2010 National Jamboree

See Full Story and Additional Photos, Videos & Web Links: Stockton Boy Scouts Examiner

On Sunday January 24, the Boy Scouts of America completed the third and final California stop for the traveling Boy Scout base camp known as Adventure Base 100. While the rain fell outdoors, crowds at Cal Expo's International Sportsmen's Expo kept volunteers busy indoors during the 4 day event. With 5-day rainfall totals exceeding 2.5 inches in parts of Sacramento, the Expo and Scouting event didn't skip a beat thanks to the large indoor venue at Cal Expo.

Dozens of volunteers from Sacramento's Golden Empire Council hosted thousands of Northern Californians as they participated in the interactive displays, exhibits and outdoor challenge events at AB100.

On Saturday, Troop 1 from the Golden Empire Council demonstrated various outdoor skills on stage. Senior Patrol Leader Dimitri Joslyn skilfully narrated while his Scouts constructed an innovative wooden bridge called the DiVinci Bridge. Using no ropes, lashings, ties, nails or stakes, the boys constructed a 10' long sturdy bridge and then confidently walked across it, one at a time.

Joslyn said, "This is a bridge you can build out in the wilderness when your resources are limited. Once you learn how to stack the wood, it will support you." He continued, "Learning how to build this bridge also taught us teamwork and ways to solve complex problems."

In another corner of the 10,000-square-foot campus, Boy Scout Ethan Jennings, Troop 302 from Rancho Cordova, handled the challenging ropes course like a seasoned climber.

"It wasn't scary at all," Jennings reported, "until you look down." He concluded, "At the end of the course my foot got stuck but it was no problem. I figured it out."

First year Webelos Cub Scout John Sarna from Pack 383 donned a life vest and paddle and joined other Scouts in the Green Screen booth for a virtual photo on a raging river. The photo will be emailed to him as a remembrance of his day at Adventure Base 100.

Serna said, "My goal is to become an Eagle Scout in the future."

Boy Scouts from Lodi's Troop 291 and 316 from the 49er District, Greater Yosemite Council joined up and attended both the AB100 event and International Sportsmen's Expo on Saturday. Many other regional Scouts and Scouters could be seen in their Class A uniforms on the show floor taking advantage of this once in a lifetime Scouting event.

Adventure Base 100 will open again on January 30 and 31 in Austin Texas to continue its 10 month tour of 40 U.S. markets. Click here for the whole tour schedule.

Adventure Base 100 is paid for through the generosity of lead national sponsors AT&T and ExxonMobil, whose CEO’s are former Scouts and who sit on the BSA board. They are very supportive of Scouts and the leadership and education focus BSA provides.

For an excellent pictorial of the Sacramento stop, click here for a collection of Golden Empire Council and Troop 380 pictures.