The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scouting Reserve
The Bechtel Family National Scouting
Reserve, also known as The Summit, is a
10,600 acre adventure center operated by
the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the
new permanent home of the National Scout
Jamboree. Set to open in 2013, the
facility will also serve as the location
of a summer camp, high-adventure base,
and leadership training center.
Search New River WV
Popular Searches:
Winterplace :: Real Estate :: New River Rafting :: River Trips
Popular Searches:
Winterplace :: Real Estate :: New River Rafting :: River Trips
Map showing the 100-year vision
of "The Summit." The Bechtel scout
reserve encompasses 10,600 acres of
forest between the New River Gorge
National River and the US-19
expressway north of Beckley, WV.
Boy Scouts Acquire 10k-Acre Site
Adjoining New River Gorge
More than 50,000 boy scouts are expected
to visit the reserve annually, according
to the BSA, except during Jamboree years,
traditionally every fourth year, when an
additional 40,000 or more scouts and tens
of thousands of guests are expected to
visit. Spokespersons for the scouts and
economic development agencies have
estimated that anywhere from 100,000 to
300,000 visitors could visit the reserve
through the ten-day Jamboree period.
Already an established outdoor-adventure destination, the BSA first considered the region ideal for its fourth national "high adventure base," to join three it similarly operates in Florida, Minnesota, and New Mexico. Scouts who attend will explore the New River Gorge and its environs while participating in many forms of recreation for which the area is known -- mountain biking, whitewater rafting, cave exploration, rock climbing, and other extreme outdoor sports.
In February 2010, the 4C Economic Development Authority, which is coordinating the reserve's development locally, posted an video presentation by BSA developers Jack Furst and Isaac Manning on YouTube.com. Fuerst stressed during the interview that the BSA expects 50 to 100 thousand boy scouts to visit the site annually, partly as a result of its centralized location in the eastern U.S. near Interstates 77 and 64.
Already an established outdoor-adventure destination, the BSA first considered the region ideal for its fourth national "high adventure base," to join three it similarly operates in Florida, Minnesota, and New Mexico. Scouts who attend will explore the New River Gorge and its environs while participating in many forms of recreation for which the area is known -- mountain biking, whitewater rafting, cave exploration, rock climbing, and other extreme outdoor sports.
In February 2010, the 4C Economic Development Authority, which is coordinating the reserve's development locally, posted an video presentation by BSA developers Jack Furst and Isaac Manning on YouTube.com. Fuerst stressed during the interview that the BSA expects 50 to 100 thousand boy scouts to visit the site annually, partly as a result of its centralized location in the eastern U.S. near Interstates 77 and 64.
"We believe that when the site is fully
developed, given its location, ten-hours away
from 70 percent of our consituency, that this
will become a high utilization site," Fuerst
said. "And it's our hope and dream that we'll
serve somewhere between 50 and 100 thousand kids
a summer."
According to Furst, the reserve's location on Garden Ground Mountain, adjacent to the New River Gorge National River, in essence provides the Boy Scouts access to more than 100,000 acres of recreation area.
"The park service has been phenonomal to work with, and it's one of the reason's we're here in West Virginia," Furst said.
Manning agreed, stressing the ability of the national parkland to provide recreation opportunity not otherwise available at similar Boy Scout adventure areas.
"One of the things we were looking for when we were going through the site selection process was a site that would give us things we don't have in the system right now," Manning explained.
"In the New River Gorge National River, they have Class III, IV, and V whitewater. They have some of the world's greatest technical climbing on the Endless Wall here that climbers from all over the world come to climb."
"So the availablility on this site to do anything you can imagine outdoors (from caving to climbing to whitewater rafiting to mountain biking to just regular hiking and backpacking) -- this site affords us the luxury of having 100 thousand acres at our disposal to provide a program on the East Coast similar to what we do in our three other national high adventure bases"
According to Furst, the reserve's location on Garden Ground Mountain, adjacent to the New River Gorge National River, in essence provides the Boy Scouts access to more than 100,000 acres of recreation area.
"The park service has been phenonomal to work with, and it's one of the reason's we're here in West Virginia," Furst said.
Manning agreed, stressing the ability of the national parkland to provide recreation opportunity not otherwise available at similar Boy Scout adventure areas.
"One of the things we were looking for when we were going through the site selection process was a site that would give us things we don't have in the system right now," Manning explained.
"In the New River Gorge National River, they have Class III, IV, and V whitewater. They have some of the world's greatest technical climbing on the Endless Wall here that climbers from all over the world come to climb."
"So the availablility on this site to do anything you can imagine outdoors (from caving to climbing to whitewater rafiting to mountain biking to just regular hiking and backpacking) -- this site affords us the luxury of having 100 thousand acres at our disposal to provide a program on the East Coast similar to what we do in our three other national high adventure bases"
Copyright 2002-2010 by NewRiverWV.com -- All
Rights Reserved
Other West Virginia
Websites