2013 National Scout Jamboree Wraps Up After 10 Days of Excitement and Adventure at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve

Approximately 40,000 Youth and Adults Participated in a Celebration of Scouting

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Jul 23, 2013, 09:00 ET

MOUNT HOPE, W. Va., July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, approximately 40,000 Scouts, Venturers, volunteers, and staff from across the nation who explored and enjoyed the expansive new Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve during the 2013 National Scout Jamboree will head home. The jamboree took place July 15–24 at the Summit in West Virginia. From high adventure to interactive educational exhibits, youth were able to develop the knowledge, skills, and character to understand the importance of service to others and good citizenship, all while having fun with their friends.

"The Boy Scouts of America thanks all of the Scouts, volunteers, philanthropists, and partners who helped make the grand opening of the Summit and the 2013 National Scout Jamboree a huge success," said Wayne Brock, chief Scout executive, Boy Scouts of America. "This site began as a vision that many people shared, and the last 10 days have demonstrated that West Virginia is the perfect place for our young people to take in the fun and adventure that are fundamental to the full Scouting experience."

Throughout the 10-day event, Scouts participated in adventures unlike anywhere else, including more than five miles of zip line challenge courses, 36 miles of mountain bike trails, and 13 acres of shooting sports, as well as kayaking, rock climbing, bouldering, skateboarding, BMX, and various other activities.

Participants camped out with friends, met new people, tried high-adventure activities, learned new skills, enjoyed the outdoors, and had fun in an atmosphere of Scouting fellowship. The positive impacts went beyond the borders of the Summit, as approximately 30,000 youth completed more than 250,000 hours of community service at 350 projects at sites in McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Greenbrier, Summers, Nicholas, Wyoming, and Fayette counties. Through activities such as clearing brush, performing repairs, cleaning litter, painting, planting, constructing walkways and shelters, and pouring concrete, the total volunteer hours of these projects are estimated to be valued in the millions of dollars.

Since the first jamboree was held in 1937, it has become known as the BSA's most iconic event, allowing Scouts from all backgrounds, faiths, and cultures to have experiences and create memories to last throughout their lifetimes. Located on a sprawling 10,600 acres in West Virginia's world-renowned adventure sports region known as the New River Gorge, the Summit is now the permanent home for the Boy Scouts of America's national jamboree. The Summit will also host the 2019 World Scout Jamboree and begin offering an array of high-adventure base programs beginning in June 2014.

Plans for the Summit began in 2007, when BSA leadership began looking for a new home for the national jamboree. After reviewing more than 80 sites in 28 states, the BSA chose the property in West Virginia in 2009. The Summit project was initiated through a generous donation of $50 million from the

S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund. Large gifts from Jim Justice, the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, Ed and Jeanne Arnold, Terrence and Peggy Dunn, J. Brett Harvey, the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation, Mike and Gillian Goodrich, and Philip Condit helped build much of the reserve. Many other donations have been contributed as the project has progressed. The BSA also had a number of partners, including the state of West Virginia, the city of Mount Hope, Fayette County, New River Gorge Economic Development Authority, the National Park Service, West Virginia National Guard, Fayette County Commission, and many others who have played an instrumental role in the Summit's development.

To learn more about the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve and the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, please visit https://summit.scouting.org.

About the Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be "Prepared. For Life.®" The Scouting organization is composed of 2.6 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and more than a million volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

SOURCE Boy Scouts of America