Local Scouts and Scouters experienced Scouting at its biggest and most adventurous at the 2026 National Jamboree. The Jamboree is a national event held once every three to four years.
Northeast Illinois Council’s contingent brought together 62 Scouts and seven adult leaders from troops across the service area. After nine months of meetings, training and preparation, they traveled to Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia for 10 days of high-adventure activities, leadership opportunities, friendship and fun.
Adventure and Achievements
Scouts worked on merit badges, took part in range and target activities, enjoyed swimming and scuba, soared on ziplines, raced BMX bikes, traded patches and so much more.
The opening and closing ceremonies gave everyone a clear sense of just how big the event was. With approximately 15,000 Scouts, leaders and staff gathered in one place, the energy and scale of the Jamboree was tangible. Participants suddenly found themselves part of a massive Scouting movement.
And NEIC Scouts made their mark.
For example, Miles placed third among approximately 2,500 participants in the Jambo Warrior, a demanding obstacle-course competition.
Dev, Kuba, Henry and Ben completed the Jamboree Triathlon. Dev, one of the contingent’s senior patrol leaders, recalls a moment of growth during the race. “There was an incline near the end of the run portion, and at the time, it looked impossible to climb,” he says. “It showed me that sometimes the most fulfillment comes after doing something difficult.”
Lessons From the Field
Leadership was another recurring lesson. Senior patrol leader Hudson says the Jamboree gave him opportunities to lead Scouts with very different personalities and needs, compelling him to adapt his approach.
He discovered that while previous Scouting experiences—including National Youth Leadership Training—helped prepare him, nothing could completely replicate the Jamboree.
“I don’t think there’s one thing that can really prepare you for the Jamboree, because it’s such a unique experience and so different from any other thing that you’re doing in Scouts,” he says.
Hometown Pride
During the Hometown Celebration, NEIC’s Scouts served up a taste of Chicago, bringing 400 “glizzies” and everything else needed to build Chicago-style hot dogs. Word traveled fast about the provisional food stand, and participants from campsites far and wide stopped by that evening to sample a Chicago staple.
NEIC’s patch set was also a hit with collectors, giving Jambo participants opportunities to trade and share one of the council’s most distinctive traditions: the Legend of the Makajabear.
An Adult Leader’s Perspective
For the adult leaders, special moments like these were reminders of what can happen when young people are given the chance to make an experience their own.
“Our job was to ensure the Scouts had the preparation and support they needed. Then we got to step back and watch them take it from there,” says Matt Morgan, NEIC’s contingent coordinator and an assistant Scoutmaster in one of the Jamboree troops. “Seeing them challenge themselves, lead each other and represent Northeast Illinois Council with so much pride—that’s what made all those months of preparation worthwhile.”
‘The Most Fun Two Weeks of Your Life’
Dev, who was among the few NEIC Scouts who also attended the 2023 Jamboree, offers a simple recommendation to any Scout considering the next Jamboree, which is set for summer 2030.
“Go and try it out,” he says. “It really is Scouting paradise. The two weeks you spend at the National Jamboree will be the most fun two weeks of your life.”