Scouting Out Getting to "The Summit"

I spent the last week in beautiful Pocahontas County, WV at Buckskin Reservation, the Boy Scout Camp at Dilley’s Mill. Enjoying the beautiful scenery and seeing the joy on young boy’s faces as they experience the outdoor wonders that West Virginia has to offer makes sleeping in a tent for a week worth it. Our troop camped with the Buckskin Council Scout Executive, Jeff Purdy, who was there as a father and assistant scoutmaster for his son and another boy from their troop. In speaking with Jeff around the campfire the subject of “The Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve” http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/TheSummit.aspx came up and it got me thinking about the number of young scouts that will travel to West Virginia from all over the world to experience the High Adventure Base or every four years the National Scout Jamboree.

This week there were three troops from out of state in camp, one from New Jersey, one from Virginia and one from Ohio. Last year there were two troops from Florida in camp and some of the scouts and leaders flew into the Yeager Airport on AirTran Airways for the week. We have worked with tourism entities in West Virginia, including the West Virginia Division of Tourism, whitewater rafting outfitters, ski resort operators and resort properties to promote air travel opportunities for visitors to the Mountain State so that these entities can expand their markets and attract visitors from a larger geographical area.

I am very excited about the opportunities for Boy Scouts from all over world to be able to come and experience West Virginia adventure first hand and enjoy all that the newest high adventure base will have to offer. It is a proven fact that boys that significantly participate in Scouting grow up and become future leaders and have successful careers due in part to the lessons learned in the Scouting program. Years from now, a CEO of a major corporation or a national political leader will look back with fond memories of West Virginia, as the place they realized that they could be a successful leader because of an experience while attending either the National Jamboree or a High Adventure Base.

Yeager Airport will serve as the gateway for many of these young men and the adult leaders as they travel to West Virginia to participate in the programs offered at the Summit and we are committed to providing a great first impression for them.