The 2013 Boy Scout National Jamboree, Summit Bechtel Reserve, West Virginia - Page 1
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The Jamboree moved to it’s new permanent home at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in rural West Virginia, an hour south of Charleston, about 5 1/2 hours from Washington D.C. Visiting and touring Washington DC that had been such a big part of previous Jamborees would be more difficult for many contingents.
At previous Jamborees held at A P Hill, units camped in regional
subcamps. At the Summit units, even when they were from the same
Council, might be in different subcamps. The program and activity
areas were “super sized” at the Summit with unique and often
spectacular facilities, generally away from the subcamp. The idea of
Regions seems to have been minimized in 2013. There were no Jamboree
Region patches, although a couple Regions issued a patch for the OA
at the Jamboree. I’m providing additional information about the Bechtel Summit Reserve elsewhere. The name seems to have been used in numerous ways. It’s widely referred to simply as the Summit, although most patches issued by National BSA have the full name. President Obama did not attend. In 2010 he sent a recorded message and a patch was made celebrating the message. Elsewhere I state that most politicians wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to meet 40,000+ future voters, but President Obama did not attend two Jamborees. In May 2013 the BSA voted to allow openly Gay youth in Scouting. But, the BSA still had difficulties with some scheduled performers who refused to attend because of the BSA’s stance on Gay leaders. The BSA was giving into all the demands of it’s detractors yet seemed not to gain any benefit from the changes. Why Obama did not attend is unknown. Attendance is reported at about 33.688 Scouts, Leaders and Staff with 15,700 visitors. The Jamboree theme was Go Big, Get Wild. It was stated that during the Jamboree it would be the second largest city in West Virginia. The location in West Virginia was within a 10 hour drive of 2/3 of the population of the USA. In promoting the West Virginia site is was stated that the National Jamboree would no longer be “wandering” all over the USA. I found this interesting, eight Jamborees had been held in Virginia for thirty two years. But, the basic theme of the Jamboree had changed. Rather than a gathering of Scouts by the ocean in California, or grasslands in Colorado or at a National or State Park, the new Jamboree theme was adventure and for that The Summit couldn’t be surpassed. |
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Participants received two 1 3/4”x 2 1/2” rectangular embroidered
patches. There were no special patches for youth, adults or staff
like there had been at previous Jamborees. Scouts received a
neckerchief, the one I’ve identified as Type 1, other varieties were
sold at the Trading Posts. An ID card that hung on a lanyard. A
Scout Guide to the Jamboree which had been included at previous
Jamborees was available for purchase. The earliest design for the Jamboree patch was for a 3” round patch. This design was changed to the small, 1 3/4” x 2 1/2” rectangular patch, which was ultimately issued. |
 The earliest catalog showed a round Jamboree patch, the design was changed before the Jamboree. |
 It is not known if some of the earlier 3" patches without the "R" were issued on neckerchiefs or not. |
 (to the left)-There were a number of items in the pre-Jamboree catalogs that somehow never were available at the Jamboree. This large 7 1/2” backpatch is one of those things. It sold out before the Jamboree opened and was never available again. |
| Oddities/Prototypes of the 2013 Jamboree patches |
| I’ve organized these into three types. Tall rectangles, one style with no trees to the climbers left, another with trees to the climbers left and different shapes. These are in the collection of the premier Jamboree collector. |
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This style of design is called a “shadow” patch. It was popular
during this era. In my opinion the design is a good one,
highlighting the adventures at the Jamboree, climbing, whitewater
rafting. If the patches above are protypes it appears that the
rectangular design was the favorite. Yet it’s odd that round patches
were made and originally used in some photography. The change back
to rectangular must have come as a late date. Many people were
disappointed with the small sized patch that ultimately became the
standard issue. |
 Some of the patches shown above were probably used on Jamboree gear. I’m showing the “koozie” drink cooler and the patch on the Day Pack as example. The 2 1/2” x 4” patch was issued on gear from the Calumet Council. Further research may identify others. (To the left) -After the Jamboree someone added the "universal" emblem to this official Jamboree patch. This can easily be done with modern sewing machines, there will probably be other issues someone may make up. Unofficial, but kind of umique. |
  There were at least five different hats. It’s unknown if all five had the same patch. It’s possible that some of the small rectangular patch's shown above were hat patches. |
 At previous Jamborees an Adventure Guide was provided free to registered Scouts. For 2013 the Guide was optional at a cost of $9.99. I was told on Facebook by people that attended that they had never heard of it. I was told that it was a free download, but I’ve been unable to confirm that. |
 After checking dealers sales lists and e-Bay I finally found one. When it arrived I was disappointed that for $24, I had bought a small (4” x 5”) booklet of 89 pages. But, I was delighted with the information, a fold out map, color images, etc. For $9.99 I suspect that most Scouts didn’t buy it, I found it to be a somewhat obscure item. |
 This map was in the Adventure Guide. here is interesting information about the new permanent Jamboree site and the search. It’s stated that the Summit is within a ten hours drive of two thirds of the population of the USA. |
| Official 2013 Jamboree Neckerchiefs |
 1A is the official neckerchief in the pre-Jamboree catalog. The logo is a woven heat seal. |
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Trading Post staff members report that they ran out of neckerchiefs
half way through the Jamboree. Daily shipments were send from
Charlotte, NC supply but each shipment seemed to be slightly
different. Depending on when you purchased your neckerchief, you
might have any one of the five. Some speculate that the 3” patches were “left over” after the design change to a rectangle and we used on neckerchiefs after supply ran out and that may be the case, but most of the round patches I have seen on a neckerchief have the R for Registered Trade Mark besides the fleur de leis. I purchased the green neckerchief, it was identified as a staff neckerchief, but I have been unable to confirm or deny it. Seems like only 13 years ago someone would know. |
| 2013 National Scout Jamboree Facts |
| The National Scout Jamboree |
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Scouting's flagship event is a gathering of Scouts, leaders, and
volunteer staff. Once every four years, over the course of 10 summer
days, Scouts from all over the country gather to experience
everything that is great about the Boy Scouts of America. The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve |
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The Summit is the new permanent home for the national Scout
jamboree. More than 10,000 acres near West Virginia's New River
Gorge National River area provide an exciting outdoor experience.
Scouts enjoy world-class, state-of-the-art facilities and
participate in a variety of high-adventure activities. 2013 National Scout Jamboree |
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July 15th through July 24th, 2013 2013 National Scout Jamboree Activities The 2013 National Scout Jamboree activities included mountain boarding, whitewater rafting, climbing, canopy tours, and other high-adventure activities. Scouts also participated in merit badge and vendor activities and a day of service to the community. To learn more about all of the activities available at the Summit, please visit www.summithighadventure.org. 2013 National Scout Jamboree Food Facts |
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— Lunches for staff. Scouts, and leaders were distributed at
breakfast. — Breakfasts and dinners for staff were served in a staff dining hall, which served over 250,000 meals during the jamboree. — Breakfast and dinner for leaders and Scouts were prepared by Scouts at their units' campsites. — The total pounds/number of the most popular breakfast items prepared by Scouts include: 105,000 pancakes 6,000 pounds or 120,000 strips of bacon 1,200 gallons of eggs 133,000 sausage patties — The total pounds/number of the most popular dinner items prepared by Scouts include: 42,000 pounds of chicken breast with barbeque sauce 17,000 pounds of jambalaya 67,000 burgers 14,000 pounds of Asian stir fry 21,000 pounds of beef stew 80,000 hot dogs |
| Summit Bechtel Facts |
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GLEN JEAN- As the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve (SBR)
continues to take shape near Beckley, bringing the very center of the universe
for Scouting to West Virginia, it is important to realize this world-class facility
likely wouldn’t have come to West Virginia had it not been for the land created there by former surface mining operations. The SBR facility will encompass approximately 10,600 acres along the New River Gorge area. It will be the home of the National Scout Jamboree and the Summit High Adventure Base, as well as the National Center for Scouting Excellence. The site was formerly home to several old, abandoned mining facilities. "This site clearly shows the role surface mining can play in creating new economic development opportunities for the state," said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “Even old abandoned mine sites are being seen as a resource. Imagine how much could be accomplished with the industry, communities and development officials working together to create a future for our people. It just takes vision and cooperation ... and the folks at the Boy Scouts of America have the vision. The acquisition of this property and its construction was made possible through a donation from the Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation. The $50 million donation is the largest in the history of the BSA. Development of The Summit is now in progress. Development of the infrastructure is moving forward in preparation for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. The Summit is expected to inject $25.3 million into the local economy annually. Plans for The Summit began in 2007 when BSA leadership began looking for a permanent location for the National Scout Jamboree, which had been held at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia since 1981 as well as seeking another high adventure base for the large number of Scouts who are wait-listed at the other three high adventure camps every year. More than 80 sites in 28 states were visited over an 18-month span and inspected as possible locations for the new venue. The top fifteen sites were visited and in October 2008 the list was cut to three sites: Saline County, Arkansas; Goshen, Rockbridge County, Virginia; and the New River region of West Virginia. In February 2009 Arkansas was cut from the list, leaving Virginia and West Virginia. On November 18, 2009, the BSA announced that it had chosen the West Virginia site, known locally as the Garden Grounds property, as the future home of The Summit. One of the primary reasons for choosing the West Virginia site was its adjacency to the New River Gorge National Park. More than 13 miles of the property borders the park, giving Scouts and Scouters access to more than 70,000 acres of managed wilderness beyond the Summit property. |
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| Paul Myers Goshen,
Indiana gimogash@comcast.net |