1997 National Scout Jamboree

For nine scouts and one adult leader from Troop 201, July meant the trip of a lifetime - 10 days at the 1997 National Scout Jamboree at Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia.

All the preceeding months of organizing, getting to know scouts from all over Greater Cleveland Council who made up the remainder of Jamboree Troops 1128 and 1129 and sewing all the patches onto uniforms paid off July 28.

After a tour of the Antietam battlefield and Harper's Ferry, an all-you-can-eat dinner and trip to a water park on the way out, 160 scouts and leaders finally arrived at the Jamboree Monday morning.

Despite a high of 105 degrees and humidity approaching that of a steam bath, camp was set up and everyone began exploring the Jamboree site. The next 10 days were filled with everything imaginable, from snorkling, kayaking, canoeing, rapelling, archery, trap shooting, and, of course, patch trading. Of course, the boys also made their own fun while in camp, sometimes to the dismay of the adult leaders.

Scouts could also "Be All that They Could Be" at the Army Action Center just down the road from camp and visit Pedro the Burro at the Boy's Life exhibit. Add in a 5K run and a part in breaking the Guiness Book of Records for fire bucket brigade and everyone had a full day, every day.

All that's left now are memories, friendships and a yearning for some scouts to return in 2001. Of course, we also took a few pictures...



A rebel soldier gives scouts a lesson in history at Antietam
during the trip from Cleveland to the National Scout Jamboree



Bryan Machala helps unload the truck at Troop 1129's site



One Western Region troop featured an Imperial Walker as its gateway



President Clinton waves to scouts at the opening show.



The raft encounter was just an excuse to cool off in the lake



Rapelling was one of the more popular attractions at the Action Centers



And some, like the SPL, became afflicted with patch trading disease



Chip DuMound reads Jamboree Today at breakfast



Mike Zayd and Bryan Machala take time out for a nap in camp



Jamboree veteran Michael "Bobo" Weeks dreams of spreadables



Jake Kaskey and Eric Drda make sure 3rd Assistant Scoutmaster
David Distelhorst doesn't miss breakfast



Ever ingenious, some plastic, soap and water turned a rainy Sunday
afternoon into a body surfing contest



Scouts from the Central Region march to the final Arena show



The pyramids of A. P. Hill form while waiting for
the bucket brigade



Photos by Mark Duncan