Local Scouts Attend National Jamboree

Written by Brendan J. O'Reilly.

Five local Scouts and an adult leader from Islip Terrace Boy Scout Troop 327 returned last week from the 10-day National Scout Jamboree, a gathering of tens of thousands of Scouts from the U.S. and around the world that happens once every four years.

Scouts Christopher Earls, Matthew Sharrock, Ben Holewienko, Layne Burkhart and Alexander Carrasco and Assistant Scoutmaster Leonardo Carrasco attended as part of the 180-member Suffolk County Council, B.S.A., contingent.

This was the first time the National Jamboree took place at its new permanent location, Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. Before arriving at the Summit on July 15, the Suffolk County Scouts spent a day at Hershey Park and a day at Gettyburg.

Activities at the Jamboree included rock climbing, whitewater rafting, zip lining, BMX racing, skateboarding, scuba diving, and more. Troop D222 also took part in a hike to the highest elevation of Summit Bechtel, a "technology quest" featuring exhibits by NASA and National Geographic, and a day of service in Lewisburg, West Virginia, where they cleared brush to make way for a walking path connecting a public park with a community garden. For the closing show, the band 3 Doors Down performed. Speakers included Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf.