Photo By Sgt. William White | Scouts with the Trans Atlantic Council from Europe pose for a photo at the 2013...... read more read more
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SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE, W. Va. - The National Scout Jamboree, for many scouts and adventurers, is the experience of a lifetime. The event that offers more high-action adventure than an Indiana Jones film, only runs every four years and has room for just about 40,000 scouts.
Among those 40,000 this year, were sons and daughters of service members who are currently serving over seas.
“These scouts come from bases throughout Europe and most everyone’s parents are active duty military,” said Kirstin Reed, lead advisor for the Venture Crew with Transatlantic Council, and former Scoutmaster of Troop 303, Hohenfels, Germany.
During the jamboree, the scouts scale a mountain full of activities. Zip lining, white-water rafting, mountain biking, and skateboarding are all done on state-of-the-art structures and facilities. The classics, like archery and rock climbing are still available and have also taken a new form.
“There’s just so many activities in one place,” said Nathan Curtis, a life scout in the Trans-Atlantic Council from Germany. “The ability to come over here to attend a national jamboree is an amazing experience.”
Though their organizations are overseas, the Trans Atlantic scouts’ troops still share the same interests and values, Curtis said.
“We’re all in to camping and doing high adventure activities,” said Curtis. “Whenever we’re in one place, we’re all getting along and we’re all having a great time.”
“The jamboree is awesome,” Reed said. “Its really special for us all to come together, 80 of us, and enjoy it.”
Reed said that scouting is a great way to teach the youth leadership and character development.
“You’re developing a youth who embraces a work ethic, honesty and good friendships,” she said.
The scouting organizations in Europe help their youth build long-lasting friendships, Reed said.
“It’s a big community. It gives the youth a sense of home and stability and it just helps with the whole overseas living,” said Curtis.
Reed said for those stationed overseas, the Boy Scout troops are shaped around the military community.
“We depend on our soldiers,” said Reed. “Soldiers volunteer to come in and teach fishing lifesaving skills or just giving their time is a vital part to the program.”
Reed said it is important for their organization to have support of the military community overseas and invites service members stationed in Europe to participate.
“Trans Atlantic Council is the council of the Boy Scouts of America in Europe and we cover Italy all the way up to Norway and England and if you or your youth are interested in getting involved its tac-bsa.org,” she said.
“Anyone who isn’t over here, get over here,” said Curtis. “Its an amazing time and you’re missing out on a great opportunity with the boy scouts and adventure scouts.”
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2013 12:22 |
| Story ID: | 110712 |
| Location: | SUMMIT BECHTEL RESERVE, WEST VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 181 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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