NATIONAL BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE 2005

On Sunday, July 24, Father John Tampa, Rector of historic St. Peter's Church in the Great Valley (Episcopal) located near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, is the featured speaker at a non-denominational worship service at the 2005 National Boy Scout Jamboree. Father Tampa is a gifted preacher, and his sermon, to be delivered before thousands of young men and their leaders at the Amphitheater of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, will be posted here on the morning of the 24th.

Report and Pictures from Father John's Presentation at the Tomb of the Unknowns

Father Tampa's Homily, July 24, 2005

LOCATION AND SITE
Fort A. P. Hill, located in the rolling hills of Caroline County, Virginia, near the towns of Fredericksburg and Bowling Green is an ideal facility to hold this major national Scout jamboree.

This 76,000-acre U.S. Army facility has served as the permanent site for the national Scout jamboree since 1981. The Boy Scouts of America uses approximately 3,000 acres of land to support a city of more than 40,000 Scouts and leaders.

JAMBOREE BACKGROUND
Program features reflect the skills of Scouting, our national heritage, physical fitness, environmental conservation, and the true spirit of Scouting.

Daily activities include archery, bikathlon, buckskin games, confidence course, conservation programs, scuba, kayak fun, racing shell run, and raft encounters.

Regional action centers with rappelling towers are truly popular, as are trap shooting, an American Indian village, and the opening and closing arena shows, not to mention daily stage shows and many other activities. It's Scouting and American history at their very best!

JAMBOREE CITY
The 2005 National Scout Jamboree will attract thousands of Scouts and leaders, and while it won't be the biggest city in Virginia, it will be the fastest growing on your day of arrival—July 25, 2005! Imagine 17,000 tents and 3,500 patrol kitchens popping up in a matter of hours.

Amid the thousands of colorful tents that will house participants and provide program and support services, there is an infrastructure that provides a safe and secure environment at Fort A. P. Hill. Everything from bus and telephone systems to a hospital and first-aid stations, police and fire departments, post offices, food warehouses, a daily newspaper, and retail stores (trading posts) provide all the support and program services needed for an outstanding event.