CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There aren’t many Boy Scouts who can claim they have hosted a World Jamboree, but it will be a boast members of the Buckskin Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be able to make after next week. The Summit-Bechtel Family Scout Reserve sits in the middle of the Buckskin Council which represents a 30 county region in West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio.
“We’re sending 30 scouts to this World Jamboree,” said Buckskin Council Scout Executive Jeff Purdy. “Typically we might send eight or ten scouts, but since it’s local we’re sending three times as many scouts for this once in a lifetime opportunity.”
It’s only the second time the World Jamboree has ever been held in the United States. The last time was in 1967 in Idaho.
Members of the Buckskin Council will assist in rolling out the West Virginia welcome mat to the world.
“They’ve asked us to help greet participants at Yeager Airport as they arrive. So some of our local scout leaders and scouts will assist the World Jamboree staff,” Purdy said.
Scouts will be helping with baggage claim and directions as fellow scouts from around the world arrive and begin the final leg of their journey to Fayette County. Purdy added a number of the groups travelling to West Virginia for the event have also made plans to stop by the council headquarters in Charleston.
Purdy is most excited about what this World Jamboree will offer, which will be one of the more unique events ever held.
“This is the first time they’ll have a chance to do a multitude of high adventure activities, like whitewater rafting, rock climbing, zip-lining, mountain biking, and skate boarding,” he said. “All of those activities are available at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.”
The 12 day World Jamboree gets started Monday and runs through August 2nd.