Every four years, thousands of Boy Scouts travel to the National Scout Jamboree.
Among the approximately 45,000 participants in this year’s event are 32 Scouts, four adult leaders and a staff volunteer from the Pushmataha Area Council, which includes Oktibbeha, Clay, Lowndes, Webster, Noxubee, Monroe, Winston, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Calhoun counties. The jamboree is located at the Summit Betchel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia.
Scoutmaster Chris Driskill of Starkville told the SDN that the Pushmataha Council troop, numbered 4124, had arrived at the Jamboree on July 19, and would stay until July 28. Driskill said members of troops 45,27 and 14 out of Starkville were present at the Jamboree.
"It’s a great experience,” said Troop 4124 Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) Karl Grebner, 16. “It really helps you become more open with people.”
Grebner, a member of Troop 27 in Starkville, said he was looking forward to meeting scouts from around the world, and added that he had met scouts from overseas while attending the previous National Jamboree in 2013.
As SPL, Grebner is the most senior youth member of the troop and leads the unit with adult leaders serving as advisors. He is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting’s national honor society.
“Being SPL in jamboree troop allows me to make more friends and learn about different people,” Grebner said. “We have Scouts from several counties around Starkville. “
Grebner added that he also had the opportunity to see how other SPLs ran their troops and could bring ideas back to Troop 27, where he is also SPL.
Grebner said he looked forward to going on the canopy tour, an adventure allowing scouts at the jamboree to explore the treetops and other high-up views at Summit Betchel.
Both Grebner and Driskill said they were looking forward to seeing a special visitor to the jamboree.
On Monday morning, President Donald Trump is scheduled to pay a visit to the jamboree.
“It’s pretty cool that the President of the United States would take time out of his extremely busy schedule to hang out with the future leaders of the country,” Driskill said.
Driskill has been involved in Scouting as an adult leader since 2001 and attended the 2010 National Scout Jamboree held at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Scouts attending are given the opportunity to pursue various merit badges, as well as participate in other programs including skateboarding, BMX and zipline activities. Arena shows will also be presented.
The first National Scout Jamboree was held in 1937 on the National Mall in Washington D.C. A jamboree was scheduled for 1935, but was cancelled because of a polio outbreak in the Washington D.C. area.
“Scouting has really allowed me to develop leadership skills and motivate other people,” Grebner said. “It also develops a lot of character character.”