you and if you want, just follow the sequence of my updates and you can walk through the Jamboree with your personal host and hear about it from their his perspective, I know that is really what you want anyway. I'll tell you now, you will look at some of these patches (if not all of them) and simply say, "I don't get it". You need to treat this as the equivalent of an impulse buy or someone that collects thimbles or spoons of the world, it makes them happy or "you just had to be there". As a parent I treat it like my son's preschool art...those scribbles and brush strokes we proudly displayed on the refrigerator.
When school starts these, along with most of his "Jamboree bling" will be relegated to a few prizes on display and the rest in his "Jamboree box" but he will be looking for it in 2013 so mark it well. I don't mean to ramble on about patches but this is the conduit for numerous memories and personal victories. It was also a way to explore the entire Jamboree as they followed their quest.
The weather continues to be amazing.
I have done a lot of things in my life including living like this for a lot longer than two weeks but it is so rewarding to literally watch these guys mature and "figure it out" before your eyes because unlike a weekend camp out they have to adapt and hopefully the good part sticks. If any of you want to come in 2013 it is well worth it. If you do, let me tell you a great place to work is in the Commissary, you are 24 hours on and 48 hours off, you get to see a lot of boys and you have time to go visit the Troop and see the Jamboree.
The job you really don't want is Environmental Officer. This sounds like you are in charge of "Leave No Trace" or raising awareness about plants and animals. Don't fall for it, what you are is the guy in charge of a big industrial garbage disposal, affectionately called the "pig". The "pig" will eat anything. After EVERY MEAL the boys come to you with buckets of slop (uneaten food, waste water, etc.) and you are there waiting in your "pig tent" wearing a plastic apron and face shield and pour the contents into the "pig". The guys are good sports about it. One knew what he was getting into while the other had no clue. I'll let you do the math if all 52 Troops each bring 4 buckets after every meal. On the nights that we gave the boys cucumbers or other things that they didn't want the "pig" ate well.
Tonight is their last night in tents so tomorrow it is under the stars, as I mentioned earlier, just another adventure.
Day 9 will be my last update but I wanted to get this info out in this update. I know you are looking forward to seeing your son.
Until tomorrow,
Peter
Day 9, 3 August 2010
Quad Deuce!
I'll keep this short! The boys are sleep under the stars. They get up at 5, eat, change into their uniforms, and load the big bags and then get on the buses. 1633 leaves around 8 and 1632 leaves around 9.
Your son's are definitely ready to come home because there is nothing to left to do.
I hope you have found my updates informative and entertaining, if not, come take the job...ha!
Remember the Boy Scout Motto...Be Prepared...reread yesterday's update and do likewise.
Thank you for being part of the Troop 42 family and supporting your son's development towards an honorable manhood.
Until 2013 (or whatever comes next),
Peter
Day 10, 4 August 2010
Quad Duece,
Sorry to break my promise and send another e-mail but I wanted to let you know the boys got rained on last night so they are a little sleep deprived and damp. We moved them into the Commissary tent along with about 100 of their new best friends. There was lightening and thunder within 10 miles and that's the rule.
I don't know if Virginia was sad to see them go or the the collective smell of active boys impacted the atmosphere, either way their clothes were dampened but not their spirits!
Just thought you should know.
Now I'm off to my vacation. See you in a couple of weeks.
Take Care,
Peter
Day 1, 26 July 2010
Hello Troop 42!
Well the boys arrived today around 11:00 am as part of the 52 Troops that are part of our Camp (Camp A, Sub Camp 16). Sub Camp 16 is nothing but Texas Troops.
The weather here is great, the high today was about 90 and it should get down to about 65 tonight. The 100 plus degree heat we saw last week did not show itself today. Some of you may have heard about Scouts experiencing heat exhaustion in the parade in DC. Our boys were not in that parade, it was mainly local Troops. Our boys are doing fine as far as I can tell. Also, the rain has stayed away from the Jamboree site so far.
We have been diligently prepping and working out any kinks in the camp before their arrival.
You will all be happy to know that the boys are not allowed to leave their camp without their water bottles and there are constant reminders over the PA system, adults and staff to hydrate at the rate of 1 quart of water per hour. This goes along with wearing sunscreen and a hat.
Amy and I were part of the welcoming committee and spent all day meeting buses and directing Troops to their campsites. Grace was moving through the camp helping direct as well as watching for hydration and keeping up morale.
Our boys arrived in good spirits and after unloading all their Troop gear proceeded to set up camp. They were issued their lunches and by the evening their camp was completely set up with the gateway, tents, etc.. By 7 pm they were fixing their dinner and getting recharged. While they were setting up, Army Sky Divers jumped from a helicopter and landed in the camp. If this wasn't enough there was a live band performing for about an hour this evening and then some of the Raven Cheerleaders showed up to pose for pictures and sign autographs. I will let each family determine if their son has new "friends" on Face Book or have a "hot" screen-saver picture on their phone. I assure you none of the adults took notice as we are focused on your sons and their health, happiness, and safety.
I want to also let you know that we are not always aware of media coverage or actions in all parts of the camp. News travels slow so please do not expect the BSA equivalent of a CNN update. Harry and Brian have the provisions in place to get you important news as soon as they get it, we only work off of facts. Hopefully, by the time you get my update the facts have been sorted out.
Yes, the boys are taking showers and getting ready for bed on their own. I was walking the campsite this evening just to say hello and saw many of our boys already trading patches, playing cards, or just hanging out and talking. They have had a whirlwind tour the past few days and I heard more than one boy say, "I didn't know Mr. Bubeck could walk that fast".
I am composing this after taps (10:15 pm). I went over to the Troop area around 11 and there was not a single light or person to be found. They were all out cold recharging for an action packed day tomorrow.
I hope this update satisfies your curiosity. Please write any complaints or suggestions on a $20 bill and send it to Peter Ferris at the BSA National Jamboree.
More to come, but I'm off to unload a truck for the boy's meals for tomorrow.
Good night/morning,
Peter
Day 2, 27 July 2010
Hello, Troop 42!
Well taps has just sounded so day 2 has come and gone and these guys are becoming Jamboree veterans. After breakfast they cleaned up their mess gear and area and headed out to explore the Jamboree. Brian, Harry, David and the other Scoutmasters kick the boys out of their campsite and they are not allowed to hang out or return until mid afternoon. This is not really an issue but there is always one or two with their own agenda...I know none of you know what I'm talking about so I guess that observation only pertains to my son!
The boys are in good shape. From the time I spent in camp today, about an hour all told, there did not appear to be any health issues. Summer Camp in Texas prepares you for the blistering 95 degree days and 65 degree nights in Virginia. We got a 20 minute drizzle that actually did a great job of dampening the ground to knock down the dust and cool things off about 10 degrees. You couldn't ask for better conditions.
The boys are getting into a routine of exploring the sites. The Jamboree is broken out into three "Action Areas" that have the same basic displays such as Pioneering, Shotgun Shooting, Mountain Boarding, Archery and others. It is about a mile and a half walk from Area "A" to "Area "C" ("B" is in the middle). The unique areas near our camp are related to the Order of the Arrow...OA Mysterium. I'll let the boys explain it when they get back but my understanding is it a combination of Video Gaming, Scout Skills and Scout Virtues. It is only for the boys, adults are not allowed to partake.
The arena is near Area B along with the Merit Badge Midway. Tomorrow the boys pick up their breakfast materials between 5 and 6 am because they have to be heading out for the Opening Ceremony by 7:20. The Ceremony lasts from about 8:30 to around 11:00. I'll fill you in on those details tomorrow.
As for the first full day, many of the boys had plenty to do exploring our area but others have done basic reconnaisance into Areas B & C. They are meeting boys from all over teh country and even Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, the Phillipines and others.
All this leads me to my biggest observation of the day. Many of you have probably heard of the phenomenom of "Patch Trading". This is something you have to see to believe. I can best describe it as a combination of New York street vendors and a Turkish bizarre. All the little merchants have their plot of earth marked with a towel or their "collection" and are trying to make the best deal they can. The main criteria is find what you like and get a good deal (i.e. more than one patch and if possible a "complete set"). As in most things some boys are better than others and some could care less. The cool thing about it is the boys are all having a great time meeting others and making memories. I am convinced that these "treasures" will end up in shoe boxes all over America but woe be to you who throws these away. They will need them again in 2013 where the value of the "Centennial Patches" have gone through the roof and are now worth twice as many patches!
Thanks to Harry, our boys are well educated and well prepared for this endeavor and appear not to have many bad trades. Texas is popular in Areas B & C.
If your son dabbled in this BSA free market enterprise simply ask him if he did any patch trading and then ask him to explain what he got and what he traded for it. It will border on the tales of Marco Polo and the spice trade as they return home with treasures from far away places. As a parent it is like watching the magic of Christmas through your son's eyes hearing the significance of the patches and why it is such a great deal...you remember, the "cute years", when whatever Santa brought him was exciting...ah the sweet days before the man child that now lives in your house showed up!
All this being said they are doing much more than just "Patch Trading" so have no fear, they will not come back with a bag full of patches and no uniforms. Also know that unlike Summer or Winter Camp this is not about Merit Badges either. Here they are "Free Range Scouts" having the time of their lives with no TV or video games just great outdoor experiences. They will be reigned in for the proper time to trade and spend more time at the exhibits as their spheres of interest expand.
They are also growing as leaders as they tackle their Troop responsibilities and become more self sufficient and confident as Scouts.
It's midnight, Wednesday's delivery is here, and tomorrow is another big day so that's it for now.
Until tomorrow,
Peter
Day 3, 28 July 2010
Hello All,
Today's update is coming late because this is my day to work 24 hours in the Comissary, your sons' grocery store. I don't pick the food I just deliver it! Tell your son to come complain to me in person if they have a problem with my service, I need to know when we can get his next Scoutmaster conference scheduled in early 2012...ha! Amy and I only get about 3 hours sleep due to deliveries and staging everything for each Troop. The boys' needs keep interfering with my personal time!
Well, Day 3 has come to a close and the boys are out after a full day that started at 5 this morning. I don't think they even waited for taps.
Today was the opening ceremony. The boys had to get up, eat and be ready on the road at 7:30 for the mile and half walk to the arena. It was amazing to see over 45,000 Scouts and Scouters from about 900 Troops. Some were in "zombie mode" as they became a river of khaki heading to the arena while others continue to have unlimited energy. The walk was not that much of a challenge due to the morning coolness. There were water stations about every 100 yards where bottled water was being dispensed. Once we got to the arena we were directed to our area. Every 20 feet there was a case of bottled water so not only hydration not an issue but it reinforced the seriousness of drinking water.
You may have heard that President Obama was not able to speak to the boys. I think many of them were hoping he would but he was replaced by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. He was very inspirational because he actually was an Eagle Scout who had attended the 1957 Jamboree. He spoke from the heart and personal experience.the boys appeared to enjoy it as well. There were several other speakers, some better than others and a lot of patriotic moments. Miss America spoke and began by welcoming "all you young women". The boys were good sports but they were starting to get tired of everyone celebrating the 100th for them. Try having your son sit on a grassy hill for a couple of hours in the sun and talk. It ended on a high note with more parachutists followed by howitzers accompanying the combined bands playing "the 1812 orchestra".
To the organizers the guns signified the end of the ceremony, to the boys it was a starter pistol on steroids. Well behaved but ready to go, they hit the road to explore new parts of the Jamboree. The now seasoned traders began peddling their wares to a new customer base en route to new exhibits and displays. Across the Jamboree you can hear the radio station QBSA "The Eagle" playing music. While the mix is nice and varied it seems that Journey's "Don't Stop Believe'n" gets played every 90 minutes. This "Glee Phenomenon" hit it's apex for me on the hike to the opening ceremony when I had to listen to a choir of tone deaf pubescent males screech the lyrics for about an hour.
The boys are getting around on the buses, meeting Scouts from other areas and broadening their horizons. The Patch Trading is still going strong but it is now becoming more of an activity that leads to queries such as, "what's that area like?, where are those Troops from?, etc.
Rain continues to threaten but has stayed at bay.
It has taken me almost 18 hours to compose this so I will close for now. If you have any complaints about my correspondence skills please write them on a $20 bill and send them to Peter Ferris, Sub Camp 16, BSA Jamboree. If you want your complaint to move up to the top of the list I suggest larger denomination stationery.
Until Tomorrow,
Peter
Day 4, 29 July 2010
Hello All!
Another day has come and gone. I am running on raw energy after my shift but you are not reading this to find out how my day has been. I've been meaning to speak to most of you about this because quite frankly it hurts my feelings. My therapist says it will be OK if I just relax as I cry myself to sleep instead of desperately hoping some of you will eventually like me. Alas, I digress.
Today was actually a more typical Jamboree day. The boys started at the regular their time and I saw several of them this evening when I went over to their camp. As I am writing this there are about 300 boys next door in the Staff dining hall watching "National Treasure" The population of Sub Camp 16 is about 2300. We would probably have more but it has been raining intermittently during the day. Most of the day has been in the middle to low 90's. It rained for about 20 minutes this afternoon around 1 but it was welcomed by the boys. Any excuse to get soaking wet and cool off or to "have to" strip off their shirts appears welcome. It is actually fun to see this generation enjoying the simpler things in life.
From a leader's perspective the rain has kept the heat casualties down to a minimal count. To my knowledge none of our boys have had any issues. As for our Camp the bigger issue is the dust and its affect on the kids with asthma. The other thing is there have been 17 cases of ingrown toe nails. The medical team consists an ER doc and two Podiatrists so we are covered.
Our stage continues to get some of the better venues. This afternoon Jeff Gordon and Dale Ernhardt, Jr. were there for a couple of hours talking with the boys, signing autographs and having their picture taken. Even though these guys are big names in NASCAR I don't think any of the boys were wearing "racing stripe" underwear since they appear to be doing Field Laundry on a regular basis. For those of you unaquainted with this it consisits of a 5 gallon bucket with a toilet plunger acting as the agitator. They basically churn butter, then go into rinse mode in two other bucket.
After dinner an effort was made to set the world record for the most people playing with a yoyo. If I heard the facts correcty, the record was about 800 and we had about 2000 so I think we own it for the moment. The boy swere focused on the free yoyo.
The Patch Trading continues but they are now on the hunt to complete sets or find an elusive patch or patches.
I heard today that many of the boys in our Troops were selected to participate in the Closing ceremony on Saturday. Don't get confused. The Jamboree does not end on Saturday it is just when visitors can come and observe. Their role has been choregraphed by a guy from Disney and I am told it is a series of body movements. I will pass on the website where you can see their performance as soon as I have the info. They are part of a group of 300 that got chosen for this based on signing up for the opportnity.
I went to the Camp tonight after the boys had completed their "Iron Chef" competition. I do not know how that all went down since I got over there as they were cleaning up. There were small groups doing a variety of things from football to playing cards and talking. They were all in good spirits as usual. I happened to show up with a case of "extra" Danishes that we had in our Commisary that needed to "find" a new home.
I am running on fumes and heading to the showers to sleep the sleep of the weary. Tonight's load is coming in and I don't want to get asked to volunteer!
Best Regards,
Peter
Day 5, 30 July 2010
Hello All!
I didn't get a chance to do this last night because I did my Brotherhood walk for the OA. Yea, I know what you are thinking, "good for you Peter but what about the boys?". Before you know it they're going to start making all this Scouting stuff "all about the boys"! I thought it was about the cool uniforms, colorful patches and BSA bling! If you visited any of the trading posts you would think it ONLY about the BSA bling! I see eBay and PayPal making a tidy profit in the coming months!
I can't believe I've been here 10 days, even though the boys have only been here 5 days.
Last night, me, Amy and Grace got a treat. The Camp Director made the offer to have Staff members invite their sons to dinner with the Staff. They weren't sure if they wanted to miss hamburgers at the Troop but obliged their parents anyway. They were very happy to eat salad, garlic bread, and pasta with meatballs the size of golf balls. It was nice to have time with them and introduce them to our new friends. It was also meant to be a reminder of why we are here...the boys mainly saw it as a small price to pay for good food.
Well there are many changes afoot. First, Danny has given me distribution privileges so I can cut out the middleman. Secondly, Harry and Brian are updating the blog with info and pictures, and the most important change is with your sons!
The boys that arrived here 5 days ago were the ones that I knew. The ones that I am seeing now are young men. Have no fear Mom's, your boys still love and miss you but what I see are kids that have gained some confidence and may feel a little more independent than when they left. When I see them they are still in good spirits and smiling but speaking a little louder and walking a little taller.
Three years ago, if you would have told me that for just $700, plus air fare, I could live in a tent with 9 strangers (7 of whom snore) and cater to the needs of over 2000 boys, I would have just stood there and waited for the punch line. I have not only met some great people but made some great friendships. The best part is serving the boys. They seem to have a good time no matter what you throw at them and adjust and adapt with each day. They are in essence "free range" youth with a multitude of activities and they decide if and when they will do them.
If one friend doesn't want to do something with them they just find another buddy and off they go. It is refreshing to see them have this opportunity in a time where a lot of things are scheduled and they need a ride to get there. These guys are walking anywhere from 3 to 6 miles daily and still have energy to play and talk about the day back at camp. The Patch Trading is starting to settle into the "completing my collection" phase to the "I'm done" phase. Their interests have been broadening over the last couple of days to do the things that the more adventurous boys discovered earlier in the week. This is everything from "easy" merit badges (i.e. no partials) to shooting and kayaking. The shotgun and black powder are very popular since they are close to our camp. The new badge of honor is a shotgun shell casing hanging around your neck. The purpose is to let the instructor know you have had the Safety and "How To" lectures so you can go straight to the firing line. I guess the boys that have 10 shell casings get to go there 10 times faster! Like their patches, woe be to you if you throw away these treasures. TSA will be a different story if they don't pack them in their "big" bags on the truck.
There are no health issues that I am aware of at this point except maybe a foot blister or two.
The fun thing that the boys do not know happened was the Army had helicopters doing an aerial survey to make sure all Troops were away from power lines. In the process of their sweep they found that one of the Troops, in a more remote camp site, had built their own private above ground swimming pool! It was so well camouflaged at ground level that none of the camp inspectors noticed it for the two days it was up! Needless to say it is up no more!
I'll end this with the same topic that I started it with and that is the OA Brotherhood induction. I was inducted along with all our eligible boys. Over 70 Scouts and Scouters were inducted from the Mikanakawa Lodge (the OA Lodge our Troop belongs to). The most impressive part was that the ceremony was conducted and led by all Troop 42 Scouts. Whether or not your son is in OA, know that our Troop is producing leaders that others count on.
Until Tomorrow (later today actually, date wise),
Peter
Day 6, 1 Aug 2010
Hello Again,
Well we're back from the closing Ceremony and as the boys passed by the Commissary tent most stopped by to pick up some snacks. You'll be happy to know all we had was cheese and crackers, apples, and fruit cups. I'll go into the ceremony a little later. Today is also the day I am on duty (24 hours...with a couple of one hour naps). This one may be late getting out as I am working on it off and on.
Today the boys had a continuation of the kind of day I described yesterday. The only difference is it got cut short due to the performance in the Closing Ceremony. Most of the boys in both Troops were selected to be on stage in the bleachers. This privilege meant that they had to be on buses to get them to the Arena at 4:00 for a show that started at 8:00. The rest of us got the privelege of walking, see Wednesday's story. Same stuff, different day, this includes the tone deaf Glee fans!
Thiis exercise also continued the Wednesday tradition of "hurry up and wait". This is necessary due to the logistics of mobilizing a crowd of over 45,000 (regardless of how well behaved and polite they are!). Personally, it reminded me of my time in the Marines because it took about an hour to go a mile and a half. The weather was cool and pleasant with many commenting that this was the coolest Jamboree they had ever attended. Previously, they had stationed water along the route and then placed it every 20 feet in the arena. This time was different. They had twice as much water on the route with cases of water double stacked every 20 feet. All this meant was that I had to go to the "plastic sweat locker" to dehydrate (if you know what I mean) twice as often. As the show was getting ready to start mist became larger drops and we were sure we would be rained on. It turned out to be Virginia condensation that continued ittermittently throughout the show.
Now I'll cover the high lights of the show based on feedback from the boys. Some of you may have watched it on the link I sent out. Harry said they sent it out as well but I do not know if it is archived for play later on. Rest assured that the BSA will find a way to put the 100th anniversary spin on it. If this stays true to the doctines of patch trading and the contents of the Trading Post then, "this is a limited edition offer that has not been availabe for the last 5 years and you wont get an opportunity like this for another 3 years!" . The coup d'grace will be that, "this is the last Jamboree held at Ft. A. P. Hill! Hurry now, their operators are standing by and if you order now you'll get 4 Centennial Sham-WOW's!, one for each Patrol cook box! Just dial 1-800-BSASTUFF!".
On with the show. We began with Presidnet O'Bama giving an opening address. For whatever reason he could not attend, I am OK with it because I am told, when President Bush (43) attended in 2005 there was heightened security, the boys could not bring back packs, there was no pre-staged water, they had to arrive sooner to clear secuity, and the heat casualities were high. This exercise is still referred to as "The Death March".
After that guess what we saw, if you were to guess Parachutists you would be correct! Back to the high-lights, Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs (an Eagle Scout himself) spoke about trying to get Clean removed from the Scout Law since boys get dirty dooing Scouting! The boys loved it! Later, they were shown a video of the new Jamboree site in West VA. for the 2013 Jamboree. This is BSA property and is being designed from the ground up. Look it up on the web is is called "The Summit".
Towards the end a band called Switchfoot performed. It was rock and the boys went ballistic! The lead singer worked and walked the crowd. If you have ever been to a concert then you know when a band does a good job of involvung the crowd. We also discovered a new way to find all the boy's cell phones. When the lights were off you could see a sea of small screens recording this in stills or movie form. Check YouTube for BSA Jamboree and Switchfoot.
When everyone finished thanking each other (like a Blue and old Banquet gone awry) they closed with a 20 minute fireworks show! Let them tell you how it was but it had everything a boy could want, approval to get dirty, explosions, rock music and the promise of a new place to play that is a 8 hour train ride from the nearest airport/parent!
While our boys were chosen to perform and got bus rides there they had to trade their "rubber wheels for rubber heels" and hoof it back home. Brian, Harry and the other leaders did a masterful job getting them all back safely aroung midnight. Like snack frenzeid moths to a refrigerator light they were drawn to the Commisary tent where they knew Amy and I happened to be on duty and would have snacks available. Like well mannered sharks circling their prey, they waited for a bucket to appear that interested them and politely asked if they could have some, quickly followed with a, "can I take some back for my Patrol or my friend?"...believeable?...I'll leave it up to the parents to decide!
Well it is an early day tommow because everyone is going to Church. Yes, a Scout is Reverent but if you know the Scout Law then you will also know that Obedient and Cheerful come before Reverent which means Attendance and Happiness are mandatory for all Scouts!
Continue to to think kind thoughts of us on the Lord's day as the leaders begin comparing notes to calculate the return fee for your son!
Finally, I know the blog is now more active and pictures are beginning to flow but I have included a link to the local paper that has been covering the Jamboree. Look at picture 4 of 71 from the local paper that has been covering the Jamboree and play "Where's Waldo?". If you can't find Waldo you might find your son...hint, he is the one with the khaki shirt with his arms in the air!
http://fredericksburg.com/topics/boy_scout_jamboree/jamboree-pictures-day-1/index_html?qstart=4&s=L
That's it I've been up since 6:30 am Saturday morning and it is now 2:30 am on Monday morning. I'm still having fun and so are the boys.
Enjoy,
Peter
Day 7, 2 Aug 2010
Hello all!
I am rested and ready for typing. The weather continues to be fantastic! We are getting to the point where we a in the low 80's to high 70's. Night is in the mid to high 60's. Park close to the gate at the airport, the boys may not be able to make it to your car without a bottle of water and a rest break.
The morning started off with a full breakfast to help make up for all the bagged food they got the night before due to the Closing Ceremony.
Church started at 9 as scheduled. Going to Church was optional for all the boys. They could go to any worship service they wanted but they all went to one. The Lord must be pleased because we continue to have magnificent weather! Only at Jamboree can you get a 100th Anniversary BSA bible and a patch for attending! Rumor has it that some faiths will feel more guilty that others if they trade these patches so I think these are just keepers.
The term circulating the camp for patches is "PLOP", People Like Our Patch. Ad hoc design committees are being discussed as are marketing ideas and strategies. I'll leave it at that but suffice it to say that when I asked the group that I was with if they were ready to go home they all said "No!, we were still having a great time!". Not that they don't miss all of you but for many, this is a freedom and independence they have not experienced before.
I know I talk about "Patch Trading" in some form or fashion in most updates but it is now just a "buzz" and not the all consuming activity it was earlier. Clearance sales, finding that last elusive patch, and desperation trades are taking place as the end is in sight.
Know that the Troop leaders have kicked the boys out of camp after breakfast every day and they have to go out and explore every day. The group dynamics change each hour as boys link up with their buddies that have similar interests or goals.
There has been live performances every evening at the stage by our boy's camp. Last night it was a band that was playing everything from Led Zeppelin and AeroSmith to Abba and Gloria Gaynor. I kept thinking there was a couple of bands but it was just that one. After that, the girl that was the warm up act for the Closing Ceremony performed. She did the same songs but she is very talented and easy on the eyes so the boys liked the more personalized performance. A Scoutmaster asked if she had traded patches with any of the boys, she said, "No, but I have gotten 27 phone numbers and two marriage proposals tonight!".
The dinner the boys cooked tonight was Asian Stir Fry. Don't let these guys tell you they can't cook. I heard some were actually quite good and others had Plan B...a PB&J sandwich.
Today is the last full day of the Jamboree, tomorrow is camp tear-down, packing, prepping, staging, and loading so the boys are making the most of this last day. They no longer pay attention to the helicopters overhead and know all the tricks of optimizing their time.
That should cover it for now, no need to be redundant, but I did remember to do spell check before I sent this one.
Until tomorrow,
Peter
Day 8, 2 August 2010
Hey Quad Deuce!
I was so tired that I did not realize that there are 31 days in July so I have the days in the right sequence but I messed up the calendar dates. You know the drill for submitting complaints.
I think all the pieces are in place for the boys to get a hint that this is coming to an end. Tomorrow is the last "Program Day" and they have to be back in camp by 3:00 to start their tear down. They will be sleeping under the stars tomorrow night since the buses start arriving around 6:00 am. Our boys leave between 8 and 9.
The added incentive is that everything that is temporary structure like the showers and latrines are approaching the end of their useful life having supported over 2000 boys and young men for the past 10 days.
With each round of new information, finality is in the air. You should take this as a wake up call that your son is really coming home. To that end, reality has to set in for you as well. All his stuff that you moved into the attic or garage to make the "new spare room" into a media room, weight room, etc. has to be undone. I know you missed them for the first couple of days but now that you have gotten used to a glass of wine after dinner, catching a show, letting the siblings "borrow" what they need and researching the value of his clutter on eBay but it is time to get ready for this triumphant return.
I will try to inject humor into this next part but at the core I am serious. His re-indoctrination into the family and society is not a 12 step program but it is a process. Your son has grown a lot in the past two weeks, he has done a lot and seen a lot becoming more self sufficient in the process. He has been in an environment that was devoid, for the most part, of electronic stimulation. He has learned to listen to his body and become self reliant while still having to be part of a team.
You all know your child better than I do but he has changed, hopefully for the better. We all know that experiences like these last a lifetime. I am pretty sure he will not want to sleep on the floor but don't be surprised if he stares into his dresser or closet when you tell him to get dressed, he has not had to make a fashion decision for about two weeks..he may stick with earth tones for a while. Please remind him that the toilets and showers are in the house and he does not need to take a buddy. There is a chance that your alarm may go off about 2:00 am the first couple of days after he gets back...have no fear he is just groggily going to the latrine...old habits are hard to break. Do Not, I repeat Do Not, use terms like "KP" or "Mess Duty" around him. He knows how to cook and clean but this but this was not his favorite part. If you want more out of him when doing his chores you may offer a patch as motivation but also know that after dinner he will want to trade so make sure you have your own!
On the more serious side, I recommend you leave the TV and video games off for a couple of days, they've survived just fine. As I said in an earlier update, ask him to show you what patches he has and ask what makes them so great. Have them explain Patch Trading to you and if you want, just follow the sequence of my updates and you can walk through the Jamboree with your personal host and hear about it from their his perspective, I know that is really what you want anyway. I'll tell you now, you will look at some of these patches (if not all of them) and simply say, "I don't get it". You need to treat this as the equivalent of an impulse buy or someone that collects thimbles or spoons of the world, it makes them happy or "you just had to be there". As a parent I treat it like my son's preschool art...those scribbles and brush strokes we proudly displayed on the refrigerator.
When school starts these, along with most of his "Jamboree bling" will be relegated to a few prizes on display and the rest in his "Jamboree box" but he will be looking for it in 2013 so mark it well. I don't mean to ramble on about patches but this is the conduit for numerous memories and personal victories. It was also a way to explore the entire Jamboree as they followed their quest.
The weather continues to be amazing.
I have done a lot of things in my life including living like this for a lot longer than two weeks but it is so rewarding to literally watch these guys mature and "figure it out" before your eyes because unlike a weekend camp out they have to adapt and hopefully the good part sticks. If any of you want to come in 2013 it is well worth it. If you do, let me tell you a great place to work is in the Commissary, you are 24 hours on and 48 hours off, you get to see a lot of boys and you have time to go visit the Troop and see the Jamboree.
The job you really don't want is Environmental Officer. This sounds like you are in charge of "Leave No Trace" or raising awareness about plants and animals. Don't fall for it, what you are is the guy in charge of a big industrial garbage disposal, affectionately called the "pig". The "pig" will eat anything. After EVERY MEAL the boys come to you with buckets of slop (uneaten food, waste water, etc.) and you are there waiting in your "pig tent" wearing a plastic apron and face shield and pour the contents into the "pig". The guys are good sports about it. One knew what he was getting into while the other had no clue. I'll let you do the math if all 52 Troops each bring 4 buckets after every meal. On the nights that we gave the boys cucumbers or other things that they didn't want the "pig" ate well.
Tonight is their last night in tents so tomorrow it is under the stars, as I mentioned earlier, just another adventure.
Day 9 will be my last update but I wanted to get this info out in this update. I know you are looking forward to seeing your son.
Until tomorrow,
Peter
Day 9, 3 August 2010
Quad Deuce!
I'll keep this short! The boys are sleep under the stars. They get up at 5, eat, change into their uniforms, and load the big bags and then get on the buses. 1633 leaves around 8 and 1632 leaves around 9.
Your son's are definitely ready to come home because there is nothing to left to do.
I hope you have found my updates informative and entertaining, if not, come take the job...ha!
Remember the Boy Scout Motto...Be Prepared...reread yesterday's update and do likewise.
Thank you for being part of the Troop 42 family and supporting your son's development towards an honorable manhood.
Until 2013 (or whatever comes next),
Peter
Day 10, 4 August 2010
Quad Duece,
Sorry to break my promise and send another e-mail but I wanted to let you know the boys got rained on last night so they are a little sleep deprived and damp. We moved them into the Commissary tent along with about 100 of their new best friends. There was lightening and thunder within 10 miles and that's the rule.
I don't know if Virginia was sad to see them go or the the collective smell of active boys impacted the atmosphere, either way their clothes were dampened but not their spirits!
Just thought you should know.
Now I'm off to my vacation. See you in a couple of weeks.
Take Care,
Peter
A nice word from NYC
Here is an email we received during our tour of NYC --
Ran into the Dallas and Circle Ten Council Contingent members last evening in Chinatown and Little Italy, New York City. The Jamboree leaders and scouts should be commended on the excellent unifoming I saw. Your scouts were also well trained in safety, as they clearly traveled in "Buddy" groups. Hope you have a great time in Phily, Gettsyburg and the Jamboree. I'll be waiving to you from Times Square, on July 31st.
Sincerely,
Paul D. Stanton,
GNYC Executive Board,
Greater N.Y. Councils BSA, International Representative,
Council Representative to the National Council, & NESA.
Ran into the Dallas and Circle Ten Council Contingent members last evening in Chinatown and Little Italy, New York City. The Jamboree leaders and scouts should be commended on the excellent unifoming I saw. Your scouts were also well trained in safety, as they clearly traveled in "Buddy" groups. Hope you have a great time in Phily, Gettsyburg and the Jamboree. I'll be waiving to you from Times Square, on July 31st.
Sincerely,
Paul D. Stanton,
GNYC Executive Board,
Greater N.Y. Councils BSA, International Representative,
Council Representative to the National Council, & NESA.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Jamboree Return Flight Information
Hello All,
Jamboree continues to be a blast for all our Scouts. This is our last full day of activities. Tomorrow we will start packing up. The Scouts will have half a day of activities to finish their activity requirements for rockers that are worn around the participation patch. I will try to get more of our scribes to write their thoughts on the Jamboree tonight. We took an troops-wide picture this morning. We hope to have that one replace the 2005 picture later today.
Here is our return flight information for Wednesday
Troop 1633 - Baltimore to Charlotte to DFW
US1015 BWI-CLT 12:15P-01:35P (40)
US1126 CLT-DFW 02:40P-04:22P (40)
Troop 1632 - Regan National Airport in Washington DC to DFW
US3285 DCA-DFW 01:15P-03:28P
US Airways only has 4 gates at DFW, so only one baggage claim area
in Terminal E.
Jamboree continues to be a blast for all our Scouts. This is our last full day of activities. Tomorrow we will start packing up. The Scouts will have half a day of activities to finish their activity requirements for rockers that are worn around the participation patch. I will try to get more of our scribes to write their thoughts on the Jamboree tonight. We took an troops-wide picture this morning. We hope to have that one replace the 2005 picture later today.
Here is our return flight information for Wednesday
Troop 1633 - Baltimore to Charlotte to DFW
US1015 BWI-CLT 12:15P-01:35P (40)
US1126 CLT-DFW 02:40P-04:22P (40)
Troop 1632 - Regan National Airport in Washington DC to DFW
US3285 DCA-DFW 01:15P-03:28P
US Airways only has 4 gates at DFW, so only one baggage claim area
in Terminal E.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Scribe Scribble
Here are a few notes from some of our scribes..
Hey it's TJ. Jambo's been a blast! It's huge with over 45,000 scouts from all over the world. So far I've met kids from Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Hawaii, South Korea, and Mexico. They have some pretty cool patches. There are tons of activities and things you can do here. So far I've shot some guns, viewed a few exhibits, took a merit badge class, and patch traded. The camp is enormous and it has alot of cool things to see as your walking around!
Hello! This is Joseph and I would like to give a shout out to all my friends so I can brag about how much fun everyone is having at the 2010 National Jamboree! Everyday is a mind-blowing experience with many possibilities to explore new adventures and sites that are amazing to every visitor! There has never been a time throughout the whole trip where I have been bored because there is always something new to explore especially when you take your time to relax, lay back, and patch trade with new folks. There are new activities to be seen everyday throughout the whole campsite and the arena shows entertain Scouts for their dedication and hard-work.
Hey everybody it's Jarred.I would like to say a couple of things about my adventure at the 2010 national jamboree. During my adventure I've had alot of fun here. I've shot guns, experienced alot of new things like patch trading with other kids from around the world it is hard to get some patches that you realy like and want. I would love to come back and explore new things that I've never done before that is all I have to say at the moment.
Howdy! It's Nick, another one of your good 'ole Scribes. I'm having a blast here at the 2010 National Jamboree because of all the sweet attractions. I had a lot of fun at the touring, especially when Mr. Bennett gave me spiritual boosts with his favorite quote: "'Carpe diem boys!' As in sieze the day!" The hotel we stayed in was really nice (in fact, it was so nice that I didn't sleep there because I goofed of with my friends every time I went there late at night). But when we left D.C. and arrived at the Jambo, I got to do a lot of different things, like earning a bunch of merit badges (Railroading, Geneology, Fingerprinting, mor to come). This is one of the best campouts I've ever gone to and I can't wait to get back to Dallas to share the experience. See ya'll later!
Hey it's TJ. Jambo's been a blast! It's huge with over 45,000 scouts from all over the world. So far I've met kids from Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Hawaii, South Korea, and Mexico. They have some pretty cool patches. There are tons of activities and things you can do here. So far I've shot some guns, viewed a few exhibits, took a merit badge class, and patch traded. The camp is enormous and it has alot of cool things to see as your walking around!
Hello! This is Joseph and I would like to give a shout out to all my friends so I can brag about how much fun everyone is having at the 2010 National Jamboree! Everyday is a mind-blowing experience with many possibilities to explore new adventures and sites that are amazing to every visitor! There has never been a time throughout the whole trip where I have been bored because there is always something new to explore especially when you take your time to relax, lay back, and patch trade with new folks. There are new activities to be seen everyday throughout the whole campsite and the arena shows entertain Scouts for their dedication and hard-work.
Hey everybody it's Jarred.I would like to say a couple of things about my adventure at the 2010 national jamboree. During my adventure I've had alot of fun here. I've shot guns, experienced alot of new things like patch trading with other kids from around the world it is hard to get some patches that you realy like and want. I would love to come back and explore new things that I've never done before that is all I have to say at the moment.
Howdy! It's Nick, another one of your good 'ole Scribes. I'm having a blast here at the 2010 National Jamboree because of all the sweet attractions. I had a lot of fun at the touring, especially when Mr. Bennett gave me spiritual boosts with his favorite quote: "'Carpe diem boys!' As in sieze the day!" The hotel we stayed in was really nice (in fact, it was so nice that I didn't sleep there because I goofed of with my friends every time I went there late at night). But when we left D.C. and arrived at the Jambo, I got to do a lot of different things, like earning a bunch of merit badges (Railroading, Geneology, Fingerprinting, mor to come). This is one of the best campouts I've ever gone to and I can't wait to get back to Dallas to share the experience. See ya'll later!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Jamboree Show Broadcast
Additional information on the show -- the segment entitled Performance of “History Lesson – 100 Years of BSA” is planned for the 8:23pm (7:23pm your time) time slot. Slated to last between 8-12 minutes (at max).
If you have DirectTV channel 374
If you have Dish Network channel 9403
If you have DirectTV channel 374
If you have Dish Network channel 9403
A Cool Ride At the Jamboree
We are five days into our Jamboree adventure. Sorry for the long delay on entries. Getting Internet coverage in camp was not possible so we have found a link up in the staff dining hall.
We ended DC on a whirlwind of activity by patrol. The National Archives, Air & Space Museum, the monuments (Lincoln, Vietnam, Korea, WWII) were high on everyone's list. There was a huge storm for about 15 minutes while we were on the mall, all made it to safety in some Smithsonian museum. The 1632 Shark patrol even took in the National Art Museum! Another group went out that evening to view the monuments at night. The metro was a quick and fun way to get around the city and we made full use of every hour. When we did rest at the hotel the indoor/outdoor pool was a favorite and the rooms were fantastic.
Monday came and we were off to the Jamboree! After a few hours we were dropped off at our front door to the 1632/33 campsite and had our first kiosk lunch. Unloading the big truck was a breeze with all 14 troops helping everyone. The weather has been fantastic! Highs in the 80's and 90's and low's in the low 60's. Right now it is a beautiful Spring day for Texas, but it is July 30th in Virginia!
Tuesday was a day for Scouts to explore their new camp home. Everyone was shooed out of the campsite and hit the action centers. The Southern Region entertainment stage had the Baltimore Raven Cheerleaders, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sgt Slaughter from WWE wrestling and more. Joe Hartmann and friends did the ultimate and explored every road and trail via bus shuttle and feet. Others took on swimming, shotgun, kayaking, and merit badge midway.
Wednesday was the opening show. We saw Secretary Robert Gates, Miss America, The Governor of Virginia, Skydivers, flyovers, the National OA Chief, and the National Chief Scout Executive and Commissioner along with music entertainment. Big plus and troop alert!!!! Both troops will be in the final Show Saturday on stage with Sergei Larson Co-hosting and Nick Bell playing a big part too. There is a webcast of the show check it out on bsajamboree.org The Scouts are working with Robby. Robby is the head choreographer for Walt Disney - all of Walt Disney - all the parades, shows, all the entertainment Walt Disney does goes through him.
Thursday was another day for Jamboree Activities after a morning rehearsal at the arena show. Some troop members participated in getting their CPR/AED certification as part of a world record for most certifications in one day. There is the Venturing area with climbing in a mine and an old west town, the OA Indian Village is a big hit and the Mysterium Compass Vault is popular with its air-conditioning.
Today is Friday and more sites and activities. There is so much to see at Jamboree we will not get to see it all. Tonight is an OA Call Out and Brotherhood for many members of both troops. Patch trading is HUGE with our roads covered in youth traders. It is a great way to meet new people from across American and with Scouts from 29 other countries.
After this blog entry Harry will download more pictures from both troops on our www.flickr.com website. More to come now we have a great link to the net!
We ended DC on a whirlwind of activity by patrol. The National Archives, Air & Space Museum, the monuments (Lincoln, Vietnam, Korea, WWII) were high on everyone's list. There was a huge storm for about 15 minutes while we were on the mall, all made it to safety in some Smithsonian museum. The 1632 Shark patrol even took in the National Art Museum! Another group went out that evening to view the monuments at night. The metro was a quick and fun way to get around the city and we made full use of every hour. When we did rest at the hotel the indoor/outdoor pool was a favorite and the rooms were fantastic.
Monday came and we were off to the Jamboree! After a few hours we were dropped off at our front door to the 1632/33 campsite and had our first kiosk lunch. Unloading the big truck was a breeze with all 14 troops helping everyone. The weather has been fantastic! Highs in the 80's and 90's and low's in the low 60's. Right now it is a beautiful Spring day for Texas, but it is July 30th in Virginia!
Tuesday was a day for Scouts to explore their new camp home. Everyone was shooed out of the campsite and hit the action centers. The Southern Region entertainment stage had the Baltimore Raven Cheerleaders, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Sgt Slaughter from WWE wrestling and more. Joe Hartmann and friends did the ultimate and explored every road and trail via bus shuttle and feet. Others took on swimming, shotgun, kayaking, and merit badge midway.
Wednesday was the opening show. We saw Secretary Robert Gates, Miss America, The Governor of Virginia, Skydivers, flyovers, the National OA Chief, and the National Chief Scout Executive and Commissioner along with music entertainment. Big plus and troop alert!!!! Both troops will be in the final Show Saturday on stage with Sergei Larson Co-hosting and Nick Bell playing a big part too. There is a webcast of the show check it out on bsajamboree.org The Scouts are working with Robby. Robby is the head choreographer for Walt Disney - all of Walt Disney - all the parades, shows, all the entertainment Walt Disney does goes through him.
Thursday was another day for Jamboree Activities after a morning rehearsal at the arena show. Some troop members participated in getting their CPR/AED certification as part of a world record for most certifications in one day. There is the Venturing area with climbing in a mine and an old west town, the OA Indian Village is a big hit and the Mysterium Compass Vault is popular with its air-conditioning.
Today is Friday and more sites and activities. There is so much to see at Jamboree we will not get to see it all. Tonight is an OA Call Out and Brotherhood for many members of both troops. Patch trading is HUGE with our roads covered in youth traders. It is a great way to meet new people from across American and with Scouts from 29 other countries.
After this blog entry Harry will download more pictures from both troops on our www.flickr.com website. More to come now we have a great link to the net!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
After a grand tour of NYC and Philly 1632 and 1633 met up Friday morning for pictures and a talk with US Congressman Pete Sessions. Pete took a picture with the Scouts two at a time with the capitol in the background (will be posted on his website) and then talked to the Scouts about the path to success and willingness to take on challenges. Pete Sessions is not only a supporter of Scouting but also an active volunteer with Troop 890 with his son and attends Summer Camp for the week at Constantin every year. Pete Sessions office arranged for Capitol tours and Pentagon tours for both troops. 1632 and 1633 when different directions with the tour of our nations capitol that included the hall of statues and original legislative room and the crypt built for Washington (never used as he wanted Mount Vernon). After the tours 1633 went over to the Pentagon for a two hour personal tour with one of the directors. 1632 hit the Union Station for lunch and then a tour of the Pentagon.
1632 toured the new Native American Indian Museum off the Mall area. The museum is four stories with a theatre and a Pow Wow while we were there. After the museum it was over to the Herrington Hotel for dinner with several council troops including 1633 and an open buffet with three main entrees.
That evening both troops attended the Marine Barracks parade in the Navy Yard. We were on time and got seated right away. And then sat in the sun for two hours waiting for the show to begin. But the marines were great hosts and kept us flush in water and bathroom breaks. The special guest was Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, a Navy Vet. The show was amazing and ended with canon's blazing. After a long ride back to the hotel on the metro and then discovering Crystal City has two Marriott hotels (we went to the wrong one). The Scouts were in bed for a later wake up call. After three days of getting up in the 5AM hour and going to bed late at night everyone slept in to 7AM.
Hot!! Hot!! Hot!!! I miss Texas' hot. The humidity here is close to unbearable. 1633 is staying hydrated, though and seeing alot of sights. Moving fast through the Metro line was a challenge at first, but we are becoming experts, as long as we stay on the right side going up and down the escalators. Mr. Bubeck and Mr. Davidson are getting in shape walking the many miles each day. All that exercise is paying off, but I will probably put that to rest once I get home. Interesting culture here. Go somewhere FAST! and get out of the way. As Mr. Bennett says, "GOD BLESS TEXAS!"
Anyway, Friday was nice visiting with Congressman Pete Sessions, albeit at 7:15am. Pete Sessions was very nice, had his picture with us, and had a moving talk with the 1632 and 1633 Scouts as well as other troops. He spoke about the need for our country to have teh Scouting program.
From there, we had a tour of the Capitol and it was impressive. I believe our Scouts were excited to see so much history. A big surprise was a visit to The Pentagon. We had to wait a while in the visitors waiting area, but we got a guide and he must have spent one and one-half hours with us. He spoke about the building, the history, about who works there, and we finished off with looking at a memorial of the people that died while working in the Pentagon on 9-11.
After this visit, we ate lunch at Union Station. We picked up our bags we had left during the visit with Pete Sessions and we moved onto our last stop for the night, the evening parade with the Marines. After taking the Metro and some walking, we made it to the Marine Barracks. We got seated around 7pm and the show didn't start until dusk. A long wait, but well worth the wait. It was very exciting to see the Marine Corps band. This show ended late and we were bushed getting to the hotel late in the night.
On Saturday 1632 started with a White House Photo while 1633 hit the Washington Monument. Afterward both troops met to tour Ford's Theatre and a new and excellent display detailing the life of Lincoln and Booth down to the hours for both men leading up to the assassination. We sat through a presentation by park rangers in the theatre itself (used as an active theatre).
After Ford's theatre both troops hit a local food court with coupons and then went two different directions as 1633 laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns featuring Nathan Bubeck, Colton Sligar, Daniel Stiegler and Jacob Davidson. 1632 went to the Washington Monument and then over to Arlington Cemetery for laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns featuring Campbell Castleberry, Mason Shelley, Rodolfo Vidales and T.J, Skipworth. After the wreath laying 1632 visited the sites commemorating the Space Shuttle disaster, USS Maine, and JFK grave site.
Both troops had dinner at Pentagon City before retiring back to the hotel for laundry and swimming.
Saturday, probably the hottest day so far (102 with 110 thi) 1633 made a jaunt to the Washington Monument after breakfast. We went up to the top to see around Washington D.C. and other points of interest. I think everyone liked it also because for a moment we weren't in the sun. From there, we rushed to make our time for the exhbiit and show at Ford's Theater. It was great with lots of artifacts and timelines. 1633 and 1632 went in together. A presentation was given with details of an account of the assasination of Abraham Lincoln and again some timeline of occurances. Looking from the back, I think many fell asleep because of the tiring walk and the cool building. Mr. Bubeck had to keep his snoring down because it was getting louder than the speaker. Ha Ha Ha!
1633 then made a bolt to the Arlington National Cemetary to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to see the changing of the guard, and to see four of our Scouts lay a wreath at the tomb. Once finished we visited the gravesites of President Kennedy and Jackie Onassis. It was so hot at this point, we were exhausted. We went and ate dinner and made it to the hotel early for some swimming and relaxation.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is Church service in the AM followed by patrol tours of the Smithsonian, National Archives, War Memorials and more! We will work in patrols of 10 (including one adult and one senior youth).
On Sunday, Mr. Davidson has made a plan to take the Catholic Scouts to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Scouts should be in awe of this magnificent Church and of course, REVERENT, inside at all times. After mass, 1633 plans to split up into smaller groups and visit sights such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Smithsonian including the American Indian Museum and others. The boys went to bed early and I'm up late once again. I'm ready for Sunday!
Submitted by:
Brian Bennett
Scoutmaster - Troop 1632
and
David Davidson
2nd Assistant Scoutmaster - Troop 1633
1632 toured the new Native American Indian Museum off the Mall area. The museum is four stories with a theatre and a Pow Wow while we were there. After the museum it was over to the Herrington Hotel for dinner with several council troops including 1633 and an open buffet with three main entrees.
That evening both troops attended the Marine Barracks parade in the Navy Yard. We were on time and got seated right away. And then sat in the sun for two hours waiting for the show to begin. But the marines were great hosts and kept us flush in water and bathroom breaks. The special guest was Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, a Navy Vet. The show was amazing and ended with canon's blazing. After a long ride back to the hotel on the metro and then discovering Crystal City has two Marriott hotels (we went to the wrong one). The Scouts were in bed for a later wake up call. After three days of getting up in the 5AM hour and going to bed late at night everyone slept in to 7AM.
Hot!! Hot!! Hot!!! I miss Texas' hot. The humidity here is close to unbearable. 1633 is staying hydrated, though and seeing alot of sights. Moving fast through the Metro line was a challenge at first, but we are becoming experts, as long as we stay on the right side going up and down the escalators. Mr. Bubeck and Mr. Davidson are getting in shape walking the many miles each day. All that exercise is paying off, but I will probably put that to rest once I get home. Interesting culture here. Go somewhere FAST! and get out of the way. As Mr. Bennett says, "GOD BLESS TEXAS!"
Anyway, Friday was nice visiting with Congressman Pete Sessions, albeit at 7:15am. Pete Sessions was very nice, had his picture with us, and had a moving talk with the 1632 and 1633 Scouts as well as other troops. He spoke about the need for our country to have teh Scouting program.
From there, we had a tour of the Capitol and it was impressive. I believe our Scouts were excited to see so much history. A big surprise was a visit to The Pentagon. We had to wait a while in the visitors waiting area, but we got a guide and he must have spent one and one-half hours with us. He spoke about the building, the history, about who works there, and we finished off with looking at a memorial of the people that died while working in the Pentagon on 9-11.
After this visit, we ate lunch at Union Station. We picked up our bags we had left during the visit with Pete Sessions and we moved onto our last stop for the night, the evening parade with the Marines. After taking the Metro and some walking, we made it to the Marine Barracks. We got seated around 7pm and the show didn't start until dusk. A long wait, but well worth the wait. It was very exciting to see the Marine Corps band. This show ended late and we were bushed getting to the hotel late in the night.
On Saturday 1632 started with a White House Photo while 1633 hit the Washington Monument. Afterward both troops met to tour Ford's Theatre and a new and excellent display detailing the life of Lincoln and Booth down to the hours for both men leading up to the assassination. We sat through a presentation by park rangers in the theatre itself (used as an active theatre).
After Ford's theatre both troops hit a local food court with coupons and then went two different directions as 1633 laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns featuring Nathan Bubeck, Colton Sligar, Daniel Stiegler and Jacob Davidson. 1632 went to the Washington Monument and then over to Arlington Cemetery for laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns featuring Campbell Castleberry, Mason Shelley, Rodolfo Vidales and T.J, Skipworth. After the wreath laying 1632 visited the sites commemorating the Space Shuttle disaster, USS Maine, and JFK grave site.
Both troops had dinner at Pentagon City before retiring back to the hotel for laundry and swimming.
Saturday, probably the hottest day so far (102 with 110 thi) 1633 made a jaunt to the Washington Monument after breakfast. We went up to the top to see around Washington D.C. and other points of interest. I think everyone liked it also because for a moment we weren't in the sun. From there, we rushed to make our time for the exhbiit and show at Ford's Theater. It was great with lots of artifacts and timelines. 1633 and 1632 went in together. A presentation was given with details of an account of the assasination of Abraham Lincoln and again some timeline of occurances. Looking from the back, I think many fell asleep because of the tiring walk and the cool building. Mr. Bubeck had to keep his snoring down because it was getting louder than the speaker. Ha Ha Ha!
1633 then made a bolt to the Arlington National Cemetary to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, to see the changing of the guard, and to see four of our Scouts lay a wreath at the tomb. Once finished we visited the gravesites of President Kennedy and Jackie Onassis. It was so hot at this point, we were exhausted. We went and ate dinner and made it to the hotel early for some swimming and relaxation.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is Church service in the AM followed by patrol tours of the Smithsonian, National Archives, War Memorials and more! We will work in patrols of 10 (including one adult and one senior youth).
On Sunday, Mr. Davidson has made a plan to take the Catholic Scouts to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Scouts should be in awe of this magnificent Church and of course, REVERENT, inside at all times. After mass, 1633 plans to split up into smaller groups and visit sights such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Smithsonian including the American Indian Museum and others. The boys went to bed early and I'm up late once again. I'm ready for Sunday!
Submitted by:
Brian Bennett
Scoutmaster - Troop 1632
and
David Davidson
2nd Assistant Scoutmaster - Troop 1633
Thursday, July 22, 2010
We are in DC Now!!!!
Troops 1632 and 1633 had a whirlwind tour finishing up in New York and then in Philadelphia.
In New York, our buses dropped us off at Ground Zero and we we're in awe of the incredible site. While on Manhattan, we also saw the New York Stock Exchange and the first Capitol across from NYSE. This was interesting with a large statue of George Washington on a horse and on the right was a picture of our first president kneeling and praying.
I believe we impressed the many New Yorkers and tourists from other countries, some wanting their pictures taken with us. We made it to the ferry to head to Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty was beautiful and the weather was much better than the day before. The Scouts were happy to sit down for a while after all the walking and get a snack on the ferry.
Ellis Island was interesting with the history of immigrants coming to the US. The guides had extensive knowledge of the history and passed it on to us. Apparently, the snack bar was great there, which had a Starbucks also. Of course, that was a hit with Mr. Bennett. Mr. Sliger talked about the delicious fudge, also.
While on the ferry, Mr. Davidson met a mother and children from Switzerland to find out her son is in the Scouts. They live on the french speaking side of Switzerland, but they spoke English fairly well. John and Jacob Davidson was introduced to them and Jacob gave the boy, whose name is Bill in English, one of the Circle Ten Texas patches. Bill and his mother were very excited to receive the patch.
After getting back from Ellis Island, we made our way to our bus where we had lunch waiting for us. We ate on the bus as we made our way out of Manhattan and New York heading to Philadelphia. We needed the rest knowing we had more walking in the City of Brotherly Love.
After finally stopping in Philadelphia, 1632 and 1633 immediately started their tour. We visited sights including Benjamin Franklin's house, Betsy Ross' house, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, among other sites. After this busy day we were ready for dinner at The Bagel Factory. We were ready for some Philly cheese steak sandwiches and bagel sandwiches and I believe everyone was satisfied. They had actually closed the restaurant to host the scouts.
Once we finished dinner, the two troops made it to their buses. We were certainly happy to get some more rest time and watching Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian. Whew! This was a tiring day!
We are now in Washington D.C. and tonight it is quiet in the hotel halls. Everyone is tired and gone to bed. Overall, alot of history of our wonderful nation was seen and to see it and think about what happened in those early beginnings of our country is awesome. I did think it was strange that in New York you find no water fountains and restrooms aren't found all over the place. Philadelphia was close to New York in that respect. Alot of pictures have been taken and many thanks to Mr. Bubeck having to stay up to late nights to upload the large number of pictures taken.
Friday is an early start for breakfast (6am, UGH!, with 5am wakeup, OUCH!) and heading over to the Capitol to see Congressman Pete Sessions and other sightseeing included. We will be taking the Metro train system here. The boys are in good health and enjoying themselves.
Submitted by David Davidson
2nd Asst. Scoutmaster - Troop 1633
In New York, our buses dropped us off at Ground Zero and we we're in awe of the incredible site. While on Manhattan, we also saw the New York Stock Exchange and the first Capitol across from NYSE. This was interesting with a large statue of George Washington on a horse and on the right was a picture of our first president kneeling and praying.
I believe we impressed the many New Yorkers and tourists from other countries, some wanting their pictures taken with us. We made it to the ferry to head to Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty was beautiful and the weather was much better than the day before. The Scouts were happy to sit down for a while after all the walking and get a snack on the ferry.
Ellis Island was interesting with the history of immigrants coming to the US. The guides had extensive knowledge of the history and passed it on to us. Apparently, the snack bar was great there, which had a Starbucks also. Of course, that was a hit with Mr. Bennett. Mr. Sliger talked about the delicious fudge, also.
While on the ferry, Mr. Davidson met a mother and children from Switzerland to find out her son is in the Scouts. They live on the french speaking side of Switzerland, but they spoke English fairly well. John and Jacob Davidson was introduced to them and Jacob gave the boy, whose name is Bill in English, one of the Circle Ten Texas patches. Bill and his mother were very excited to receive the patch.
After getting back from Ellis Island, we made our way to our bus where we had lunch waiting for us. We ate on the bus as we made our way out of Manhattan and New York heading to Philadelphia. We needed the rest knowing we had more walking in the City of Brotherly Love.
After finally stopping in Philadelphia, 1632 and 1633 immediately started their tour. We visited sights including Benjamin Franklin's house, Betsy Ross' house, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, among other sites. After this busy day we were ready for dinner at The Bagel Factory. We were ready for some Philly cheese steak sandwiches and bagel sandwiches and I believe everyone was satisfied. They had actually closed the restaurant to host the scouts.
Once we finished dinner, the two troops made it to their buses. We were certainly happy to get some more rest time and watching Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian. Whew! This was a tiring day!
We are now in Washington D.C. and tonight it is quiet in the hotel halls. Everyone is tired and gone to bed. Overall, alot of history of our wonderful nation was seen and to see it and think about what happened in those early beginnings of our country is awesome. I did think it was strange that in New York you find no water fountains and restrooms aren't found all over the place. Philadelphia was close to New York in that respect. Alot of pictures have been taken and many thanks to Mr. Bubeck having to stay up to late nights to upload the large number of pictures taken.
Friday is an early start for breakfast (6am, UGH!, with 5am wakeup, OUCH!) and heading over to the Capitol to see Congressman Pete Sessions and other sightseeing included. We will be taking the Metro train system here. The boys are in good health and enjoying themselves.
Submitted by David Davidson
2nd Asst. Scoutmaster - Troop 1633
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sub-Camp 16 - Before the Arrival!
Here is a picture one of our Circle Ten Council Jamboree staff members took of Sub-Camp 16 yesterday (at least we THINK it is Sub-Camp 16 - either way it is pretty close. Many staff members are already on site and many more are on their way direct to the Jamboree now. Staff members get there a week or two or three before the troops arrive. The National staff is there a month or two before!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Jamboree Youth Leaders Review
The senior youth staff and patrol leaders of both troops met today to review the itinerary, contact information, and campsite procedures for our trip.
**Be at the Gate outside of security at 5AM in full uniform!!
**Be at the Gate outside of security at 5AM in full uniform!!
Trailer Load at Wisdom
Saturday July 17th the senior officers of both troops and the adult leadership loaded our gear on the council trailer and our large duffel bags on a truck. Both are now heading to the National Jamboree! Circle Ten Council is sending 14 40-man troops and another large group of staff. Each troop has gear it ships to the Jamboree every 4-5 years. Over time the council has paid and stored reusable materials for use (tarps, picnic tables, stoves) and there are always new items to purchase for the Jamboree. Here are some pictures of our Scouts. Check out much more on our picture website (troop members only).
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Airport Earlybirds
Both troops have E-tickets. Every member of the troop must be present before US Airways will issue a boarding pass. PLEASE be on time at 5AM on July 21st at Terminal E Gates 35-38. Getting 80 people through security will be time consuming, but 1632 can't start and 1633 can't start until each member of their troop is present.
ID is only required for our Adult Leaders. Scouts under 18 are not required to show ID.
ID is only required for our Adult Leaders. Scouts under 18 are not required to show ID.
Tip for Service in NYC
Our tour package includes a tip for our coach driver in NYC. Our tour director (each troop gets one) is fully compensated by the travel agency, but if they give great service a tip is suggested. Our tour directors have always been great and keep us moving in bustling NYC. If you want to contribute to a tip for the tour director please see John Fox Holt (1632) or David Davidson (1633) at the airport. Each troop gets its own director and motorcoach, so please give only to the troop your where son is a member.
Carolina County Food Bank Donation
As the Boy Scouts say goodbye to Carolina County, the site of every Jamboree since 1980, we want to give one more thank you for their hospitality with a donation to the Carolina County Food Bank. The Southern Region wants every Scout and Scouter attending to donate one canned food item to the Food Bank - this would generate thousands of cans of food! The Southern Region is Texas to the East Coast! In Circle Ten Council one of our fellow Adult Jamboree Leaders has struck a deal with a Walmart in the County to buy one can of food - one of the more popular vegtables - per Scout in our Council Contigent for $1.
So if a Scout wants to contribute we need $1.00. The Scout will get a can to put in the Food Bank distribution box and I hear there is a thank you item for each Scout that participates. The Scout can give us the $1 at the airport or on the tour.
So if a Scout wants to contribute we need $1.00. The Scout will get a can to put in the Food Bank distribution box and I hear there is a thank you item for each Scout that participates. The Scout can give us the $1 at the airport or on the tour.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Scout Medication Form
For those Scouts that require medication on the trip we have a form! Please go to our google group
http://groups.google.com/group/white-buffalo-jamboree-troops The form is under the Files tab at the
bottom of the page. It is labeled Medication Form. We have copies of your BSA medical form from
this past Spring. The medication form goes into more detail on daily dosage.
http://groups.google.com/group/white-buffalo-jamboree-troops The form is under the Files tab at the
bottom of the page. It is labeled Medication Form. We have copies of your BSA medical form from
this past Spring. The medication form goes into more detail on daily dosage.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sock Hop tonight! Scout office on Harry Hines
Word from two separate sources in our Jamboree troops say the Scout Shop on Harry Hines (Main Council Office) has large scout socks in stock. Might be a good idea to call first 214-902-2001.
So stock up on socks or hop over to the sock stocked store or store up on in stock scout socks.
okay, that is enough of that better stop before I get socked myself
So stock up on socks or hop over to the sock stocked store or store up on in stock scout socks.
okay, that is enough of that better stop before I get socked myself
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Food and the TSA Security Check
Food is allowed through airport security although we should qualify it further for everyone.
You may bring solid snack foods such as pretzels, potato chips or carrot sticks for the plane -- but you may want to hold the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Single-serving packages of condiments are permitted as long as they fit within your single zip-top bag, so you can add mustard to your ham sandwich after you get through security. All food must be securely wrapped or in a spill-proof container. You may not bring gel packs to refrigerate food (though they are permitted for medication).
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=710&category=1
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1667.shtm
Make sure the snacks are packaged and in their own ziplock bag to pass through security separate from the small duffel bag and backpack.
There might be time to purchase food after the security check, might.
And the above is one more reason everyone has to be at the airport at 5AM. Getting 80 boy scouts through security can take a little time.
You may bring solid snack foods such as pretzels, potato chips or carrot sticks for the plane -- but you may want to hold the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Single-serving packages of condiments are permitted as long as they fit within your single zip-top bag, so you can add mustard to your ham sandwich after you get through security. All food must be securely wrapped or in a spill-proof container. You may not bring gel packs to refrigerate food (though they are permitted for medication).
http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=710&category=1
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1667.shtm
Make sure the snacks are packaged and in their own ziplock bag to pass through security separate from the small duffel bag and backpack.
There might be time to purchase food after the security check, might.
And the above is one more reason everyone has to be at the airport at 5AM. Getting 80 boy scouts through security can take a little time.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Stuff to Stuff your Small Duffel Bag and Backpack
Everything goes in the big duffel bag except -
Uniforms/Underwear/T-shirts
Poncho/rain jacket
Tolietries (comb/brush, toothbrush/paste, shaving cream/razor)
(Each container must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller)
You do not need a towel or soap or shampoo on the tour. We are staying in 3 star hotels.
They are available at the hotel.
Playing cards/Reading material
Empty water bottle
Camera
Small Personal First Aid Kit (band-aids, sunscreen, moleskin, neosporin)
Any liquids must be in a zip lock bag and separate from the small duffel bag and back pack through security check.
If we have time to use the hotel laundry room the Troop will provide the detergent.
The Scout's name goes on EVERYTHING!
Knives go in the large duffel bag!
Uniforms/Underwear/T-shirts
Poncho/rain jacket
Tolietries (comb/brush, toothbrush/paste, shaving cream/razor)
(Each container must be 3.4 ounces (100ml) or smaller)
You do not need a towel or soap or shampoo on the tour. We are staying in 3 star hotels.
They are available at the hotel.
Playing cards/Reading material
Empty water bottle
Camera
Small Personal First Aid Kit (band-aids, sunscreen, moleskin, neosporin)
Any liquids must be in a zip lock bag and separate from the small duffel bag and back pack through security check.
If we have time to use the hotel laundry room the Troop will provide the detergent.
The Scout's name goes on EVERYTHING!
Knives go in the large duffel bag!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Keep Cool at Jamboree
This picture shows me wearing the cool bandana. Also pictured is Harry Bubeck (left) and John Fox Holt (center). Look how happy I am wearing my cool bandana!
Check out their website for detailed information http://coolbandanas.com/bandanas.htm
Thursday, June 24, 2010
What to bring and What to Wear
We are getting a few requests for the personal equipment list. It along with a plethora of information is on our Google Group. The list is under the Files tab at the bottom of the page. For your pleasure the content is listed here too.
_____1 Large Duffel (PROVIDED) 1 Small Duffel (PROVIDED)
_____1 Small Backpack.
3 Complete Full Uniforms
_____ 3 Scout Uniform Shirts with Jamboree Council Strip and Troop # on all 3 TWO EACH PROVIDED
_____ 3 Scout Shorts
_____ 6 Pair Scout Socks
_____ 1 Scout Belt
_____ 1 Scout Hat (PROVIDED)
_____ 1 Jamboree Neckerchief and Slide (PROVIDED)
_____5 Scout Related T-Shirts (Summer Camp, Jamboree, Troop, etc.)
_____1 Light Jacket
_____2 Pair of shoes. We recommend tennis shoes.
_____7 Pair of underwear
_____Rain Gear --- It always rains!!!!
_____1 Light Sleeping bag (mat or backpacking cot optional)
_____4 Bath Towels
_____1 wash cloth
Toiletries - bring the deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste to the airport in a clear plastic bag with your name on it. Shampoo and soap are amenities at the hotel. The large duffel bags go up early and will sit for days in a non-aircondidtioned truck - don't pack items that will explode in the heat!
_____ Soap w/plastic case
_____Toothbrush
_____ Toothpaste
_____ Mirror
_____ Comb
_____ Brush
_____ Deodorant
_____ Sun Screen (carry a small tube with you on tour)
_____ Shower Shoes
_____ Shampoo
_____ Mosquito Repellent
_____1 Swim Suit
_____Powder Soap for laundry in zip lock bag. We will
provide a box for Scouts to use. Take your own if you have allergies
_____Mesh laundry bag and eight clothes pins
_____Knife, fork, and spoon set (plates provided - just bring a BSA mess kit)
_____Cup
Other Items
_____OA Sash
_____String
_____Sunglasses
_____Water Bottle
_____Bible
_____Flashlight
_____Scout Handbook
_____1 Large Duffel (PROVIDED) 1 Small Duffel (PROVIDED)
_____1 Small Backpack.
3 Complete Full Uniforms
_____ 3 Scout Uniform Shirts with Jamboree Council Strip and Troop # on all 3 TWO EACH PROVIDED
_____ 3 Scout Shorts
_____ 6 Pair Scout Socks
_____ 1 Scout Belt
_____ 1 Scout Hat (PROVIDED)
_____ 1 Jamboree Neckerchief and Slide (PROVIDED)
_____5 Scout Related T-Shirts (Summer Camp, Jamboree, Troop, etc.)
_____1 Light Jacket
_____2 Pair of shoes. We recommend tennis shoes.
_____7 Pair of underwear
_____Rain Gear --- It always rains!!!!
_____1 Light Sleeping bag (mat or backpacking cot optional)
_____4 Bath Towels
_____1 wash cloth
Toiletries - bring the deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste to the airport in a clear plastic bag with your name on it. Shampoo and soap are amenities at the hotel. The large duffel bags go up early and will sit for days in a non-aircondidtioned truck - don't pack items that will explode in the heat!
_____ Soap w/plastic case
_____Toothbrush
_____ Toothpaste
_____ Mirror
_____ Comb
_____ Brush
_____ Deodorant
_____ Sun Screen (carry a small tube with you on tour)
_____ Shower Shoes
_____ Shampoo
_____ Mosquito Repellent
_____1 Swim Suit
_____Powder Soap for laundry in zip lock bag. We will
provide a box for Scouts to use. Take your own if you have allergies
_____Mesh laundry bag and eight clothes pins
_____Knife, fork, and spoon set (plates provided - just bring a BSA mess kit)
_____Cup
Other Items
_____OA Sash
_____String
_____Sunglasses
_____Water Bottle
_____Bible
_____Flashlight
_____Scout Handbook
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Philadephia Dinner
on the menu then you will get the Philly Cheesesteak. Most everyone ordered that. The second choice was Pizza Bagel, then there was one order for Turkey and one for Chicken Cheesesteak.
Need Your Choice!! The dinner on July 22nd is in the downtown historic district of Philly. To save time getting to Washington D.C. that night we are pre-ordering our dinner from the Bagel Factory.
_______ Philly cheesesteak on a sourdough roll
_______ Chicken Philly sandwich on sourdough roll
_______ Pizza bagel
_______ Turkey sandwich
_______ Chicken salad sandwich
served with chips, cookie, and drink.
Email wbjamboree@gmail.com with your choice. Deadline is July 5th. After than the Scout will have to suffer with a Philly Cheese Steak - Hey, its Philly!
Jamboree Tour Hotels
Here is information on our home away from home while on the tour. These are the same hotels we had in 2005
Sheraton 07/21
Lobby
Exterior View 
Sheraton 07/21
Exterior View
Lobby
This is a King room. We will be in rooms with two double beds.
And in Washington D.C.
Marriott 07/22,23,24,25
Exterior View
The Great Room
Our rooms will have two double beds
Please remember Scouts do not have phone access in their room.
We will be in the hotel room to sleep only. Our mornings are early and we get
back to the hotel late.
We will be in the hotel room to sleep only. Our mornings are early and we get
back to the hotel late.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Trip Itenerary with Websites
Below are the sights we will see on the tour. We have included websites so you can see what we will see on the tour. Everything says draft because the final version has not bee approved.
Troop 1632 & Troop 1633
Draft Jamboree Itinerary
(DRAFT)Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Leaving DFW at 7am on US Airways via Charlotte NC.
1633 stays on the plane and gets into NYC in the 1 o'clock hour
1632 gets off in Charlotte NC and boards another plane into Newark NJ getting
there in the 1 o'clock hour.
________________________________________New York
Trump Tower http://www.trumpintl.com/Hotel_Overview/Hotel_Overview.asp
Saint Patrick Cathedral http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/
NBA Store http://www.nba.com/nycstore/
Central Park Walking Tour http://www.centralparknyc.org/
Rockefeller Center http://www.rockefellercenter.com/index.php/section/2
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Thursday, July 22, 2010
________________________________________New York
U.S. Customs House http://www.preserve.org/wtc/us_customs_house.htm
Trinity Church http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/
Federal Hall http://www.nps.gov/feha/index.htm
Wall Street http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street
Ground Zero http://www.usatourist.com/english/places/newyork/worldtradecenter.html
St Paul's Church http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/
Statue of Liberty http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
Ellis Island Immigration Museum http://www.ellisisland.org/
_________________________________________Philadelphia
Independence Hall http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
Historic Philadelphia http://historicphiladelphia.org/index.php
Betsy Ross House http://www.betsyrosshouse.org/
Franklin Court http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_fcourt.htm
Elfreth's Alley http://www.elfrethsalley.org/association
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Friday, July 23, 2010
_________________________________________Washington, D.C.
Capitol Visitor Center http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
Group photo with Pete Sessions http://sessions.house.gov/
Union Station http://www.unionstationdc.com/
National Museum of the American Indian http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Lincoln Memorial http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
World War II Memorial http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
Korean Memorial http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/korean.html
Vietnam Veterans Memorial http://thewall-usa.com/
Einstein Statue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein_Memorial
Harriet's Family Restaurant... http://www.harrietsfamilyrestaurant.com/
Marine Barracks Parade http://www.mbw.usmc.mil/
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Saturday, July 24, 2010
_______________________________________
FDR Memorial http://www.nps.gov/fdrm/
Jefferson Memorial http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm
Postal Museum http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/
Washington Monument http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
Boy Scout Memorial http://www.kittytours.org/thatman2/search.asp?subject=4
Fords Theatre and Museum http://www.nps.gov/foth/index.htm
Arlington National Cemetery http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/
Wreath Laying Appointment http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/tomb_of_the_unknowns.html
Pentagon City Mall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_Centre_at_Pentagon_City
_______________________________________
(DRAFT)Sunday, July 25, 2010
________________________________________
Sunday Services for each denomination http://www.nationalcathedral.org/
Catholic Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
National Archives http://www.archives.gov/
Smithsonian Complex http://www.si.edu/
Museum of American History http://americanhistory.si.edu/
Natural History Museum http://www.mnh.si.edu/
National Art Gallery http://www.nga.gov/
Air & Space Museum http://www.nasm.si.edu/
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Monday, July 26, 2010
________________________________________
Head to the Jamboree
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - (DRAFT)Tuesday, August 3, 2010
_______________________________________
At the Jamboree
_______________________________________
(DRAFT)Wednesday, August 4, 2010
_______________________________________
Back Home via US Airways Leaving in the 1 o'clock hour EST arriving at DFW
in the 4 o'clock hour.
1632 direct flight to DFW
1633 via Charlotte NC to DFW
Troop 1632 & Troop 1633
Draft Jamboree Itinerary
(DRAFT)Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Leaving DFW at 7am on US Airways via Charlotte NC.
1633 stays on the plane and gets into NYC in the 1 o'clock hour
1632 gets off in Charlotte NC and boards another plane into Newark NJ getting
there in the 1 o'clock hour.
________________________________________New York
Trump Tower http://www.trumpintl.com/Hotel_Overview/Hotel_Overview.asp
Saint Patrick Cathedral http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org/
NBA Store http://www.nba.com/nycstore/
Central Park Walking Tour http://www.centralparknyc.org/
Rockefeller Center http://www.rockefellercenter.com/index.php/section/2
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Thursday, July 22, 2010
________________________________________New York
U.S. Customs House http://www.preserve.org/wtc/us_customs_house.htm
Trinity Church http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/
Federal Hall http://www.nps.gov/feha/index.htm
Wall Street http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street
Ground Zero http://www.usatourist.com/english/places/newyork/worldtradecenter.html
St Paul's Church http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/
Statue of Liberty http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm
Ellis Island Immigration Museum http://www.ellisisland.org/
_________________________________________Philadelphia
Independence Hall http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
Historic Philadelphia http://historicphiladelphia.org/index.php
Betsy Ross House http://www.betsyrosshouse.org/
Franklin Court http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_fcourt.htm
Elfreth's Alley http://www.elfrethsalley.org/association
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Friday, July 23, 2010
_________________________________________Washington, D.C.
Capitol Visitor Center http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
Group photo with Pete Sessions http://sessions.house.gov/
Union Station http://www.unionstationdc.com/
National Museum of the American Indian http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Lincoln Memorial http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
World War II Memorial http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
Korean Memorial http://www.nab.usace.army.mil/projects/WashingtonDC/korean.html
Vietnam Veterans Memorial http://thewall-usa.com/
Einstein Statue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein_Memorial
Harriet's Family Restaurant... http://www.harrietsfamilyrestaurant.com/
Marine Barracks Parade http://www.mbw.usmc.mil/
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Saturday, July 24, 2010
_______________________________________
FDR Memorial http://www.nps.gov/fdrm/
Jefferson Memorial http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm
Postal Museum http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/
Washington Monument http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
Boy Scout Memorial http://www.kittytours.org/thatman2/search.asp?subject=4
Fords Theatre and Museum http://www.nps.gov/foth/index.htm
Arlington National Cemetery http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/
Wreath Laying Appointment http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/tomb_of_the_unknowns.html
Pentagon City Mall http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_Centre_at_Pentagon_City
_______________________________________
(DRAFT)Sunday, July 25, 2010
________________________________________
Sunday Services for each denomination http://www.nationalcathedral.org/
Catholic Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
National Archives http://www.archives.gov/
Smithsonian Complex http://www.si.edu/
Museum of American History http://americanhistory.si.edu/
Natural History Museum http://www.mnh.si.edu/
National Art Gallery http://www.nga.gov/
Air & Space Museum http://www.nasm.si.edu/
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Monday, July 26, 2010
________________________________________
Head to the Jamboree
________________________________________
(DRAFT)Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - (DRAFT)Tuesday, August 3, 2010
_______________________________________
At the Jamboree
_______________________________________
(DRAFT)Wednesday, August 4, 2010
_______________________________________
Back Home via US Airways Leaving in the 1 o'clock hour EST arriving at DFW
in the 4 o'clock hour.
1632 direct flight to DFW
1633 via Charlotte NC to DFW
Sunday, May 2, 2010
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Jamboree Update
Harry and Brian were on a Jamboree Scoutmaster Conference Call last week for Subcamp 16 at Jamboree. One important note from the conference call -
Any questions or needs on Jamboree Medical forms will be emailed direct to each Scout/Parent's email on file with their myscouting.org account. This is the account every member created to register for the Jamboree last Summer. Harry and Brian made sure every form was complete and every page had the Scout's bar code. That said, please let us know if you receive an email from Jamboree Medical.
The Council Jamboree Shakedown is next weekend, Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2 at Camp Wisdom. Please pack for a normal overnight campout. Please do not bring a tent.
Please arrive at Camp Wisdom by 9am. Carpooling is encouraged. Every Scout should eat breakfast before they arrive. Saturday lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast are provided. Please plan on having all Scouts leave at 12 noon on Sunday. Sunday lunch is not provided.
The eight Jamboree adult leaders will arrive at Camp Wisdom Friday afternoon April 30th and will meet everyone Saturday morning.
This is a mandatory campout to attend the Jamboree. It is a National requirment of every Council contingent. All fourteen troops from Circle Ten will be camping at Wisdom this weekend.
Please arrive in full uniform. We will be taking pictures of every Scout.
During the weekend we will set up camp in the same campsite formation we will use at the Jamboree. We will test our equipment and how our combined dining area will work. We will work on our camp gateway and sleep in the same tents we will use at Jamboree. We will have a blast doing it!
The shakedown is part of your Jamboree Fee. We will not collect additional money for the shakedown.
We will hold our last Troop meeting for 1632 and 1633 Monday May 17 at 7pm at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Skillman in East Dallas. This is the same location as the previous two troop meetings. 3204 Skillman Street, Dallas TX 75214.
Please check out our google group and our blog http://jamboree2010.blogspot.com/ for updates and Jamboree information.
We leave for Jamboree in 92 days! It is getting closer!! Can you feel the excitement??!
Questions and comments please email wbjamboree@gmail.com
Any questions or needs on Jamboree Medical forms will be emailed direct to each Scout/Parent's email on file with their myscouting.org account. This is the account every member created to register for the Jamboree last Summer. Harry and Brian made sure every form was complete and every page had the Scout's bar code. That said, please let us know if you receive an email from Jamboree Medical.
The Council Jamboree Shakedown is next weekend, Saturday May 1 and Sunday May 2 at Camp Wisdom. Please pack for a normal overnight campout. Please do not bring a tent.
Please arrive at Camp Wisdom by 9am. Carpooling is encouraged. Every Scout should eat breakfast before they arrive. Saturday lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast are provided. Please plan on having all Scouts leave at 12 noon on Sunday. Sunday lunch is not provided.
The eight Jamboree adult leaders will arrive at Camp Wisdom Friday afternoon April 30th and will meet everyone Saturday morning.
This is a mandatory campout to attend the Jamboree. It is a National requirment of every Council contingent. All fourteen troops from Circle Ten will be camping at Wisdom this weekend.
Please arrive in full uniform. We will be taking pictures of every Scout.
During the weekend we will set up camp in the same campsite formation we will use at the Jamboree. We will test our equipment and how our combined dining area will work. We will work on our camp gateway and sleep in the same tents we will use at Jamboree. We will have a blast doing it!
The shakedown is part of your Jamboree Fee. We will not collect additional money for the shakedown.
We will hold our last Troop meeting for 1632 and 1633 Monday May 17 at 7pm at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on Skillman in East Dallas. This is the same location as the previous two troop meetings. 3204 Skillman Street, Dallas TX 75214.
Please check out our google group and our blog http://jamboree2010.blogspot.com/ for updates and Jamboree information.
We leave for Jamboree in 92 days! It is getting closer!! Can you feel the excitement??!
Questions and comments please email wbjamboree@gmail.com
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