Published: November 24, 2009 04:25 pm      

Scouts react to BSA plans

GLEN JEAN — Brandon Tyson, 13, of Hurricane traveled to the Glen Jean Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fayette County Wednesday to hear his national Boy Scouts of America leaders announce their plans for a world-class scouting venue.

The Teays Valley Christian School student says he hopes the BSA’s selection of West Virginia for a National Scouting Center, high adventure camp and summer camp will help shift some of the nation’s negative perceptions of his beloved Mountain State.

“Most people around the nation have this hillbilly thought of West Virginia,” he explained.

“They basically see West Virginia as a bunch of shacks and a guy with a mining hat, but it’s not really like that. This will give people a chance to come to West Virginia, to meet lots of people from West Virginia and to learn what West Virginia is really all about.”

Eagle Scout Jonathan McKenzie, 19, of Logan County, said Wednesday’s announcement that West Virginia had been chosen for the permanent site of the national Jamboree was “a pretty big deal.”

That in itself will benefit the entire state for years to come, McKenzie said.

“The Jamboree brings in 40,000 scouts from all over the world,” he explained. “A lot of times, these groups going to the national Jamboree will leave a few weeks early to make a road trip out of it.

“They’ll stop at various locations throughout West Virginia to see what other parts of our state have to offer. It will affect our entire state.”

McKenzie says the West Virginia high adventure base will be much different than the other three bases currently in existence in New Mexico, Minnesota and Florida.

“In Philmont (N.M.), you’re in the Rockies, so you’re hiking. In the Northern Tier (Minnesota) it’s canoeing, and in the Sea Base (Florida Keys) there’s scuba and sailing,” he commented.

“In West Virginia, you’ll have rock climbing, whitewater rafting and mountain biking. It will be a whole different experience for scouts,” he said.

McKenzie, a college sophomore, says he’s already looking at the National Scouting Center as a potential future employer post-college.

“It’s only an hour and a half drive,” he said. “I’m excited.”

Den leader David Coughenour of Huntington brought his 7-year-old son Chase, a Cub Scout, to hear the BSA’s announcement.

“I think it’s going to be great for West Virginia. It’s a beautiful place out here that a lot of people don’t ever see. All they see is the negative side (of West Virginia), unfortunately,” Coughenour said.

Coughenour says he’s hoping scouts from surrounding states will visit his council on their way to Fayette County.

“People will hopefully have a chance to stop over at our camp,” he said.

“It will be fantastic. It’s just an experience for these guys. It’s stuff they can take with them for a lifetime.”

Coughenour says West Virginia will be one of the few places scouts can visit to earn their whitewater merit badge.

“How many places can you get that at, unless you travel to West Virginia or Colorado?” Coughenour asked.

And rock climbing?

“You can’t climb too many rocks in Kansas,” he said, smiling.

— E-mail:

jayres@register-herald.com