The jamboree at the Summit will deliver a world-class program experience – more diverse, more intense, higher energy and more physically challenging than ever before. My name is Russell Smart, and I am the volunteer team leader for all program activities at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree.
[pullquote]Jamboree at the Summit will deliver a world-class program experience – more diverse, more intense, higher energy and more physically challenging than ever before. [/pullquote]
All of our high-adventure program venues will offer two types of activities, which we have designated as “elective” and “curriculum.” Elective activities are a lot like those which we offered at past jamborees in our regional Action Centers. These are designed to let a lot of participants have the chance to do them and then move on to the next thing.
Curriculum activities are new to the Summit jamboree experience. These are designed to let a limited number of participants spend an extended period of time doing a particular activity.
Everybody at the Summit jamboree will get the chance to do both types.
Have You Registered For The Summit?
In late 2012, each of our registered youth participants will be given the chance to tell us what their most desirable choices would be for 2 half-day curriculum-style activities. The list will include multiple choices from each of our exciting program venues — climbing and rappelling, shooting sports, BMX and extreme sports, mountain biking, aquatics and scuba, nature and conservation, and even off-site outfitter adventures like whitewater rafting and technical rock climbing.
Obviously, it will be impossible for everyone to do everything that will be available at the Summit in just one visit. Even 10 days at the jamboree is not enough. But everyone will be assigned curriculum choices in two of their favorite program activities. It’s important that you register for the Jamboree as soon as possible and start thinking about what two curriculum choices will be your favorites. We really think you’re going to like this new program design.
Want More Updates?
Each month, the Summit Blog will feature one of the program elements that will be offered at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. And there’s no better place to start than with what is perhaps the very best new program activity for our Summit jamboree experience: whitewater rafting on the New River.
The New River Gorge, located adjacent to the Summit, is a spectacular setting for adventure, filled with natural scenic beauty and abundant wildlife. Through this gorge runs the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world. Flowing north from North Carolina into Virginia and West Virginia, it runs counter to the lay of the Appalachian Mountains and is a spectacular setting for adventure.
The New River Gorge in West Virginia is a geological feature so stunning and impressive that it is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” It is so unique that the New River has been declared both a national river and an American heritage river.
The New River has many moods — tranquil, playful, exhilarating, intense and raging. If you choose whitewater rafting as one of your possible jamboree curriculum activities, you will not regret it. You will experience one of the best whitewater rafting adventures in America, as well as travel through a unique landscape of rapids, pools and drops.
Your trip may be on the section of the river that includes Class II and III rapids that are relatively mild in nature. Or it may be on a section that has rapids ranging from Class II to Class V. There will be more details on the variety of possible trips when the choices are posted for you to select.
In the meantime, look for special Summit jamboree program patches in your local Scout shop related to each month’s blog. And we would love feedback from you anytime about anything related to the jamboree program.
Have you been whitewater rafting in the past? If so, tell us where in the comments below!