More from the Summit Blog

Shakedown’s Shakedown: Your Questions Answered [Part II]

In the last blog post we answered some questions that were asked by participants and leaders at the Summit Shakedown. This edition answers a few more.

Garden Ground Mountain Trek

The model for 2013 has some activities that are new for a national jamboree. One of these is a daylong trek to Garden Ground Mountain, which is the “summit” of the Summit. Like all activities at the Summit, it is not mandatory but will only be offered to specific units on specific days. We hope that all of our participants will take advantage of this opportunity to see the beautiful views of the West Virginia mountains and participate in all of the events on Garden Ground.

The hike will begin from the unit campsite and will be led by a member of the Order of the Arrow assigned to each unit. The length of the trek varies depending on each unit’s subcamp. The longest hike will be about six miles (from subcamp Foxtrot), and the shortest will be about three miles (subcamp Alpha). The hike is moderate, with an elevation difference of about 800 vertical feet between the subcamps and the summit. [pullquote] Units will hike a short distance downhill to an area where a barbecue dinner will be served.[/pullquote]

On the summit there will be lots of program opportunities, more than anyone can do in one afternoon. Some of these are the OA Indian Village, pioneering, buckskin games, highland games, historical reenactments, and other entertainment (take a look at a few of the earlier program blog posts for much more detail on these). Late in the afternoon, units will hike a short distance downhill to an area where a barbecue dinner will be served, and then everybody will board buses for a short trip back to the subcamp areas.

Merit Badges

The new model for the national jamboree takes a somewhat different approach on merit badges than at past jamborees. There will not be a centralized “Merit Badge Midway,” but there will be a large number of merit badge program areas spread all around the Summit Center. If they like, participants can stop by and complete some or all of the requirements of any badges that interest them. As noted in the last blog, it’s all about choices.

Here is the current list of merit badges that will be available — some of them for the first time at a jamboree (of course, this list is subject to change):

  • American Heritage
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Aviation
  • Chemistry
  • Chess
  • Cinematography
  • Citizenship in the Community
  • Citizenship in the Nation
  • Citizenship in the World
  • Collections
  • Disability Awareness
  • Electricity
  • Electronics
  • Engineering
  • Family Life
  • Fire Safety
  • Game Design
  • Genealogy
  • Golf
  • Insect Study
  • Inventing
  • Leatherwork
  • Medicine
  • Photography
  • Programming
  • Radio
  • Railroading
  • Robotics
  • Search and Rescue
  • Small-Boat Sailing
  • Soil and Water Conservation
  • Stamp Collecting
  • Surveying
  • Sustainability
  • Traffic Safety
  • Welding
  • Woodcarving

And at the various high-adventure areas, participants will also receive credit for any merit badge requirements that are completed by doing that activity.

Patch Trading

The new model for the national jamboree makes patch trading an “official” activity for all participants. The stadium lawn will become a mega-patch-trading area each evening. Our stadium staff will join with members of ISCA (International Scouting Collectors Association) in supervising this activity. For the first time, trading between adults and youth will be allowed in this supervised area.[pullquote]For the first time, trading between adults and youth will be allowed in this supervised area.[/pullquote]

The intent is not to prohibit or eliminate trading in all other areas of the Summit. However, we will encourage traders to participate in the supervised trading venue and strongly discourage impromptu trading areas springing up on every patch of vacant ground as had become the situation at Fort A.P. Hill.

I hope that the past couple of blog posts have helped answer some of your many questions.

As always, we would love feedback from you anytime about anything related to the jamboree program.

GO BIG! GET WILD!

Russell Smart - The Program Guy

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