Info Coming out on 2013 BSA National Jamboree
I’m starting to hear about some of the operations plans for the 2013 National Jamboree. Some of these include:
- There won’t be a Merit Badge midway
- There won’t be an Exhibits area other than in the Action Centers
- Staff will have to pass the Philmont trek physical
- All staff will stay in tents that might, or might not, have electricity or a floor or netting,
- Target number of participants is 13,000 – 15,000, less than 1/2 the last jamboree.
Now, inquiring minds might ask why is this so? Well, its because the place hasn’t been built yet. The BSA needs to bring in little things like water, electricity, waste treatment, roads, trails, etc.. Let alone the creation of buildings. There is, I’ve been told, an excellent amphitheater area that could hold 10’s of thousands so that’s certainly a plus.
The next question is why don’t we go back to A.P. Hill, excuse me, the military facility in Caroline County? The public answer is that the base is being re-activated and active duty personnel will be there by 2013. Maybe. And not to confuse the discussion that the base has 76,000 acres and most of the Scout activities are in wide-open fields and that creation of the Jamboree provides an excellent logistical training opportunity for the military. What the BSA needs is to have the Summit used twice for two national events in order to be eligible to host the World Jamboree. Also, it does create a motivation for getting donors to offer up resources now that there’s a pressing timeline and need.
I’ve been predicting for over 10 years that the next jamboree will have fewer JSPs than the last. I based this on the knowledge that there would be fewer councils. Well, I’m likely to be eventually correct but for different reasons.
What will be the impact on collecting? Harder to tell. There will be swapping but this may well be the smallest Jamboree ever (I’ll have to look up the numbers for 1969). Collecting I guess will be fine. Most important is that the event provides a great experience for the Scouts. It just that there will be fewer of them at this next one.
on May 15th, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Roy – the posting is very inaccurate. Almost every comment is wrong, so let me clear a few things up.
Yes, there won’t be a merit badge midway – the merit badges will be spread throughout the Jamboree site.
There will be several Exhibits areas – don’t know where you heard your statement that there will not be Exhibits.
Staff and participants will NOT have to pass a Philmont physical – the new requirements are set – and will be announced next week at the National Annual Meeting – but they are NOT as stringent as the Philmont height and weight standards. BMI of 40+ can’t come – but 32-40 can come with Medical approval. We are instituting support for getting Prepared for Adventure and hopefully with 2 years, all will make the height and weight limits. I’m the spokesman for this – and I’m down 70 pounds so far this year…
Staff will stay in village “f” and it is up a 200-300 foot hill. They will be in tents. You are correct on this one.
Finally, including the venture crews we have approved for the first time at this Jamboree (over 82 signed up so far), we will have the same number – if not more – participants at this Jamboree. Staff will be smaller but participants will be the same. The Jamboree will be substantially different. This will not be your father’s Jamboree.
The other comment that is wrong is that we need to host two events in order to host the world in 2019. In January, I was in Brazil when we were awarded the 2019 World Jamboree. We do not have to host anything before those events – we won and have been awarded the event. Scott
Sorrells from Atlanta will be appointed the 2019 Jamboree Chairman next week at the National Annual Meeting.
I suspect that there will be many more patches for this one than ever before. The Summit is amazing – I was there just last week – We can’t wait to get there for the Jamboree.
As to patch trading, we have some plans for that too…still developing.
Hope this clarifies some of your comments.
Tico
on May 15th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Tico,
Thanks for the clarifications. It is good to move from hearsay to first person accounts. (Although the source for my observations was only one level removed from a national staff person handling the Jamboree.)
Roy
on January 1st, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Hi my anme is Nicholas Baker of the Pine Bush troop 37 I think the 2013 national jamboree is a great idea. I’m willing to take my troop down to West Vergina. I’m willing to do what a scout hasn’t done before.
on April 5th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Hey if anyone is interested in picking up a really great 2013 Jambo contingent set, you can find here at http://www.scoutsiowa.org/store. The theme is John Deere equipment!