3 Tewksbury Scouts Among 72 Boy Scouts With Special Memories of 2013 National Jamboree

The Yankee Clipper Council contingent of 72 Boy Scouts and 8 leaders returned home with new experiences and memories from the first-ever National Jamboree held at The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia, the Jamboree’s new permanent location.

“What we saw was nothing less than spectacular,” said Richard Lynch, Jamboree Scoutmaster from Peabody. “The Summit site is outstanding, given the fact that ground was just broken a little over three years ago. This is a world-class venue. One of the longest zip lines, a huge skateboard park, a seemingly endless rock wall, miles of mountain bike trails, aquatics activities – everything is big.”

First Assistant Jamboree Scoutmaster Jonathan Dixon, from Chelmsford, agreed. “I think the biggest thing about this Jamboree is that it was definitely Scouting done large.  Each activity area took pieces of the Scouting program and did them in a big way.”  

At dinner each night, “the discussions around the tables consisted of patch trading, how far it was to walk to everything, and how great everything was,” Lynch said. “The biggest complaint – aside from the rain, long walks and cold showers – were the long lines at the events. Several leaders volunteered to work at some of the sites to help out the Jamboree staff. This help was very much appreciated by all.”

Dixon said, “I think perhaps the best thing for group togetherness was the Day of Service. We were able to help the community. Other groups did service for a wide variety of local community organizations, and everyone who talked about the program mentioned how impressed the recipients were that the Scouts were willing to take time away from their other activities to help out complete strangers. It’s a real testimony to how Scouting’s core value of service, the one that helped found the Boy Scouts of America, is still relevant and meaningful for today’s youth.”

“A couple of moments that will stay with me occurred at the stadium at the Summit Center. Sitting or standing in the pouring rain, thousands and thousands of worshipers attended Sunday services, undeterred, to remember a Scout is reverent. At another event, the stadium show, it was hard not to be moved when 40,000 plus Scouts, Scouters and Venturers recited the Scout Oath. Hearing all of the voices in unison, one knows that Scouting has a strong future,” Lynch said.

He added, “Everyone came home from the Jamboree with something different; either by way of a highly sought after patch set, or something a little less tangible like memories and friendships that will last.”

“I would encourage anyone to attend future Jamborees,” Dixon said. “They are great experiences.”

A small piece of Yankee Clipper Council remains at The Summit. Lynch explained, “A rock was ‘liberated’ from Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation [one of the Council’s camps]. It had been engraved and will become part of the fire ring being constructed at the Peace Garden. Councils from across the country did the same thing, symbolizing that what really makes the Summit is the youth who will enjoy this venue for years and generations to come.”

Also serving as Jamboree leaders were Rich Kingsborough, Chelmsford; Jody Barton, Peabody; Christopher Ellen, Amesbury; Jon Ellen, Amesbury; Dave O’Brien, Amesbury; and Fred Rossi, Manchester. In addition 22 adult volunteers from the Council served on the Jamboree camp staff including Council President Michael Jewell of Amesbury.

Yankee Clipper Council’s Jamboree group toured monuments and museums in Washington, D.C. on the way down. Their trip home included a visit to Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The group returned home on July 26.

For more information online about the 2013 National Jamboree, please visit https://summit.scouting.org/en/Jamboree2013/

About Yankee Clipper Council, Boy Scouts of America

Yankee Clipper Council, Boy Scouts of America, headquartered at 36 Amesbury Road in Haverhill, Massachusetts, serves 7,700 young men and women, ages 6 to 20, through 232 Scouting units in 52 cities and towns of Northeast Massachusetts and Southeast New Hampshire. In the past year, 181 young men achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, a 3 percent increase over the previous year. The Eagle Scout projects led by those Eagle Scouts represent over 13,000 service hours in their communities. The Council’s Boy Scouts earned 6,522 Merit Badges. The Council’s Cub and Boy Scouts recorded over 15,000 days of camping on Council properties. For more information, visit yccbsa.org or contact Kevin Nicholas at 978-372-0591 or knichols@bsamail.org.