The year 2010 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. For any youth organization to be around after 100 years is certainly an accomplishment in and of itself. But not only to be around, but to continue to play a major role in the development of millions of young people throughout our country is truly amazing. Scouting's mission of instilling values in young people that will help them to make ethical choices over their lifetime has never changed over this past century. Plans for scouting's 100th Anniversary celebration are well under way. One special anniversary event will be the 2010 National Scout Jamboree to be held in Virginia from July 26 through Aug. 4. Up to 36 Scouts from Cayuga County will join with more than 40,000 other Boy Scouts and leaders for this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the scouting movement, created the idea of holding a large encampment of scouts and leaders to celebrate scouting in England. He called it a “jamboree.”

Since 1937, the Boy Scouts of America has held a National Scout Jamboree at approximate four-year intervals. More than 600,000 scouts and leaders have hiked the trails, paths and roadways since the first Jamboree was held at the base of the Washington Monument on the mall in our nation's capital.

Since that time, 15 National Scout Jamborees have been held. Three locations in the western United States included Irving Ranch, Calif.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Farragut State Park in Idaho. Five have been held in Pennsylvania at Valley Forge and Moraine State Park. Beginning in 1981, Caroline County, Va., and Fort A.P. Hill have been the permanent site.

Near many historical Civil War battlefields, the installation is named in honor of Lt. General Ambrose Powell Hill, a Virginia native who distinguished himself as a Confederate commander.

The Boy Scouts of America uses approximately 3,000 of the 76,000 acre U.S. Army facility to support a city of more than 40,000 Scouts and leaders during the Jamboree. While at the Jamboree, local scouts will experience a wide array of programs, including archery, a bikathlon, buck skin games, conservation programs, scuba, kayaking, raft encounters, repelling towers and trap shooting, to name a few.

Program features will reflect the skills of scouting, our national heritage, physical fitness, environmental conservation and the true spirit of scouting.

On July 25, 2010, our “Jamboree City” will become the fastest growing city in the country with 17,000 tents and 3,500 patrol kitchens popping up in a matter of hours.

Local Scouts will be invited along with their parents to attend a Jamboree Rally Nite event to learn all about the Jamboree. Applications will be available soon. Scouts must have attained the first class rank, have completed the sixth grade or be at least 12 years old by July 1, 2010 to attend.

Don Grillo is the scout executive for the Cayuga County Boy Scouts. He can be reached at 252-9579.