Abbreviated Opening Show

Due to a weather related abbreviated program, Scouts, Scouters, and Staff were not able to see President Bush and the rest of the scheduled opening show Wednesday. However, they were treated to video footage of the Jamboree thus far and an address by Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN).

The journey from across the base to the arena started as early as 3:00 PM for some areas. Subcamp 3 was mobilized and joined the rest of the Northeast Region to head down to the arena at 4:00 PM. Once all the thousands of Scouts were seated, they were treated to a video presentation of Jamboree activities so far. Subcamp 3 was seated to the right edge of the arena, next to the area roped off for helicopters.

Throughout the presentation, large fire trucks were driving up the side of the crowd spraying giant streams of water into the crowd to cool everyone off.

Jamboree Chairman Francis H. Olmstead Jr. took to the stage and announced that due to an earlier-than-expected weather system, we would be leaving the arena early. Sen. Bill Frist then spoke, offering condolences for the Scouters lost earlier this week, and expressing his support for the Boy Scouts of America. He emphasized that the "Support Our Scouts Act of 2005" would allow the Scouts to use Fort A.P. Hill as a Jamboree site for the foreseeable future.