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Austin Drabeck (left), 14, takes a turn using the remote-control robot in the Robotics Merit Badge booth at the jamboree. The BSA encourages science and math in its activities.
Nolan Hurd, 15, of Troop 1615 in Houston, Texas, rides a mountain board on a hill at the National Scout Jamboree in Caroline County.
Gary Wise (left) of Troop 508 in Raleigh, N.C., watches Chris Carroll of South Carolina Troop 411 fire a 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun. |
Fourteen-year-old Sasha Patton rolled down a hill on what looked like a skateboard with large wheels.
It almost appeared that he was surfing as he made several sharp turns with his knees bent and his arms held out to the side.
After finishing his ride, Sasha grabbed his mountain board and ran back up the hillside at Fort A.P. Hill in Caroline County for another go.
"Yeah dude, it's so fun," said Sasha, who is from Ormond Beach, Fla. "I wish they had mountains in Florida. I'd do this every day."
Sasha is one of thousands of Scouts at the National Scout Jamboree who have taken advantage of the event's mountain boarding station, which was introduced at the 2005 jamboree.
Some Scouts have waited up to two hours to try it, even though the activity doesn't count toward a merit badge, volunteer Mike Hardebeck said.
"I've been waiting for this forever," Sasha said. The 10-day jamboree ends tomorrow.
Scouts interested in earning merit badges have plenty of options, including archery, electronics and even plumbing. But the jamboree has several other activities just for fun, including scuba diving and shooting ranges.
In mountain boarding, Scouts have a choice between a beginner's hill or a steeper slope.
If they fall--and many do--a volunteer asks them to give a thumbs-up.
Thirteen-year-old Scout Joseph Hall of Amarillo, Texas, fell face-first on the advanced hill, but he popped right back to his feet. On his next ride, he opted for the beginner's hill.
"I hurt my arm a little bit, but not bad," Joseph said. "It was fun until I crashed."
Participants wear helmets, gloves and pads on their knees and arms while riding their mountain boards, which have 8-inch wheels. All had to listen to a safety presentation first.
Today, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White is expected to visit the mountain boarding station from 10 a.m. until noon.
And one of the volunteers, Emily Smith-Zurawski, is the No. 2 female mountain boarder in the country.
"I've got my team working four-hour shifts, and I can't get her off the hill," Hardebeck said of Smith-Zuraw-ski.
The shooting ranges are also a draw. One features 12-gauge semiautomatic shotguns, a first for the jamboree. On Friday, about 600 Scouts had passed through that range by 2 p.m., said volunteer Don Sipes.
Each Scout got 10 shots at clay targets.
"I like watching the little short ones pop 'em," said Sipes, who works for the National Rifle Association.
Sixteen-year-old Scout Thomas Ludwig said his reason for stopping by the range was simple: "It's shooting. Why wouldn't I shoot?"
Each Scout had to go through a 20-minute safety drill before handling a weapon, Sipes said.
Sasha, who says he surfs and skateboards, seemed to prefer mountain boarding over all of the other activities.
After going down the advanced hill at least six times, he decided to call it a day. Some of the Scouts were growing impatient waiting for their turns, Sasha said.
A volunteer recommended he come back early the next day because the dew on the grass makes mountain boards go faster.
"I'm coming back tomorrow morning, dude," Sasha said.
Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Email: jbranscome@freelancestar.com
