Area scouts head to Jamborees

Every four years the Boy Scouts offer members the opportunity to attend Scouting Jamborees. Thee are mega-scouting events in far-away places where attendees learn more about themselves, other scouts/scouting, and the world. Prior to COVID-19, the National and International Scouting Jamborees alternated on two year cycles, but during this recovery year, both Jamborees are this summer. The BSA Scouting National Jamboree will be held at the “Summit Bechtel” Scout Reservation in West Virginia. Local First Class Scout Zachry Rice will get the experience of a lifetime by attending from July 19-28. Having earned his way through Scout popcorn sales last year, Zach said he is excited. Fellow Life Scout Taliesin LeDoux will travel to South Korea to attend the International Scouting Jamboree, joining 45,000 scouts from around the world His father, local Scoutmaster Spencer LeDoux, will also attend this year’s International Jamboree. It will be his 5th International Jamboree since he joined Scouting in San Marcos in 1989.

Both of these scouts are members of BSA Scout Troop 1954, initiated by the Thermon Company in 1986. This year marks the first year of “Camperships” from the “Ms. Patty & Ms. Jennifer Fund” established in honor of two past adult leaders of Troop 1954. Jennifer Jenkins raised her two Eagle Scout sons and a daughter through BSA Troop 1954, and lifetime local Patty Hada Derrickson, a retired SMCISD kindergarten teacher, led high adventure scouting trips across the country and Mexico before stepping back in 2019. Upon retiring, both donated their “Scout Accounts” to help young scouts.

For information on scouting contact Ed Grune, at ed.grune@scouting.org or call him at 512-944-7753.