The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve (SBR) located near Beckley
and Glen Jean, West Virginia
is one of four facilities managed by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA). The Summit is the future home of the national Scout jamboree
, the Summit High Adventure Base
, and the National Center for Scouting Excellence. It is 10600 acres (42.9 km²) acres in size.
On November 18, 2009 the BSA announced the selection of The Summit as the location and that the acquisition of this property and its construction was made possible through a donation from the Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. The $50 million donation is the largest in the history of the BSA. On October 22, 2010 the BSA announced that total donations had reached $100 million, including a $25 million donation from the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation
. Both Stephen Bechtel and Walter Scott, Jr. are recipients of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
(DESA). October 22 is also the day the BSA announced the dates of the 2013 National Jamboree and the day ground was broken at The Summit with 22 golden shovels. The Scott funds will fund the building of the Scott Scouting Valley. Due to a large gift of an undisclosed amount from T. Michael and Gillian Goodrich, the main lake is called Goodrich Lake. Mike Goodrich is also a DESA recipient.
The site for The Summit is located in Fayette County
and Raleigh County
in southern West Virginia
, adjacent to the New River Gorge National River
, which is east of the camp. Managed by the National Park Service
(NPS), the New River Gorge NRA is a 70000 acres (283.3 km²) park that exemplifies the typically rugged Appalachian Mountains
, and is a popular whitewater rafting, mountain biking
, rock climbing
, and tourism
destination. It is also the home of the New River Gorge Bridge
.
Development of The Summit is now in progress. The current goals of construction at the site are developing infrastructure
, providing access to the area’s resources for outdoor activities, and preparing for the more than 50,000 anticipated attendees of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. The Summit is expected to inject $25.3 million into the local economy annually.
, Virginia since 1981 as well as seeking another high adventure base for the large number of Scouts who are wait-listed at the other three high adventure camps every year. A committee in charge of site selection and project planning was created. The committee named the new venture Project Arrow, chaired by Jack D. Furst. Plans for Project Arrow grew to include not only a venue for the Jamboree, but also for a summer camp, a high adventure base, and a leadership center, all housed on the same contiguous property.
More than 80 sites in 28 states were visited over an 18 month span and inspected as possible locations for the new venue. The top fifteen sites were visited and in October 2008 the list was cut to three sites: Saline County, Arkansas; Goshen
, Rockbridge County, Virginia
; and the New River region of West Virginia. In February 2009 Arkansas was cut from the list, leaving Virginia and West Virginia. On August 4, 2009, the BSA announced it was no longer considering the Virginia site as the permanent host of the National Jamboree and was looking into the feasibility of the West Virginia site hosting the National Jamboree as well as the leadership and high adventure programs.
On Wednesday November 18, 2009, the BSA announced that it had chosen the West Virginia site, known locally as the Garden Grounds property, as the future home of The Summit.
One of the deciding factors for Project Arrow in choosing the West Virginia site was its adjacency to the New River Gorge NRA. More than 13 miles of the property borders the park, giving Scouts
and Scouters
access to more than 70,000 acres of managed wilderness beyond the Summit property.
The BSA and Project Arrow has partnered with the NPS to create park programs and increased access in anticipation of the new High Adventure Base.
Mike Patrick was announced as the chief operating officer on February 9, 2010.
. The remaining roughly 2600 acres (10.5 km²) are in Raleigh County, West Virginia
. The property borders the communities of Glen Jean
, McCreery, Thurmond
, and Mount Hope
. To the south is the city of Beckley
, and to the north are the towns of Oak Hill
and Fayetteville
. To the northwest is the capital city of Charleston
.
Transportation networks servicing the area include Interstate 64
from the east and west, Interstate 77
from the south, and Interstate 79
from the north. These interstates are connected by U.S. Route 19
, which borders the western side of the property. There are commercial airport
s in Beckley
and Charleston
with daily flights in and out of West Virginia. Also, the Charlotte/Douglas
and Pittsburgh International Airport
s are both within an estimated 3.5 hour drive from The Summit. Amtrak’s
Cardinal connects Chicago
to New York
via the New River Gorge, with stops within the New River Gorge NRA in Prince
and Thurmond
.
area, a large outdoor arena, mountain bike and cross country mountain bike areas, and a challenge course. Construction and operation of The Summit is in firm line with the BSA's Leave No Trace
program.
The Summit property was once the site of extensive coal mining
, an industry for which the state of West Virginia is known. The remnants of long abandoned surface mines within the property have created wide flat areas that tier the terrain into a series of benches, effectively pre-grading and excavating the property, and allowing for many of the roads and infrastructure sites on the property to begin construction without extensive earth moving.
Sections of the property contain large flat areas engineered to accommodate regional camp headquarters and sub-camps. The sub-camp farthest from The Summit’s core area will be 1.3 miles (2.1 km), with an elevation gain of no more than 300 feet (91.4 m). Pedestrian pathways reduce walking times from regional camps to the core activity center to 12–15 minutes.
A permanent arena
on the far side of the valley will seat 6000 to 8000 people, which will be built as a natural extension to the property’s lower bowl amphitheatre
section, for a total arena area large enough for 80,000 people during the national Scout jamboree.
A lake at the center of the site’s infrastructure will separate regional camps from the arena, action areas, transportation depot, and other traditional core areas.
A valley on the Summit property will be crossed by a triple-walkway pedestrian suspension bridge
sponsored by Consol Energy
. The 700 foot long, $15 million bridge will connect the western and eastern portions of the core areas of the property.
is the grandson of Warren A. Bechtel, founder of the Bechtel Corporation, the largest engineering company in the United States. He took over as manager of the company in 1960 at the age of 35. He retired from the company in June 1990. He is an Eagle Scout
.
The S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund, both family foundations, provide support to, among other groups, select non-profit organizations that address challenges to the economic welfare of the United States.
Program areas supported by the foundations include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education
, Environment
, Character and Citizenship Development, and Preventative Healthcare and Selected Research.
The Bechtel Foundation donated $50 million to the BSA to help the Arrow Project purchase and develop the land that is now The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve.
, which will be held July 15–24, 2013.
The BSA anticipates attendance at approximately 50,000 Scouts and Scouters as well as over 300,000 visitors over the course of 10 days for the event. This will effectively double the population of Fayette County, West Virginia, the location of The Summit, for the event’s duration. 2013 will be the first time the Jamboree takes place at The Summit. Subsequent national jamborees will also be held there.
Early announcements from The Summit team at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, and subsequently on Facebook announced that Venturing would be a part of the Jamboree, not just as staff, but as participants. This would mark the first appearance of Venturing at a Jamboree, and the first attempt to expand the program to include the senior scouting program of the BSA since the attempted inclusion of Exploring in 1989. This has since been confirmed in promotional videos and materials for the event.
The site will be the location for the 24th World Scout Jamboree in 2019, hosted by Scouts Canada
, Boy Scouts of America
, and Asociación de Scouts de México.
program. The three currently operating programs are the Philmont Scout Ranch
in New Mexico
, the Northern Tier National High Adventure Base in Minnesota
, and the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base
in Florida
. Discontinued programs include the Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base in Wisconsin
, Maine National High Adventure in Maine
, and the Land Between the Lakes National Outdoor Adventure Center in Kentucky
.
With the addition of The Summit as the newest high adventure base, participants will be exposed to programs unique to the New River Gorge region. The region offers white water rafting
rated from Class II to Class V along the more than 50 miles of river within the New River Gorge National River area. Other proposed outdoor activities that are popular to the area include Rock climbing
, rappelling (abseiling), mountain biking
, hiking
, geocaching
, and orienteering
. Some of the additional activities being considered, with help from Scout feedback at the 2010 Jamboree
, are skateboarding
, freestyle BMX
, mountainboarding
, ATV
riding, riverboarding
, adventure racing
, and wakeboarding
.
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
and Glen Jean, West Virginia
Glen Jean, West Virginia
Glen Jean is an unincorporated census-designated place in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States, near Oak Hill. As of the 2010 census, its population is 210....
is one of four facilities managed by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA). The Summit is the future home of the national Scout jamboree
National Scout jamboree (Boy Scouts of America)
The national Scout jamboree is a gathering, or jamboree of thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America, usually held every four years and organized by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Referred to as "the Jamboree", "Jambo", or NSJ, Scouts from all over the nation and world...
, the Summit High Adventure Base
High-adventure bases of the Boy Scouts of America
High-adventure bases of the Boy Scouts of America are outdoor recreation facilities located in several locales in North America operated by the Boy Scouts of America at the organization's national level. Each facility offers wilderness programs and training that could include sailing, wilderness...
, and the National Center for Scouting Excellence. It is 10600 acres (42.9 km²) acres in size.
On November 18, 2009 the BSA announced the selection of The Summit as the location and that the acquisition of this property and its construction was made possible through a donation from the Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation. The $50 million donation is the largest in the history of the BSA. On October 22, 2010 the BSA announced that total donations had reached $100 million, including a $25 million donation from the Suzanne and Walter Scott Foundation
Walter Scott, Jr.
Walter Scott, Jr. is an American civil engineer, philanthropist, and former CEO of Peter Kiewit Sons' Incorporated. Scott was the 1997 recipient of the Horatio Alger Award and consistently ranks among the wealthiest Americans. He sits on the Board of Berkshire Hathaway, and is a childhood friend...
. Both Stephen Bechtel and Walter Scott, Jr. are recipients of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
(DESA). October 22 is also the day the BSA announced the dates of the 2013 National Jamboree and the day ground was broken at The Summit with 22 golden shovels. The Scott funds will fund the building of the Scott Scouting Valley. Due to a large gift of an undisclosed amount from T. Michael and Gillian Goodrich, the main lake is called Goodrich Lake. Mike Goodrich is also a DESA recipient.
The site for The Summit is located in Fayette County
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
and Raleigh County
Raleigh County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile . There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile...
in southern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, adjacent to the New River Gorge National River
New River Gorge National River
The New River Gorge National River is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Established in 1978, the NPS-protected area stretches for from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.New...
, which is east of the camp. Managed by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
(NPS), the New River Gorge NRA is a 70000 acres (283.3 km²) park that exemplifies the typically rugged Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
, and is a popular whitewater rafting, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, and tourism
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
destination. It is also the home of the New River Gorge Bridge
New River Gorge Bridge
The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. With an arch long, the New River Gorge Bridge was for many years the world's longest arch bridge; it is now the third...
.
Development of The Summit is now in progress. The current goals of construction at the site are developing infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
, providing access to the area’s resources for outdoor activities, and preparing for the more than 50,000 anticipated attendees of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. The Summit is expected to inject $25.3 million into the local economy annually.
Inception
Plans for The Summit began in 2007 when BSA leadership began looking for a permanent location for the National Scout Jamboree, which had been held at Fort A.P. HillFort A.P. Hill
Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, is an active duty installation of the United States Army, located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia.Named for Confederate Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, Fort A.P...
, Virginia since 1981 as well as seeking another high adventure base for the large number of Scouts who are wait-listed at the other three high adventure camps every year. A committee in charge of site selection and project planning was created. The committee named the new venture Project Arrow, chaired by Jack D. Furst. Plans for Project Arrow grew to include not only a venue for the Jamboree, but also for a summer camp, a high adventure base, and a leadership center, all housed on the same contiguous property.
More than 80 sites in 28 states were visited over an 18 month span and inspected as possible locations for the new venue. The top fifteen sites were visited and in October 2008 the list was cut to three sites: Saline County, Arkansas; Goshen
Goshen, Virginia
Goshen is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, United States. The population was 406 at the 2000 census. The town is known amongst the Boy Scouts of America for hosting Goshen Scout Reservation, one of the largest Boy Scout camps in America....
, Rockbridge County, Virginia
Rockbridge County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile . There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
; and the New River region of West Virginia. In February 2009 Arkansas was cut from the list, leaving Virginia and West Virginia. On August 4, 2009, the BSA announced it was no longer considering the Virginia site as the permanent host of the National Jamboree and was looking into the feasibility of the West Virginia site hosting the National Jamboree as well as the leadership and high adventure programs.
On Wednesday November 18, 2009, the BSA announced that it had chosen the West Virginia site, known locally as the Garden Grounds property, as the future home of The Summit.
One of the deciding factors for Project Arrow in choosing the West Virginia site was its adjacency to the New River Gorge NRA. More than 13 miles of the property borders the park, giving Scouts
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
and Scouters
Scout Leader
A Scout Leader or Scouter generally refers to the trained adult leader of a Scout unit. The terms used vary from country to country, over time, and with the type of unit.-Roles:...
access to more than 70,000 acres of managed wilderness beyond the Summit property.
The BSA and Project Arrow has partnered with the NPS to create park programs and increased access in anticipation of the new High Adventure Base.
Mike Patrick was announced as the chief operating officer on February 9, 2010.
Location
The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve is in southern West Virginia bordering the New River Gorge National River Area. Approximately 8000 acres (32.4 km²) of the property are in Fayette County, West VirginiaFayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
. The remaining roughly 2600 acres (10.5 km²) are in Raleigh County, West Virginia
Raleigh County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families residing in the county. The population density was 130 people per square mile . There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59 per square mile...
. The property borders the communities of Glen Jean
Glen Jean, West Virginia
Glen Jean is an unincorporated census-designated place in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States, near Oak Hill. As of the 2010 census, its population is 210....
, McCreery, Thurmond
Thurmond, West Virginia
Thurmond was incorporated in 1900 and was most likely named for Captain W. D. Thurmond, who settled here in 1844. He served in the Confederate Army and died in 1910 at age 90. Thurmond post office was established in 1888 and discontinued in 1995...
, and Mount Hope
Mount Hope, West Virginia
Mount Hope is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,487 at the 2000 census.-History:The Mount Hope Historic District and New River Company General Office Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
. To the south is the city of Beckley
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
, and to the north are the towns of Oak Hill
Oak Hill, West Virginia
Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States and is the primary city within the Oak Hill, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area. The micropolitan area is also included in the Beckley-Oak Hill, WV Combined Statistical Area. The population was 7,589 at the 2000 census...
and Fayetteville
Fayetteville, West Virginia
Fayetteville is a town in and the county seat of Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,754 at the 2000 census.Fayetteville was listed as one of the 2006 "Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America" by Budget Travel Magazine ....
. To the northwest is the capital city of Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
.
Transportation networks servicing the area include Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
from the east and west, Interstate 77
Interstate 77
Interstate 77 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States. It traverses diverse terrain, from the mountainous state of West Virginia to the rolling farmlands of North Carolina and Ohio. It largely supplants the old U.S...
from the south, and Interstate 79
Interstate 79
Interstate 79 is an Interstate Highway in the eastern United States, designated from Interstate 77 in Charleston, West Virginia to Pennsylvania Route 5 and Pennsylvania Route 290 in Erie, Pennsylvania...
from the north. These interstates are connected by U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 19 is a north–south U.S. Highway. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie....
, which borders the western side of the property. There are commercial airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s in Beckley
Beckley Raleigh County Memorial Airport
- External links :* at West Virginia Airport Directory...
and Charleston
Yeager Airport
Yeager Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles east of the central business district of Charleston, a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is owned by the Central West Virginia Regional Airport Authority...
with daily flights in and out of West Virginia. Also, the Charlotte/Douglas
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport
Charlotte Douglas International Airport is a joint civil-military public international airport located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established in 1935 as Charlotte Municipal Airport, in 1954 the airport was renamed Douglas Municipal Airport after former Charlotte mayor Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr...
and Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
s are both within an estimated 3.5 hour drive from The Summit. Amtrak’s
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Cardinal connects Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
via the New River Gorge, with stops within the New River Gorge NRA in Prince
Prince (Amtrak station)
Prince is an Amtrak station in Prince, West Virginia, served by the Cardinal. Because it is on the CSX mainline while the unincorporated area of Prince itself is not, this station serves as the main depot for the Beckley area.Of the ten West Virginia stations served by Amtrak, Prince was the...
and Thurmond
Thurmond (Amtrak station)
Thurmond is an Amtrak station in Thurmond, West Virginia, served by the Cardinal. The station is located on CSX's New River Line.It is one of Amtrak's least-busy stations Thurmond is an Amtrak station in Thurmond, West Virginia, served by the Cardinal. The station is located on CSX's New River...
.
Proposed features
The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve will become a National Center for Scouting Excellence, which will have four divisions of activity: the National Scout Jamboree, a High Adventure Base, a National Scout Summer Camp, and a Center for Leadership and Excellence. There are also plans for five regional subcamps, and staff and centralized services area, an Order of the ArrowOrder of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
area, a large outdoor arena, mountain bike and cross country mountain bike areas, and a challenge course. Construction and operation of The Summit is in firm line with the BSA's Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or...
program.
The Summit property was once the site of extensive coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
, an industry for which the state of West Virginia is known. The remnants of long abandoned surface mines within the property have created wide flat areas that tier the terrain into a series of benches, effectively pre-grading and excavating the property, and allowing for many of the roads and infrastructure sites on the property to begin construction without extensive earth moving.
Sections of the property contain large flat areas engineered to accommodate regional camp headquarters and sub-camps. The sub-camp farthest from The Summit’s core area will be 1.3 miles (2.1 km), with an elevation gain of no more than 300 feet (91.4 m). Pedestrian pathways reduce walking times from regional camps to the core activity center to 12–15 minutes.
A permanent arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
on the far side of the valley will seat 6000 to 8000 people, which will be built as a natural extension to the property’s lower bowl amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
section, for a total arena area large enough for 80,000 people during the national Scout jamboree.
A lake at the center of the site’s infrastructure will separate regional camps from the arena, action areas, transportation depot, and other traditional core areas.
A valley on the Summit property will be crossed by a triple-walkway pedestrian suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
sponsored by Consol Energy
Consol Energy
Consol Energy is an energy company headquartered in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, suburb of Cecil Township, in the Southpointe complex. It is one of the US's largest coal mining companies, along with Peabody Energy and Arch Coal...
. The 700 foot long, $15 million bridge will connect the western and eastern portions of the core areas of the property.
Bechtel family
Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr.Stephen Bechtel, Jr.
Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. is, with his son Riley, co-owner of the Bechtel Corporation. He is the son of Stephen David Bechtel, Sr. and grandson of Warren A. Bechtel who founded the Bechtel Corporation.-Education:...
is the grandson of Warren A. Bechtel, founder of the Bechtel Corporation, the largest engineering company in the United States. He took over as manager of the company in 1960 at the age of 35. He retired from the company in June 1990. He is an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
.
The S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund, both family foundations, provide support to, among other groups, select non-profit organizations that address challenges to the economic welfare of the United States.
Program areas supported by the foundations include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Education
STEM fields
STEM fields is a US Government acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The acronym is in use regarding access to work visas for immigrants who are skilled in these fields. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in the STEM fields...
, Environment
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
, Character and Citizenship Development, and Preventative Healthcare and Selected Research.
The Bechtel Foundation donated $50 million to the BSA to help the Arrow Project purchase and develop the land that is now The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve.
Donors
Other donors include:- Jim Justice, donated $25 million to fund the James C. Justice National Scout Camp.
- The Ruby Foundation, donated $10 million to fund the J.W. & Hazel Ruby West Virginia Welcome Center.
- Ed and Jeanne Arnold, donated $10 million to fund the Ed & Jeanne Arnold Transportation and Logistics Center.
- Terrence and Peggy Dunn, funded the Dunn Family Adult Leadership Camping Community.
- J. Brett Harvey funded the Harvey Mountain Bike Shop and the Jared Harvey Bike Trails system.
2013 National Scout Jamboree
The current focus of the Arrow Project is preparing The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve property for the 2013 National Scout JamboreeNational Scout jamboree (Boy Scouts of America)
The national Scout jamboree is a gathering, or jamboree of thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America, usually held every four years and organized by the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Referred to as "the Jamboree", "Jambo", or NSJ, Scouts from all over the nation and world...
, which will be held July 15–24, 2013.
The BSA anticipates attendance at approximately 50,000 Scouts and Scouters as well as over 300,000 visitors over the course of 10 days for the event. This will effectively double the population of Fayette County, West Virginia, the location of The Summit, for the event’s duration. 2013 will be the first time the Jamboree takes place at The Summit. Subsequent national jamborees will also be held there.
Early announcements from The Summit team at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, and subsequently on Facebook announced that Venturing would be a part of the Jamboree, not just as staff, but as participants. This would mark the first appearance of Venturing at a Jamboree, and the first attempt to expand the program to include the senior scouting program of the BSA since the attempted inclusion of Exploring in 1989. This has since been confirmed in promotional videos and materials for the event.
The site will be the location for the 24th World Scout Jamboree in 2019, hosted by Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
, Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, and Asociación de Scouts de México.
BSA national high adventure bases
The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve will become the BSA’s seventh consecutive and fourth operating national high adventure baseHigh-adventure bases of the Boy Scouts of America
High-adventure bases of the Boy Scouts of America are outdoor recreation facilities located in several locales in North America operated by the Boy Scouts of America at the organization's national level. Each facility offers wilderness programs and training that could include sailing, wilderness...
program. The three currently operating programs are the Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch
Philmont Scout Ranch is a large, rugged, mountainous ranch located near the town of Cimarron, New Mexico, covering approximately of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, the Northern Tier National High Adventure Base in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, and the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base
Florida National High Adventure Sea Base
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base is a high adventure program base run by the Boy Scouts of America in the Florida Keys. Its counterparts are the Philmont Scout Ranch in northern New Mexico, the Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases in Ely, Minnesota, and The Summit Bechtel Family...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Discontinued programs include the Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, Maine National High Adventure in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and the Land Between the Lakes National Outdoor Adventure Center in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
With the addition of The Summit as the newest high adventure base, participants will be exposed to programs unique to the New River Gorge region. The region offers white water rafting
Rafting
Rafting or white water rafting is a challenging recreational outdoor activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on white water or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers. The development of this...
rated from Class II to Class V along the more than 50 miles of river within the New River Gorge National River area. Other proposed outdoor activities that are popular to the area include Rock climbing
Rock Climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, rappelling (abseiling), mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, geocaching
Geocaching
Geocaching is an outdoor sporting activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", anywhere in the world....
, and orienteering
Orienteering
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they...
. Some of the additional activities being considered, with help from Scout feedback at the 2010 Jamboree
2010 National Scout Jamboree
The 2010 National Scout Jamboree was the 17th national Scout jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America and was held from July 26 to August 4, 2010 at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. The 2010 National Scout Jamboree celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America and was the last jamboree held...
, are skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
, freestyle BMX
Freestyle BMX
Freestyle BMX is a synonym for BMX stunt riding, a sport branch that hails from extreme sports. It consists of six disciplines: street, park, vert, trails, dirt and flatland .-History:...
, mountainboarding
Mountainboarding
Mountainboarding, also known as Dirtboarding, Offroad Boarding, Grass Boarding, and All-Terrain Boarding , is a well established if little-known extreme sport, derived from snowboarding...
, ATV
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
riding, riverboarding
Riverboarding
Riverboarding is a boardsport in which the participant lies prone on their board with fins on their feet for propulsion and steering. This sport is also known as hydrospeed in Europe and as riverboarding or white-water sledging in New Zealand, depending on the type of board used...
, adventure racing
Adventure racing
Adventure racing is a combination of two or more endurance disciplines, including orienteering and/or navigation , cross-country running, mountain biking, paddling and climbing and related rope skills...
, and wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
.