[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 104 (Friday, July 19, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1101]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    17TH NATIONAL BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID B. McKINLEY

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 19, 2013

  Mr. McKINLEY. Mr. Speaker, this week close to 50,000 Boy Scouts and 
members of the Scouting community are gathering in Glen Jean, West 
Virginia for the 17th national Boy Scout Jamboree. This 10-day event 
features some of the most physically challenging events in its history, 
including rock climbing, rappelling, white water rafting and biking. 
The Jamboree is a monumental event for Scouting and is a highlight for 
the thousands of Scouts who attend.
  The first Jamboree was held in 1937 in Washington, D.C. and featured 
more than 27,000 Scouts who camped on the National Mall under the 
Washington Monument. Since that time, the Boy Scouts of America has 
held National Jamborees at several locations across the country, with 
the most recent in 2010 in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia.
  As an Eagle Scout, I could not be more proud that the Mountain State 
is hosting the Jamboree for the very first time and will serve as the 
permanent home for the event in the coming years.
  This week, thousands of Scouts from around the United States, their 
leaders and others have travelled to the new facility near the New 
River Gorge in beautiful Fayette County, West Virginia. The site, known 
as the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve, will house Scouts, 
staff and adult leaders, who will enjoy the outdoors and test their 
abilities in a number of ways. During the Jamboree, the Summit will be 
the third largest city in West Virginia.
  Also, because of its location in the beautiful mountains of West 
Virginia, physical activities will be more intense and will provide a 
more diverse terrain for Scouts of all ages. The Summit will challenge 
Scouts with programs like BMX biking, climbing, whitewater rafting, and 
gliding along one of the fastest zip line courses in North America.
  Construction of this permanent home for the national Boy Scout 
Jamboree has pumped nearly $170 million into the West Virginia economy 
over the past four years.
  The new home for the jamboree, sitting on 10,600 acres in a world-
renowned adventure sports region, will undoubtedly provide a huge 
economic boost for the state and hopefully the participants will keep 
coming back to enjoy all our stunning state has to offer.
  But the greatest impact the Summit will have will be on the thousands 
of Scouts and adults who participate. This type of impact may be not 
measured immediately, but will be felt for generations to come. I know 
that, first hand.
  As an Eagle Scout from Troop 6 in Wheeling, W.Va., I can say that the 
lessons I learned as a young man in the Boy Scouts have stuck with me 
throughout my life and guided my decisions in my personal and 
professional career.
  My experience in Scouting has helped shape who I am today.
  Sadly, many of the values held true by the Scouts are sorely missing 
in society today. Too often, duty to God and country are not valued in 
our culture. That is why it is so vital that we help the Boy Scouts 
continue their mission.
  For over 100 years the Boy Scouts have made this country a better 
place. More than 2.6 million Scouts are continuing to build character, 
promote physical, spiritual and mental growth, and acquire leadership 
skills for generations of young men. You can look no further than the 
300,000 hours of community service that will be performed during the 
Jamboree to understand the positive impact Scouting has on its members 
and the community as a whole.
  Now, the Boy Scouts of America have a brand new home to carry on 
their jamboree tradition in the beautiful state of West Virginia. We 
are also excited that for the first time in 52 years, the World Scout 
Jamboree will be held in the United States at this same site in 2019.
  While thousands of Scouts are here to ``Go Big, Get Wild,'' we 
welcome them to our beautiful country roads!

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