2013 National Jamboree

Although 2013 seems like a long way from now, planning for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree is well underway and the Western Massachusetts Council is making plans to send a Troop of Scouts as well as a quarter of a Venture Crew. You and your Scouts can be part of this historic National Scout Jamboree, the first one to be held at the new permanent site at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.

Some highlights of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree include:

• Smaller camping footprint (1,000 acres) than Fort AP Hill (5,000 acres)
• Maximum distance to arena from any subcamp will be 1.5 miles
• Twenty subcamps organized into five villages
• Permanent camp sites with bathroom facilities
• Underground electricity and fiber optic cable for the entire site
• Plans are to utilze mobile technology to provide programming, data and individual schedules
• Jamboree will provide all troop equipment - tents, cooking equipment, etc.
• Program will be more diverse, more intense, and have a higher energy level than previous Jamborees
• Merit badges connected to program areas rather than a `merit badge midway'
• Check out all the highlights on the 2013 National Scout Jamboree website

Registration

Registration for adult and youth staff members of the Jamboree, adult council contingent leadership and youth participants is now open. All registrations for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree are completed electronically through the Jamboree website. All you need to do is create an account, which you can link with your MyScouting account, if you have one, through your membership ID number.

If you are interested in attending the National Scout Jamboree, we strongly encourage you to apply now. Application instructions are available online:

• Youth contingent applicants
• Contingent leader applicants
• Jamboree staff applicants

Qualifications for contingent leaders are available online:

• Boy Scout Troop
• Venture Crew

Council Process

Once your application is received electronically by the Western Massachusetts Council, you will be notified of receipt of your application and will be given some additional details on the timeline of review and approval.

Estimated Cost

The Council Jamboree Committee will attempt to keep costs as low as possible and will strive to make additional fundraising opportunities available to all participants. All staff applicants will pay the standard fee of $850 if they are 26 years old and older or $425 if they are 16-25 years old, plus furnish their own transportation to and from the Jamboree. Contingent leaders and participants will pay the Council Jamboree Contingent fee, which will include the $850 event fee and all associated costs with pre-Jamboree meetings and experience, travel to and from the Jamboree and a tour of some historical places (like Washington, DC) on the way to or from the Jamboree. This cost will be roughly $1,800.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly. We are very excited about the upcoming 2013 National Scout Jamboree and will work to help you and your Scouts get down to this historic Jamboree!

Yours in Scouting,

John Willemain
Council Activities Chair

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