On Saturday, June 25, 12 Troops of 40 boys and adult leaders each, from the National Capitol Area Council, met at Claude Moore Farms in Ashburn for the council’s pre-National Jamboree Shakedown. This two-day event was designed to help each Troop become familiar with their equipment and each other before the National Jamboree in July. After setting up campsites that modeled Jamboree living conditions, the Scouts had the opportunity to participate in over a dozen team-building games, such as a four-way game of volleyball. The Scouts also had a chance to meet with Lt. Col. Trautman, U.S. Army (JAG), and the White House communications team, who showed the Scouts the technology used to keep President Bush in continual contact with the rest of the world, wherever he goes.
In less than 30 days, these 12 Troops will be meeting at Fort A.P. Hill with 35,000 other Scouts from around the country for the 16th National Jamboree. They will have the chance to participate in multiple events, including SCUBA diving, snorkeling, rappelling, and BMX motocross, earn merit badges, trade patches and attend multiple stage shows that will take place throughout the 10-day event.
On Saturday evening, well after the afternoon events and dinner, the Scouts and their leaders gathered together for a campfire, put together by Troop 518. After lighting the huge bonfire, each Troop was presented their Jamboree Troop flag, while listening to a history of the past 15 Jamborees. The campfire was concluded with a movie clip of the first Jamboree in 1937, and a multimedia presentation of the day’s events and the Jamboree four years ago.