August 22, 2001

Scouts attend national Jamboree

By LISA PERKINS
Herald staff writer
       Thirty-five boys from northern Michigan had an experience they will never forget this summer. The boys, along with four adult leaders from Troop 1131, traveled to the 2001 National Boy Scout Jamboree in Fort A. P. Hill, Va. to join more than 40,000 other Scouts for the ten-day event.
      Every four years, thousands of Scouts gather to enjoy the experience of camping with other young people from across the country and around the world.
      Scouts also have the opportunity to participate in activities such as scuba diving, rappelling, archery and kayaking. From just before sunrise until well after sundown, there are plenty of activities that would make a Scout very hungry. In fact, more than 240,000 breakfast sausage links and 14 miles of submarine sandwiches were served at the mess tent.
      “I learned a lot of interesting stuff,” said 15-year-old Jason Lindberg, a sophomore at Traverse City Central High School.
      “We studied different areas of the medical field, waste water treatment and conservation. I really liked the special program activities, like the one ‘Boy’s Life’ had about journalism.”
      Colin Dunn, a 16-year-old junior at West Senior High agreed, adding “I really enjoyed going with all the kids and making new friends. It made me realize you really need to take advantage of every moment.”
      Rain and severe weather played havoc with some of the events planned for the Jamboree. President Bush was scheduled to make an appearance at the closing arena show, but had to send a tape recorded message when the event was postponed due to rain.
      Despite some interference from Mother Nature, the boys weren’t the only ones to find the Jamboree trip worthwhile, assistant scoutmaster Chris Stein thought the trip was unforgettable.
      “The thing that most impressed me was seeing 40,000 plus boys, all with one affiliation, it was just mind boggling. Everywhere you looked it was just Scouts, Scouts, Scouts. There was no animosity or competition, no matter where they came from in the states or the world, they were all just Scouts.”