EAST PEORIA, Ill. – More than 60 local youth are on their way to do something they haven’t been able to in the last six years.
They’re on their way to the annual Boy Scout Jamboree in West Virginia. They should arrive later Wednesday, after spending the night camping in Ohio.
Sandy Gallant’s children will be among them.
“They get together and they celebrate all the good things about Scouting,” said Gallant, to WMBD’s Greg and Dan. “This is about fellowship. This is about outdoor adventures. This is about leadership, and all these kids are going to experience this over the next ten days.”
It’s expected to be the first year for both boys and girls to attend, among 15,000 estimated to make the trek to Summit Bechtel Reserve.
“As a female leader, it makes me feel amazing about how far Scouting has come as a whole,” said Mollie Franzen, Senior Patrol Leader, to 25 News. “We’ve come so far into getting young leaders in our nation – not only just men, but women, into the workforce.”
In addition to camping, making their own meals and other activities, Franzen says there’s a 3,000 foot zip line that a number of the local scouts are looking forward to.
