April 7, 2010 > Boy Scouts of America celebrates Centenary Boy Scouts of America celebrates Centenary By Simon Wong The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) celebrates 100 years of scouting with a schedule of activities and programs throughout 2010. The San Francisco Bay Area Council BSA will host the Northern California 100th Anniversary Jamboree (NorCal Jamboree) at the Alameda County Fairgrounds from April 15 to April 18. The event will be the largest gathering of Cubs, Scouts, Sea Scouts, Explorers and Venturers. Around 15,000 friends and supporters are expected to attend from all over Northern California. The following Councils will participate - Alameda (Alameda), Golden Empire (Sacramento), Greater Yosemite (Modesto), Marin (San Rafael), Monterey Bay Area (Salinas), Mount Diablo Silverado (Pleasant Hill), Pacific Skyline (Foster City), Piedmont (Piedmont), Redwood Empire (Santa Rosa), San Francisco Bay Area (San Leandro), Santa Clara County (San Jose) and Sequoia (Fresno and Visalia). The NorCal Jamboree will be unique. Best-described as a combined National Jamboree, county fair and Scout-O-Rama, it will showcase what Scouting offers to today's youth. Visitors will be able to participate in and learn about activities and exhibits, such as archery, BMX biking, rock climbing, fly fishing, BB gun shooting, pioneering, ham radio, BSA venturing, scouting memorabilia, geocoaching, soccer, disability awareness, international scouting, whittling, environmental protection and sustainability, rain gutter regatta, pinewood derby, astronomy, scout bands... and an attempt to set a world record for tying the largest woggle. A Mountain Man rendezvous, with Scouting re-enactors dressed in period uniform, will take visitors back to 1841. They will have the opportunity to participate in blacksmithing, tomahawk throwing, cooking fry bread and help build a log cabin. The Order of the Arrow will hold an area-wide Pow Wow at NorCal Jamboree with a Plains Indian village and dance competition featuring traditional, grass and fancy styles. There will also be fire, police and military exhibits, such as a flight simulator, search and rescue, aircraft/military gear, and Eagle Scout, Rotarian and wood badge reunions plus more than 200 Scout-O-Rama booths in two exhibition halls and outdoors. Saturday, April 17 will feature Scouts re-enacting the Battle of Bunker Hill and a Saturday Night Show Extravaganza at the Grandstands. The latter will include a "visit" from Scouting's founder (Lord Baden-Powell), performances by Drum & Bugle Corps Troop 12, the US Air Force's rock band Mobility, and more. Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca will close the show with the narration of "The Legacy of Scouting." All available camping spaces for Scout troops and Cub families at the Alameda County Fairgrounds are taken (Thursday - Saturday). Those fortunate enough to have a pitch may cook in the sub-camps though some meals are provided with the camping pass. The San Francisco Bay Area Council BSA suggests those who wish to camp nearby should consider the regional parks at Chabot, Del Valle and Sunol (www.ebparks.org/activities/camping). The BSA 100th Anniversary is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tell the story of Scouting in America, to celebrate its heritage and benefits to young people and raise public awareness of Scouting's importance in shaping the nation's future. Online registration for single-day passes will end at 6 p.m. on April 9 after which prices will increase. No camping passes are available as all spaces are filled. For more information about the NorCal Jamboree, visit www.100thAnniversaryJamboree.org. For information about Boy Scouts of America and other centennial events, visit www.scouting.org and http://scouting.org/100years/100years Northern California 100th Anniversary Jamboree Thursday, April 15 - Sunday, April 18 Alameda County Fairgrounds 4501 Pleasanton Avenue, Pleasanton (510) 577-9203 info@100thAnniversaryJamboree.org www.100thAnniversaryJamboree.org/registration.htm Single Day Pass, per person (youth or adult) - $15 per day Available for Thursday, April 15 / Friday, April 16 / Saturday, April 17 Includes admission for one day, lunch, official event patch and souvenir program. Thursday, April 15 Gates open: 3 - 9 p.m. Set-up; early arrivals Registration & check-in Cracker Barrel Friday, April 16 Gates open: 12 - 9 p.m. Set-up Registration & check-in Activities: 12 - 5 p.m. Saturday, April 17 Gates open: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. Activities: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Grand Evening Show: 8.15 p.m. Sunday, April 18 Religious Services: 8.30 a.m. - 9.15 a.m. Activities open: 9.30 a.m. - noon Tear down & depart