La Mirada Blog
Articles by Christopher Guerra
Scout Gives His Final Thoughts of Jamboree
La Mirada~After returning from the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree celebrating 100 years in the United States on August 4, I spent the next few days relaxing and looking back before I headed off to another week long camp. I can honestly say that the Jamboree was the best experience of my life so far. Exploring our nation’s capital was an extra added bonus. We were constantly moving and doing things at the time I don’t think I fully realized what was going on until now.
Everyday was a new adventure just waiting to be lived. I loved waking up to a new day, smelling the fresh air and making decisions on what I was going to do that day. The choices were endless with no shortage of things to do. Jamboree was one big playground of challenges for us. There were obstacle courses, archery, BMX bike racing, skeet shooting, fishing, swimming, rappelling, canoeing, over 100 merit badge booths and many more wondrous activities and exhibits that kept me and my fellow scouts busy. With the 45,000 scouts that were at the Jamboree, it was easy striking up a conversation with someone. Along with meeting scouts from across the country, I also ran into scouts from Japan, Puerto Rico, Russia and Africa. All of us coming together to celebrate scouting. 
Food itself was an adventure. For breakfast and dinner, we ate a wide variety of foods like pancakes, french toast, chicken jambalaya, chicken stir fry, beef stew, and many other varieties of food. Each of our troop’s four patrols cooked and did cleanup together. If it was something we didn’t like to eat, we could walk to the concession tents and get hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza or chicken strips. For lunch we had tickets to get box lunches out of trucks that were setup around the camp.
The Jamboree ran like a well oiled machine. Volunteers were always eager to help scouts reach their full potential. Not only were they willing to help, they even paid to work at the Jamboree and live in the same conditions as us. It would not have been the success that it was without their efforts. Along with the volunteers, the soldiers of Fort A.P. Hill also helped with security, traffic, supplies and merit badge booths.
The closing arena show was spectacular with guest stars like the bands Honor Society and Switchfoot. Even Mike Rowe, Eagle Scout and host of Discovery Channel's “Dirty Jobs” dropped by on a bulldozer to talk to us. I really enjoyed his message about how scouting changed his life and his take on the scout laws especially the one referring to how a scout is clean. “A scout is clean...but not afraid to get dirty.”
Patch Trading is Scout’s Favorite
With the many activities available for scouts at the Jamboree, it is without a doubt that patch trading is everyone's favorite. The roadsides especially after dinner become filled with scouts displaying patches on their cots or towels. It is a sight to behold as patch flea markets spring up everywhere. Patch trading is one of the best ways to meet new people, make friends, and have a good time.
A council patch (CP) is worn on the left sleeve of a Boy Scout uniform. It is the most common patch available for trade. It has the council name, location and a unique logo. Jamboree CPs are specially designed and made available to the troop members. In addition to the ones worn, extras are purchased in case a scout wants to participate in trading. Because this is Scouting's 100th anniversary, this makes them even more rare and valuable.
If a council patch catches a trader's eye, the scouts first make introductions giving names, troop numbers and hometowns. A person from California could trade with a 
person from New York and swap patches. This may get them talking and soon they may become friends. Once a fair deal is made, the agreement is completed with a scout handshake.
The BSA has rules for trading. A scout can only trade with another scout and adults trade only with adults. No money can be passed and each trade must be fair and end with a handshake.
Scouts Pack it in For Celebration
Fort A.P. Hill, VA~Boy Scouts at the National Jamboree filed into the natural arena for the opening show celebrating the 100th anniversary of Scouting in America on July 28, 2010. The scouts sat on a grassy knoll over looking a grandstand with two side mounted massive big screens and holographic pillars. Television personalities Burton Roberts of the Survivor series and Alex Boylan from the Amazing Race kicked off the show by entertaining scouts with various quizzes and games.
Hosting duties for the show were taken over by Anthony Thomas, the recognized two millionth Eagle Scout. He introduced former Eagle Scout and current Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. Secretary Gates talked to the scouts about the importance of scouting, what it means to him and how it affected his life.
Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca was called to the stage and also talked about what scouting did for him and how it helped shape his life. He was followed by World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Sergeant Slaughter who fired up the audience.
Troop Arrives at Jamboree
La Mirada~On the morning of July 24, we woke up happy from sleeping in nice soft beds. After breakfast, we shipped out for Arlington. It was a solemn place with perfect rows of white headstones which reminded me how freedom isn't free and that it comes at a heavy price. While we were there, we visited the graves of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy.
We watched the very stylized changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. I have to give these guards some recognition because it 
was 100 degrees at the time. Us Scouts were sweating like crazy while the guard, who were wearing wool uniforms, barely had a line of sweat as they performed their solemn duty.
After Arlington, we moved to one of the most iconic buildings in our country: The Capital. We were visiting the place where our country’s laws are made. As we climbed the steps, I thought about the School House Rock song: “I’m a bill, yes I am only a bill and I am sitting here on Capital Hill.”
Mr. Gardea was able to arrange a tour of the inside of the Capital through Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. Thank you to both.
We had lunch at a huge mall built around the Union Station. From there we moved on to the Smithsonian museums. It quickly became one of my favorite spots. We were only able to get into the Air and Space and the Natural History museums. The Air and Space of course was filled with all kinds of rockets, missiles, airplanes, and space stuff. I especially enjoyed the exhibits on gravity and the early history of the airplanes.
We could have spent the whole day there but we only had about an hour before we had to exit the Air and Space Museum and hike over to the Natural History Museum. We saw all kinds of animals and cool looking plants. It was very similar to the museum in Los Angeles but on a much grander scale. None of the exhibits came alive like the movie but they did have a great gift shop. I bought some gifts for my brother and sister.
After dinner at the Fashion Center, we went to visit Mr. Lincoln. From his chair, he had a clear view of the famous reflecting pool and the Washington Monument. His famous Gettysburg address was etched off to the side. We walked a short distance to the Korean War Memorial which I thought was one of the cooler memorials because it displayed life-like soldier statues moving in formation. Next we paid our respects to the Vietnam memorial. I was amazed when I saw the monument because it seemed to rise out of the ground. So many names were on the wall...
Scouts Eye Nation’s Capital
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| La Mirada Blog's Christopher Guerra in front of our Nation's Capital |
Exclusive! Note: Third entry in a series
Washington D.C.~Five score and about six month ago (February 8, 1910), our scouting fathers brought forth on this continent, a new program to teach this country's youth "responsible leadership, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations." (Wikipedia)
On the morning of July 23, we pulled ourselves out of bed and filled up at the breakfast buffet. Our first tour of the day was Gettysburg National Park. We toured the many battlefields
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| Troop 826 on the steps of the Capital |
such as Little Round Top that made this place a major turning point in the Civil War. Many American lives were lost on these fields and there are several monuments to remind us all why we should always remain united. In the high temperatures, we slowly climbed an observation tower. From there, we had a magnificent view of the city and park. Our Gettysburg ranger told us how the outnumbered Union army held off the Confederate forces at this site by forming a defensive line in the shape of a fishhook. After the Union victory, President Lincoln later came to Gettysburg to deliver his famous speech.
For lunch, we ate lunch at a place where they had a huge food court of various restaurants. Something for everyone. We ate and headed back to the buses only to find out that Troop 818's (Galaxy) bus driver misplaced his keys. So we waited out in the hot sun until our leaders came up with a plan. It was decided that we would all board the buses with the Galaxy troop taking the empty spaces left on the other three buses. We were grateful to be back on the road and cheered when the cold air finally filled our bus.
We headed towards our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Our first stop was the National Holocaust museum. I was not prepared for what I saw in this museum. It was one of the most heartbreaking, breathtaking, and saddest places I have ever experienced. The one exhibit that got to me the most was the exhibit where you are walking across a bridge and the shoes of the victims were to our sides. We left there with a lot to think about.
Scouts Continue on Their Journey
Second in a series of articles from Christopher Guerra, La Mirada Boy Scout attending the 2010 National Scout Jamboree in Virginia
It is 9:00 pm on July 21. I am sitting around the airport near the check-in area with my troop. Scouts around me occupy their time with crossword puzzles, phones, iPods, and lots of chatter. The air is heavy with excitement as take-off time draws near. At 9:15 pm, we took a group picture and said goodbyes to our families as our leaders moved us to the security check area. This will the longest and farthest I have ever been away from my parents. Despite the time and distance, there isn't a scout that isn't looking forward to what's to come.
We boarded the plane and took our seats. As the plane started climbing, I took one last glimpse of the lights of Los Angeles, California. I won't see them again for 16 days. I looked over our itinerary for the next few days and it looks like they have us up and running from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm every day.
As the plane reached cruising altitude, scouts soon succumbed to sleepiness including myself. Five hours later, I woke to a beautiful sunrise on my left and an
even more magnificent city to my right. We had arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
As I exited the plane, I thought to myself "One small step for a scout, one giant leap for Christopher!". We walked out of the airport and met Howard our tour bus driver. We loaded our small duffel bags in the bus and climbed aboard. We didn't get food on the plane so the bus was filled with moans of hunger. I looked out the window as we rolled along taking in the city. Picture Los Angeles with more greenery, fewer skyscrapers, and open spaced, less crowded neighborhoods and you got Philadelphia.
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