Yes!  The Boy Scouts of America are coming to West Virginia. In a big way.  It’s official now- the Scouts are going to build a new permanent home in Fayette County, near Fayetteville. The Scouts purchased 10,000 acres and will build a new high adventure base camp. Located adjacent to the New River Gorge National River, this camp will bring over 25,000 scouts to West Virginia each summer. Included in the new base camp will be a High Adventure Center, Order of the Arrow, and Center for Leadership Excellence.

Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve

This new center will be called The Summit at the Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. Funding for the new camp has been jump started by a generous donation by the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation of $50,000,000. This is the largest donation ever received by the Boy Scouts of America.  Mr. Steven Bechtel, a former Eagle Scout, said, “Scouting made a tremendous impact on my life. It’s the source of the my fondest memories. I’m proud to be a founder of this project, and I’m thrilled to know that it will be part of the Scouting legacy future generations will enjoy.”

Even better:  The Summit will become the permanent home of the national Jamboree beginning in 2013. This event is held every four years and is expected to bring over 40,000 scouts to Fayette County plus their families! By hosting the national Jamboree, The Summit becomes eligible to host the International Jamboree in 2019.  Plans are being made to bid for this event to be held in Fayette County.

Superintendent Don Striker of the New River Gorge  National River exclaimed, “Friends, neighbors, we won. WE WON!” The superintendent was on the task force credited with persuading the Boy Scouts to come to West Virginia. After an 18 month search of 80 sites in 28 states, West Virginia’s Fayette County was chosen. Governor Joe Manchin stated, “Some things just go together. I have never in five years as  governor had an opportunity to work on a project that I think can transform who we are as a state, can redefine who we are as a people.”

This is a wonderful project for the Boy Scouts, and we can;t wait for them to come to Fayette County and West Virginia.  Having outfitted the public for the past 30 years in the New River area, we can definitely say that the scouts will have the best opportunity to whitewater raft, rock climb, mountain bike and grow into strong young men. We look forward to making the Scouts and their families welcome in Fayette County.

The Boy Scouts of America will celebrate their 100th anniversary in 2010 and The Summit will begin the legacy of scouting for the next 100 years, right here.  Our area is proud to help them begin that legacy.  And everyone here at Songer is too.

Welcome, y’all.