Req 4a — Jamboree or High Adventure Journal

This option lets you experience Scouting history firsthand at one of the movement’s most significant gatherings or sites.

What Qualifies

Scouting America National Jamboree

The National Jamboree brings tens of thousands of Scouts together at Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. Held roughly every four years, it features camping, activities, service projects, arena shows, and patch trading. If you have an upcoming Jamboree on your calendar, this is a natural fit.

World Scout Jamboree

Organized by the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the World Jamboree draws Scouts from more than 150 countries and is held every four years in a different host nation. Attending connects you to the global Scouting community that Baden-Powell envisioned — a powerful link to the history you studied in Requirement 1.

National High-Adventure Bases

Scouting America operates four national high-adventure bases, each with its own history:

• Philmont Scout Ranch (Cimarron, New Mexico) — Backpacking in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, donated by Waite Phillips in 1938.
• Northern Tier (Ely, Minnesota / Atikokan, Ontario) — Canoeing in the Boundary Waters and Quetico.
• Florida Sea Base (Islamorada, Florida) — Sailing, snorkeling, and marine ecology in the Florida Keys.
• Summit Bechtel Reserve (Glen Jean, West Virginia) — Climbing, mountain biking, zip lines, and home of the National Jamboree since 2013.

Keeping Your Journal

The requirement specifically asks for a journal. Practical tips:

• Write every day. Even a few sentences each evening will capture details you would otherwise forget.
• Record what you did, saw, and learned. Include activities, people you met, challenges, highlights, and surprises.
• Collect supporting materials. Photos, program guides, brochures, maps, patches, and postcards all strengthen your report.
• Look for heritage connections. At Philmont, think about Waite Phillips and the ranch’s origins. At a Jamboree, think about the first National Jamboree in 1937 or the first World Jamboree in 1920. These connections tie your personal experience back to the history you have been studying.

Your Report

When you return, prepare a report for your counselor covering:

1. Where you went and when
2. What you did each day (your journal is the source)
3. What you saw that connected to Scouting history or heritage
4. What you learned about yourself, about Scouting, or about other Scouts you met

You may present this as an oral report, a written report, or a combination supported by photos and documents.

Official Resources