Keith Webster is a Smithsonian Student Travel Tour Consultant who specializes in special events. An Eagle Scout himself, Keith coordinated Smithsonian Student Travel's 2010 National Scout Jamboree tours. Here he shares his experience while he was on tour with fellow scouts.
I recently had the opportunity to experience what is typically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Boy Scouts from across the nation and around the globe. Many would agree that The National Scout Jamboree is the most important of all the trips in a scout’s career, and it was my pleasure not only to help them plan their trips, but to also join them.
I started my journey riding along with the contingents who booked tours with Smithsonian Student Travel before the actual Jamboree began. We enjoyed the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C., by visiting the Smithsonian museums, witnessing the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery, touring the Capitol and participating in the Grand Centennial Parade. The area around the national mall was packed with scouts, who were looking sharp in their ‘class A’ uniforms despite the 100 degree temperatures. Not only were they well dressed, but these were some of the best behaved groups I have ever seen. They lined up under the direction of their senior patrol leaders and counted off so the scoutmasters had a quick and accurate tally; it was very impressive. All of the scouts and leaders seemed to be enjoying themselves throughout the week, but they were also anticipating the events to come.
On Tuesday, July 27th, I arrived at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. Named for a Confederate General in the Civil War, Fort AP Hill is a 76,000 acre military base about 90 minutes south of Washington D.C., and it has been the site of the National Jamboree since 1981. After passing through security, there it was in front of me– an endless sea of tents, activities, vendors and sponsor booths. I spent the next two days with the councils with whom I worked so long to plan for this event. I got to visit their sub-camps where they had their tents, picnic tables and camp kitchens. However the real treat was observing the activities that were open to the scouts. I saw archery, air rifle, mountain boarding, rappelling and climbing, BMX biking, a disability awareness program, pioneering, sailing, scuba diving and much more. It was a truly awesome set up, and the scouts were all smiling and laughing. They boys cooked and ate breakfast in the morning at their campsites before roaming the Jamboree site with their friends. Most scouts didn’t return until dinner, as lunches were provided at kiosks all around the venue. I was amazed by the scale of it: the 45,000 scouts had ten days to explore, learn, earn merit badges and play all day long. I must admit that I really wanted to be a 14-year-old again for those two days. I realized then what it was that they were all waiting for while we sat in the hot sun on the steps of the Capitol.
Photo courtesy of Keith Webster
Photo courtesy of Keith Webster
See more pictures of the 2010 National Scout Jamboree.
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