Friday, May 10, 2013

2013 National Boy Scouts Jamboree and other NSPS Scouting Activities


Since 1989, NSPS has taken the lead role in operating the Surveying Merit Badge booth during Boy Scouts of America's periodic Jamboree, and has been responsible for several re-writes of the manual that is used by Scouts to achieve that badge. NSPS will continue its role for the 2013 Jamboree. It is worth noting that the Surveying Merit Badge was among the original badges to be offered, and remains among the few badges that have existed continually since then.

The team of NSPS volunteers who will be participating during the upcoming Jamboree (July 15-24, 2013) is coming together well.  The new team leader Will Clark from the St. Louis area has vast experience with the Surveying Merit Badge, and scouting in general, having achieved Eagle Scout status as a youngster. 

Several of the team members for 2013 participated in the last Jamboree, and their experience will be critical to the success this year.  Former team leaders Thomas Brooks and Wayne Hebert have worked with Will and his team in preparing for the event.  With the Jamboree location shifting from Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia to the Summit Bechtel Reserve in the New River Gorge in West Virginia, a number of local West Virginia surveyors have volunteered their time.  To learn more about the Jamboree click here.

In other Boy Scouts Merit Badge news the South Central Chapter of Kansas Society of Land Surveyors participated in the E-13 Expedition Encampment in Hutchinson, Kansas April 19-21, 2013 offering the Surveying Merit Badge to 6,000 Scouts who attended. NSPS provided some promotional materials for this activity, and expects to soon receive a full report.

NSPS Executive Director Curt Sumner was recently contacted by a member of the Boy Scouts of America, National Capital Area Council’s STEM Committee asking if NSPS has developed games and exercises to introduce Cub Scouts to surveying.  Sumner is scheduling a meeting to further discuss NSPS participation with the Cub Scouts.

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