Our Westchester-Putnam Council sent a contingent of four Jamboree troops including 161 scouts and leaders. Additionally, several more adults served as National Jamboree Staff, some arriving as much as eight days before the troops to setup the event.

The buses and trucks rolled into Fort A. P. Hill, VA on the morning of July 26th, and setup began immediately at Subcamp 3. The four WPC troops were located adjacent to each other. Many of the scouts began exploring the Jamboree at one of the four Action Centers located among the subcamps. Each of these, including one across from Subcamp 3, offered climbing/rappelling, BMX bikes, pioneering/confidence courses, shooting, etc.

At the Opening Arena show, scouts and scouters were greeted by an Army skydiving team, a flyover by three F16 Navy jets and several bands. President Obama sent a videotaped greeting. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, himself an Eagle Scout, was the morning's featured guest speaker. Secretary Gates gave an inspiring speech, speaking to the scouts not as a government leader, but as only a fellow scout and scouter could. The text of his speech - worth reading - can be found here: 
Other speakers included Caressa Cameron, the current Miss America.

Over the coming days, many scouts would hike over to the Merit Badge Midway, where 100 Merit Badges were represented. Scouts could do partial, and in some case complete badge requirements. Remote areas offered aquatics badges, such as the new Scuba MB.

Interactive displays and features included a NPS Environmental Area, the OA's Mysterium Compass and Vault, the Technology Quest exhibit, an Armed Forces Activity Area, Boy's Life, a scout run on-air radio FM station, booths from various religious denominations active in scouting, historical displays, and many more. There were also displays and activities run by Sea Scouts and Venturers. Plus of course, the trading posts.

Then there was patch trading. (Personally, I did not realize the widespread popularity of this…). It seems throughout the week the intensity of this pastime grew, with hundreds of simultaneous transactions happening roadside, in campsites, just about everywhere. Our scouts also traded not only with scouts from all 50 states, plus Puerto Rico but mingled with international scouts from Mexico, Costa Rica, Scotland,, Australia, Egypt, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago and more. These I've seen – I heard 29 countries were represented.

The Saturday evening Arena show was nothing less than spectacular for the 45,000 Jamboree “residents” and 25,000 visitors. Featured speaker Mike Rowe, of the TV show "Dirty Jobs", another Eagle Scout, connected with the scouts. Mr. Rowe was a hit with the audience, reminding all that a Scout is clean, but should never be afraid to get dirty. His underlying message had to do with doing what is uncomfortable, dealing with it, and even learning to like it. There were several musical performers although the evening was clearly topped off by the alternative rock band Switchfoot, who absolutely rocked the arena, bringing the scouts (and even some of the scouters) to their feet. Band leader Jonathan Foreman left the stage during “Stars” to stroll among the scouts in the audience and initiate a "group photo"– you can see it here.  The show ended with the largest fireworks display ever on a military facility.

Sunday (and Saturday) offered over 24 separate religious services for attendees.

It was a special ten days. The next National Jamboree is scheduled to be held at the BSA's own preserve (The Bechtel Summit) in West Virginia in 2013.

View Photos of the Jamboree