Sudbury Scouts Make Strong Showing at National Jamboree

This summer, eighteen youth members and three adult members from Sudbury’s scout troops participated in Scouting’s flagship event, the National Jamboree, which is held once every four years.  This year’s Jamboree took place July 15-24 at the brand new 10,600-acre Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, in the world-renowned New River Gorge adventure sports region of West Virginia.  In total, approximately 40,000 participants from all over the United States and 24 other countries attended the Jamboree.

The Sudbury scouts participated in exciting outdoor adventure activities at the Jamboree, including more than five miles of zip line challenge courses, 36 miles of mountain bike trails, 13 acres of shooting sports, BMX courses, skateboarding parks, water obstacle courses, as well as white water rafting, kayaking, dragon boat racing, SCUBA, rock climbing, rappelling, and other activities.  Scouts participated daily in the adventure activities of their choosing, visited exhibits, attended large-scale shows, and witnessed a massive fireworks display.

Science, technology, and sustainability were key themes at this year’s Jamboree.  Exhibits and programs along these lines included Technology Quest, a hands-on technology center, and the Sustainability Treehouse, a 125-foot tall self-powered and self-sustaining educational structure that demonstrated the benefits of consuming energy conservatively and recycling resources.

The Jamboree also was visited by dignitaries and other leaders in their respective fields, who made speeches, performed, and mingled with the scouts.  Notable guests included His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, television host and Eagle Scout Mike Rowe, rock band 3 Doors Down, country band Taylor Made, Wounded Warrior Army Colonel Lawrence Dahl, astronaut Major Luca Parmitano (who conversed with the scouts through radio communications from the International Space Station), and many others.  While the sitting U.S. president is the honorary president of Boy Scouts of America and often visits National Jamborees during his term, President Obama was unable to attend this year.

Leadership in helping others is a core value of Scouting and, in that vein, participants at the Jamboree made trips from the Jamboree site to perform approximately 250,000 hours of community service in aggregate in the surrounding communities.  The value of these projects is estimated to be millions of dollars.  Scouts from Sudbury were personally thanked by the Mayor of Richwood, West Virginia, for clearing trails in his community.

On the way to the Jamboree, the Sudbury scouts spent almost two days at Gettysburg National Military Park, where they hiked the Cemetery Ridge Trail, took a guided tour, and laid a wreath at the memorial of a Massachusetts regiment.  The scouts also spent a day enjoying Hersheypark before attending the Jamboree.

The Sudbury scouts who attended this year’s Jamboree were Emmett Alkasab, Ryan Barrera, Joe Caltabiano, Remington Chin, Colton Chung, Caleb Coffin, John Curtis, Robert Curtis, Liam Dunphy, Tim Dunphy, Jake Fisher, Kenneth Ho, Michael Kossuth, Will Melick, Ivan Orup, Rick Rust, Nick St. George, and Daniel Stutman.  They were accompanied by Sudbury adult leaders Ken Chung, Jonathan Kossuth, and Chris St. George.

The Sudbury scouts are members of the three Boy Scout troops in town:  Troops 60, 61, and 63.  The troops offer all boys between the ages of 11 and 18 fun and exciting opportunities within a boy-led program that is designed to build character and leadership abilities, train the boys in the responsibilities of good citizenship, and develop personal fitness.  Each of the three troops meets weekly during the school year, and the scouts in these troops organize, lead, and enjoy outdoor adventure activities locally, nationally, and even internationally.

Sudbury is also home of Venture Crew 1776, established eight years ago by Sudbury’s three Boy Scout troops.  Venturing is the youth-led coeducational high adventure program of Scouting, and Venture Crew 1776 includes young men and women, 14 to 21 years of age, whether or not they have been involved in Scouting before.  With support from adult advisors, the youth members of Venture Crew 1776 plan and lead their chosen outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, cycling, ice climbing, whitewater rafting, and spelunking.  An open house will be held at 7:00 pm on Sunday, October 6, at Sudbury Valley Trustees Wolbach Farm Headquarters, for people interested in learning more about the Crew.

For more information about Sudbury’s Scouting units, please contact:

Troop 60 (www.sudburytroop60.com):  Mike Owens at mso978@comcast.net or Scott Fisher at sgf@nbgroup.com.

Troop 61 (www.troop61.info):  Jonathan Kossuth at jakossuth@yahoo.com.

Troop 63:  Ken Chung at krabbitc@yahoo.com.