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The World Comes
to West Virginia
KATLIN SWISHER, PH.D.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
In July, Glen Jean, WV, played host to the 2019 World Scout Jamboree,
which allowed scouts from across the globe to experience everything wild
and wonderful about the Mountain State.
More than 43,000 Scouts and their leaders descended upon
the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, WV, this July for
the 24th World Scout Jamboree. This event is notable for two
reasons: it was the largest World Scout Jamboree to date, and
it was the first time the event was held in West Virginia.
“The size and location of the jamboree made for a lot of
different programming needs,” says Marty Walsh, executive
director of the 2019 World Scout Jamboree. “The Scouts had
a lot more to choose from at this World Scout Jamboree than
any other. It kept them pretty busy, which was good.”
The Summit Bechtel Reserve offered a unique venue for the
World Organization of the Scouting Movement, the overarching
organization that plans the world jamboree.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE
“For most world Scout jamborees, the actual location where
the jamboree takes place is usually an open field or part of a
park that someone is planning to develop,” says Walsh. “It’s
usually a flat area with tents for participants and tents for
programs, and a lot of time is spent laying utility lines prior
to the jamboree. The big difference with this world jamboree
was the summit because it was already a developed camp with
a lot of adventure areas.”
Because of the limited space at most jamboree sites, the
World Scout Jamboree typically emphasizes social programming
focused on leadership development and team building. The
summit changed the game with its built-in adventure areas—
zip lining, rock climbing, mountain biking, shooting sports