Scouts prepared to keep their cool at Jamboree

By TIM CHAPMAN | TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Published: July 26, 2010

Bowling Green, Va. --

BOWLING GREEN -- A quick glance around Fort A.P. Hill suggests the addition of a fifth point in the Boy Scout Oath for the next 10 days: I will do my best to keep myself and others hydrated.

With temperatures expected in the 90s through much of the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, the emphasis on hydration is as clear as water.

Even before the arrival of an expected 35,000 Scouts in Caroline County, volunteers such as Thomas Blackwood of Oak Harbor, Wash., were making sure everyone was as cool as possible.

"Do you have water?" Blackwood asked a young volunteer working traffic.

The volunteer nodded while pointing to water coolers in a tent behind him.

"Are you drinking it?" Blackwood asked from the air-conditioned SUV he drove to transport volunteers and visitors.

The courtesy and concern of Blackwood -- who last attended a Jamboree 50 years ago as a boy -- is just one example of how Scouts and volunteers will collectively weather the heat and humidity as they celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting in America.

To avoid problems that occurred during the 2005 Jamboree, when thousands had to be treated for heat-related injuries, water stations are set up throughout the Army base.

Underground water lines are connected to spigots, and countless coolers can be found in thousands of tents. All Scouts and volunteers will have a heat-index card connected to their lanyards telling them what the colored flags around the fort represent in temperature. The card also has a "Minimum H2O Intake" column explaining how much water is required at certain temperatures. When the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, for example, a quart of water should be consumed each hour.

"This is being described as the safest [Jamboree], and that's not just a gimmicky marketing slogan," said Bob Dries, a BSA spokesman. "There are 59 points around the Jamboree site with a color-coded system."

Taking such precautions will allow Scouts to better enjoy the Jamboree. Fishing, snorkeling, mountain biking and shotgun practice are just a few of the activities that will keep them busy.

Eagle Scout hopefuls will participate in Merit Badge Midway, a program designed for teenagers to earn merit badges in just a few hours. With expert instruction, Scouts can become proficient at a new skill or one they haven't has as much time to focus on in the past. Patch trading also tends to be a popular attraction for collectors and Scouts simply looking for a unique patch.

Arena shows will offer entertainment including music and fireworks. BSA extended an invitation to President Barack Obama for Wednesday morning's show but had not heard from the White House as of yesterday afternoon. Presidents traditionally appear for one of the arena shows and deliver a speech offering encouragement to the Scouts.

Richmond-area Scout leaders spent yesterday making final preparations for today's trip to the Jamboree.

The Heart of Virginia Council has 10 troops of 36 Scouts and four leaders. One of the troops is a "Direct Service" troop made up of U.S.-born citizens living overseas with their parents in such countries as Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan and the United Kingdom. They will meet today at Cub Camp in Goochland County, and the nine commercial buses and nine 26-foot commercial trucks to carry their gear are expected at Fort A.P. Hill at 11 a.m.

"It's unbelievable how much they can learn [through] Scouting," said Chip Delano, Heart of Virginia Troop 1705 Scoutmaster. "By the time they get around to applying for college, some of them have as much leadership as anyone."

Tim Chapman is a multimedia intern for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Contact him at (804) 649-6985 or tchapman@timesdispatch.com.