The 2005 Boy Scout National Jamboree Fort A.P. Hill, Caroline County VA. - Page 1
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The Jamboree returned to Ft. A P Hill south of Washington, D.C.
National leaders must have seen troubles brewing, the BSA was having
difficulties over issues pertaining to it’s position on social
issues. Ft. A P Hill was used on early patches, but Caroline County,
VA. was the name of the location on official Jamboree patches.
Enemies of Scouting were protesting the use of an army base. It’s
curious that the name of the location was even contemplated on
patches, they hadn’t had the location on them since 1964. Attendance is reported at about 43,000 (OA Jamboree website) and 31,700 with 7000 leaders (Wikipedia). Attendance was about on par with 2001. I’ve commented how Jamboree attendance figures are sometimes “fluid”. It’s reported that Scouts from twenty six different nations attended. The Jamboree theme was Character Not Only Counts, It Multiplies. Until I started this research, I’d never heard that. The opening was marred when four adult leaders were killed in an electrical accident while setting up camp. George W. Bush was President, he received a warm welcome and delivered an inspirational message that was complimentary of Scouting. |
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| Participants received two blue rolled edge embroidered patches, one neckerchiefs, an official I D card, and a Scout Guide to the Jamboree. Adults received a blue rolled edge 3” patch while youth received a 2 3/4” blue rolled edge patch to accommodate segments. A black rolled edge, 3” patch was available at the Trading Posts. Nick DeMarco told me that the staff patches weren’t available until the last day of the Jamboree, although afterwards staff members could purchase more. Technically the red border staff patches weren’t worn at the Jamboree. It’s not unusual to find 2005 Jamboree uniforms of those that served on staff with the blue border patch. The red patch is not scarce, there were 7000 staff members. |
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 Reviewing this eighteen years later and with knowledge of different color borders at earlier Jamborees, the size difference seems odd. I could see the two different color borders used in 2001 to help differentiate adults from youth, but a 1/4” smaller patch would hardly be noticeable. ABOUT SIZE. The youth patch is 2 3/4” round and the adult patch is 3”. The pre-Jamboree sales catalog says the patches are 2 7/8 and 3 1/8. I have found no patches, even oddities of those sizes. |
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| It seems that the name change to Caroline County may have been made late. No one knows how many back/jacket patches exist with A P Hill. National Supply usually doesn’t usually throw hundreds or thousands of patches away. These seem to be available from some of the dealers, on eBay for $100. (10/2022) |
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| Jay Malmstrom who was on Trading Post Staff reports that each Trading Post had small quantities of the polyester neckerchief. Jay reports that on opening day a visitor bought the entire stock from each Trading Post. The polyester neckerchief, with the eagle might be one of the scarcer items from 2005. Possibly because the price was $19.95, much higher than the other neckerchiefs. They are occasionally on eBay for $40+ , but I recently bought one for face value ($19.95). Even though they are scarcer there seems to be more supply than demand. |
  The segment theme to get Scouts more involved in Jamboree activities was repeated. Five segments fit around the Scout 2 3/4” round official Scout pocket patch. The Leaders recognition from 2001 was repeated for 2005, but it wasn’t explained in the Jamboree Today. My experience is that the 2005 leaders segment is scarcer than the 2001. Perhaps there were extra made in 2001? Congratulations to leaders whose Scouts earned these segments and participated fully. |
 The 1 1/2” glue back emblem was repeated from previous Jamborees. This is such a versatile little emblem, but I don’t believe I’ve ever seen one applied to anything. |
| 2005 Jamboree 3" Pocket Patches AP Hill & Caroline County |
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| It appears that the name of the location was changed sometime before the Jamboree. The patches with A P Hill have been identified by collectors as prototypes, but it’s unknown how widely they were distributed. |
| 2005 National Jamboree 2 3/4" AP Hill & Caroline County |
 Those above have the BSA Tenderfoot emblem |
| Unique AP Hill 3" with a gold Fleur de Leis |
 These in the third row have the Fleur de Leis instead of the BSA Tenderfoot emblem. It is believed these were prototypes because of the change from the Fleur de Leis to the Tenderfoot logo. |
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word about the AP Hill patches. In 2022 some of the A P
Hill badges, both 3” and 2 3/4” can be found on eBay. Prices range
from $60 to $100. It seems that these A P Hill patches were made in
some quantities, perhaps not all colors. I am not one that believes
National BSA Supply throws away patches.There may be varieties caused by putting the wrong border color on badges with different inner circles. (To the left) - This one has the Tenderfoot logo like what I believe are the earlier types. It has both FT. A P Hill and Caroline County. I have no documentation but would guess that this might be a real prototype. |
 All of the “oddities”-prototypes shown above have the 2005, Scout Stuff backing which identifies them as having been manufactured by the BSA. I believe the BSA was getting tired, maybe angry, about all of the patches being made by “outside” sources. In 2007 BSA started licensing suppliers. There were about 11 original companies that sold to BSA councils. Licensing approved 29 companies. Only 8 of the original 11 are still in business. There were later 29 companies of which 16 are still making patches for the BSA. Thanks Kelly Williams |
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| Paul Myers Goshen,
Indiana gimogash@comcast.net |