History of the National Scout Jamboree

Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting movement, created the idea of holding a large encampment of Scouts and leaders to celebrate Scouting in England. He called it a jamboree.

Since 1937, the Boy Scouts of America has held a National Scout Jamboree for Scouts and leaders of Boy Scout councils throughout the United States. More than 600,000 Scouts and leaders have hiked the trails, paths, and roadways since the first jamboree was held at the base of the Washington Monument on the Mall in our nation's capital.

Since that time, 15 national Scout jamborees have been held. Three were held in the western United States at Irvine Ranch, California; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Farragut State Park in Idaho. Five have been held in Pennsylvania at Valley Forge and Moraine State Park. Beginning in 1981, Caroline County, Virginia, and Fort A. P. Hill have been the permanent site.