Baldwin Boy Scouts Travel to West Virginia for National Jamboree

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Every four years the Boy Scouts of America get together to hold a massive National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. Attendance usually falls around 30,000 scouts and scouters from around the nation.

The BSA Mobile Area Council has sent a contingency of 36 youth scouters and four adults to the Summit this year. There are 24 boys from Baldwin County, two from Washington and Clarke Counties, and 10 from Mobile County.

The Jamboree has a wide range of activities for scouts to participate in over the 10-day summer camp, including white water rafting, a zip line course, BMX biking, a professional grade skate park, shooting sports, and on occasion there will be a special guest to teach merit badges and perform concerts.

“I'm overexcited,” said scout Alex Fraccaro, from Fairhope, as the group traveled by bus from Alabama to West Virginia yesterday.

Taylor Hartley, of Baldwin County added, “I don’t know what to expect but I’m excited.”

One of the highlights of the Jamboree is patch trading. The Mobile contingency's patch set is expected to be one of the most valuable at the Jamboree. All the scouts are very enthusiastic and ecstatic about all of these exciting events taking place at this historically important event.

The 2017 BSA National Jamboree is guaranteed to be a blast for everyone.

Editor’s note: Jack Marlow is a member of Boy Scout Troop 47 in Fairhope. He is attending the National Jamboree and serving as a “BSA Hometown Correspondent” at the event. He will file daily reports from the Jamboree.