National Boy Scout Jamboree

[geffric]

My oldest son and I attended a presentation from our Boy Scout Council last night about the 2005 National Jamboree..
It looks great

Have you/your son gone to one of these??
Is it as wonderful as it looks?? Worth the cost?? My son will be 14 by the time the 2005 Jamboree comes along, is that a good age for it?

Thanks for the input..

 

[tkd lisa]

We live within about 90 minutes of the Jamboree, and visited the last one with our Cub Scout pack for a day. It was an absolutely awesome Saturday. The day visitors have a special area so that there are things for them to see and do, but we were able to mingle with the jamboree participants several places. Every Jamboree participant we spoke to was really nice. Some leaders handed out "patch trading" patches to our boys who hadn't brought any, so that all of them got to participate in this fun activity. I know that several times, the Boy Scouts made a not-so-great trade with one of our Cubs, just because our Cub was enjoying it so much. Not to say that they gave away a valuable patch for nothing, but they definitely took a patch in trade that they weren't really interested in, just to see the Cub smile.

I think that in order to go to Jamboree, your son will have to apply for a National Jamboree troop in your area. These are special troops that work together toward the Jamboree, usually led by an experienced scout master. I know that the Scout Master from our brother troop is starting the Jamboree troop for our area and has just turned over his normal pack to a new leader.

As to the money, that will vary a great deal depending on what expenses your troop will have. Do they have to outfit the troop, or will the troop already have tents, chuckboxes, etc? I know that the actual cost of the jamboree includes all meals and merit badge supplies, so even though it's pretty pricey, you won't be nickel, dimed to death once you're there.

Our former Cub Master and good friend has moved to Washington State and is planning on taking his boys (4 of his sons will be in Boy Scouts at the time) to the event, so if you want specific info, pm me and I'll hook you up with his email.

Hope you have fun!

 

[Meriweather]

My son went when he was 14 (way back in 1993!! ).
He had a wonderful time!! A "not to be missed" experience!
His troop also went to FL and DC beforehand.

His home tropp made up a den (think it depends on how many are interested) and they became part of a "troop" composed of many "dens" from other area troops.


Then 2 years later he went to World Jamboree......it was an experience of a lifetime....I'm so glad we were able to send him.

 

[Pam]

My son went in 2001 when he was 13 and loved it - even though he broke his wrist on an obstacle course the 3rd day of the Jamboree!! He stayed and still had a blast.

He is already registered for the 2005 Jamboree (since 2002!!) and is busy working and sending payments down to Council.

Patch trading is a big hit there - and there are many different events to do including: wall climbing, snorkeling, fishing, shotgun shooting, obstacle courses, mountain biking on a course, a fantastic Merit Badge Midway, great displays by the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, wonderful Daily Shows and Evening Productions.

Each Troop/Council makes Gateways to the entrances of their camps - some are quite elaborate - huge suspension bridges, a train, shark, etc.

Fourteen is a good age, as I stated earlier, DS went for the first time when he was 13 - and the older Scouts took him under their wings. He can't wait to go back and do all the events that he couldn't do after getting his cast from the Army doctors - a camo one!!

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

The Lansing (michigan) Council is having an International Camporee at thier camp...which is "up north" for them, but 3 miles from me! It is in August, and includes scouts from all over the globe. Really looking foreward to my son participating!!!

 

[Pam]

Girl Scout Leader - could you PM me with some info on your Camporee? Our Troop attends an International Camporee each August in New York - a lot of the Canadian Troops come down for it.

Thanks!

 

[ammdc7]

I am an Eagle Scout and was fortunate enough to be able to attend, I was 15 at the time and absolutely loved it! i highly recommend not only this trip but also a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, I did that trip twice and want to go back again. Not only do these trips really help Boy Scouts grow, it gives them an appreciation for what Scouting really means. I was made fun of throughout grade school for being a Boy Scout, but no one ever said a word when I was awarded my Eagle, seeing all the doors that opened for me immediately. I hope he gets to go and of course let me know if I can answer any questions or help in anyway.

 

[Disfan1]

Hey, maybe we could have a DIS meet at the Jamboree! My DS will be there (he'll be 15) and DH & I are planning to visit during the day. We live in FL and DS's cost to attend is about $1,200 That covers transportation, food, etc. so it's not as bad as it sounds. Hope he decides to sign up. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

 

[Pam]

Congratulations ammdc7 on achieving Eagle Scout! My DS received his Eagle pin/rank last June. He went to Philmont last July-August and would love to go again! He is also interested in attending Sea Base and Northern Tier and will be traveling to Iowa this summer for NOAC.

 

[Krisu]

My DS went in 2001 and is still talking about it, he was 13 at the time, the troop had many, many fundraisers. DH and I visited and were there for the closing ceremonies, I still get chills thinking about it. Being among thousands of scouts all singing "Proud to be an American" I also just remembered this...when he brought home his laundry and I opened it, it actually brought tears to my eyes I've been a nurse for 25 years and have been exposed to all sorts of odors, so this had to be really bad.

 

[Geoff_M]

I "attended" my first as a scout visiting with my troop in 1977. We went back in 1981. They are a fantastic experience. I missed the one in 1985 because I was in college. I took my first troop to visit the 1989 Jambo as an adult leader. In all these cases, I was only a day visitor and not an official participant.

That changed in 1993... for that Jamboree I was one of the Assistant Scoutmasters for our council's Jambo continguent. In 1997 I was selected as the Scoutmaster. I then jumped to the Jamboree Staff for 2001 and worked in the commissary for Subcamp 11. Last month I got my "job offer" letter to do the same in 2005. I'm also the troop committee chairman for our council's troop. If anyone has any questions about the Jambo, I'd be more than happy to answer them.

Jamboree's are one of the mountain-top experiences of scouting. It's just you and 35,000 of your best friends camping together for 8 days in Virginia. The BSA's national jabmoree is the largest of its kind in the world... and larger than even the World Jamboree! No regional jamboree event comares either. The price isn't cheap... but it's worth every penny. That's one of the reasons why we start recruiting scouts so early. It allows time to get those dollars saved up. Our fee (transportation, 2 days in Washington DC, food, rafting trip, etc. plus the National Fee for the Jambo itself of $595) comes to $1,500

 

[geffric]

Thanks for the help...Sounds like this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him...

Our council is charging $1700.. they will be gone for 17 days, 1 day at Gettysburg, 3 days in DC , then the Jambo and after is white rive rafting trip..Plus the scounts get a backpack, duffle bag and fanny pack...

My son really wants to go.. and we have explained that he needs to pay 1/2..

How many patches will he need to trade???
At the meeting, the council told us that our patches were the big patch to get last time.. it was the Blues bros..

ammdc7 congrats on your Eagle.. DS#1 is Star right now but will be Life by the time Jambo comes around...

 

[Pam]

Geoff - did you attend the '77 Jamboree at Moraine??

 

[Krisu]

Re: patches to trade
When my DS went, we also bought a lot of older, outdated patches that were cheap at our local Scout Shop. It's nice for them to have something to trade since they encounter so many kids.

 

[Geoff_M]

Geoff - did you attend the '77 Jamboree at Moraine??

You mean "More Rain" don't you?!?!? I visisted there in '77 and '81, but not as an official participant. Those are the events that got me hooked on Jambo's.


geffric,

The "Blues Bros." patch was a nice one. The answer to "How many patches do you need?" is a relative one. The answer is "Take as many as you want to trade." I took about 60 of our council's (we had a good one too... "Snap, Crackle, and Pop") As far as "out dated" patches goes, remember the trading adage "Like for like". Old summer camp and camporee patches are good for trading for the same from other councils. But most of the trading "traffic" is in council shoulder patches, OA flaps, and the special council Jamboree shoulder patches.

$1,700 for a long once-in-a-lifetime (for most kids... and the next Jambo isn't until 2010) isn't bad. It could be worse, the West Coast scouts are often paying more than twice that rate to attend!

 

[Pam]

You mean "More Rain" don't you?!?!?

(I live very close to there - in fact, that's our Council!!)

The Blues Brothers Patch was a HUGE hit - in fact, our Council Patches were sooooo butt-ugly that I bought several the Blues patches and that's what my DS used to trade!!

He also has the Snap, Crackle, Pop patch - and it's a favorite of his also!