Scouts Stay in Shape at 2010 Jamboree

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Aug 02, 2010, 12:10 ET

FORT A.P. HILL, Va., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of Scouts are living up to their promise to keep themselves physically strong this week at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree by taking part in activities—such as BMX, rappelling, swimming, scuba, and bikathalon—that promote physical fitness, coordination, balance, and good health.

In his address at the opening arena show on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates cited the BSA's strength in promoting youth fitness. "We live in an America today where the young people are increasingly unfit," Gates said. "At a time when many American young people are turning into couch potatoes and, too often, into much worse, Scouting continues to challenge boys and young men by preparing them for leadership."

Fitness is stressed to troops months before the jamboree. Scouts and leaders strengthen their bodies and their fitness knowledge with engaging activities and BSA online training. Before a Scout can be admitted to the jamboree, he must submit a physician-signed physical to be reviewed by jamboree doctors.

Once on the site, a Scout has numerous opportunities to test his physical mettle. Each of the jamboree's four action centers includes challenges such as rappelling, rock climbing, and BMX courses. More than 3,000 Scouts a day learn to rappel 40-foot towers. Thousands more climb artificial rocks. "Rappelling is one benchmark of fitness," said David Longenecker, a volunteer trainer from Lancaster, Pa. "Plus, it's a big confidence builder. And rock climbing really requires some physical conditioning, more upper body strength and coordination."

While most Scouts are fairly fit, even some of the fittest end up huffing and puffing after riding a 20-inch bicycle on an up-and-down BMX track for nearly a mile. "They have to have good balance, coordination, and a certain amount of endurance," said Fritz Knerr, assistant director of one of jamboree's four BMX courses. "Most of them go at a pretty good pace, and they're getting an aerobic workout."

Scouts with physical disabilities can also find fitness-centered activities, and other Scouts can learn what it's like to be like them. At the Disabilities Awareness Challenge Area, Scouts played "Beep Baseball," wearing glasses spray-painted black as they try to bat and field balls detectable only by the sounds they emit, as well as one-handed volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

"Now I kind of know what it feels like to be a person who really has to use a wheelchair," said James Gates, 15, of Fairport, N.Y., who tried wheelchair bowling. "It's really hard because you have to bend down while still sitting in the wheelchair."

Swimming has long been a component of BSA's fitness programs. At the jamboree's new Aquatics Center, about 400 Scouts a day swim in 50-by-100-foot pools. New this year is a program in which soldiers who lost limbs or suffered other disabilities in combat shared specially adapted scuba equipment with disabled Scouts. The soldiers have formed Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba, or SUDS.

"SUDS provided our Scouts living examples of courage and commitment that demonstrates how we can always do more than we think," said scuba staffer Jim Kuhn.

About the National Scout Jamboree

Since 1937, the National Scout Jamboree has provided unforgettable experiences for more than 650,000 Scouts and adult leaders. More than 2.9 million youth are members of the Boy Scouts of America. More information on the 2010 National Scout Jamboree is available at www.bsajamboree.org.

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SOURCE Boy Scouts of America