Local Boy Scouts mark Scouting's 100th anniversary

Conrad Buhner of Wading River has been waiting five years to go mountain boarding at the 2010 National Scout Jamboree in Virginia.

The 16-year-old first came across the sport - which combines snowboarding and skateboarding - when he visited his brother at the 2005 Jamboree.

But more than anything, Buhner is excited to meet as many of the roughly 45,000 other Boy Scouts as possible.

"I want to meet people from everywhere," he said. "I'm not going for badges."

Buhner is one of 288 Long Island Scouts who are attending the 10-day Jamboree, which begins Monday and is being held at Fort A.P. Hill located near Bowling Green, Va. This year, more Scouts than usual are attending because it is the Boy Scouts of America's 100-year anniversary.

On Friday, Scouts in Nassau and Suffolk counties helped pack camping supplies in four trucks that are accompanying the boys to the Jamboree, where they'll join Scouts from every state and 26 other countries.

Each Jamboree troop has 36 scouts and four adults and has its own unique patches according to a contingent-wide theme. Nassau patches feature Marvel Comics characters, while the Suffolk patches have different Grumman planes made on Long Island. Scouts are given a few complete sets of the patches, which they are then encouraged to trade.

There are more than 100 activities at the Jamboree, including hiking, canoeing, trapshooting and motocross, and there are opportunities to earn merit badges, which are required for advancement in the Boy Scouts.

Thomas Sarant, 14, of Massapequa, was planning his activities according to the weather. "I'm saving the scuba diving part for the hottest day," he said.

The 2005 Jamboree was marred by the death of four adults, who were electrocuted when a metal pole they were installing as part of a dining canopy came into contact with an electric cable. Another man associated with the 2005 event died of a heart attack and hundreds of Scouts suffered dehydration.

Renee Fairrer, Boy Scouts public relations manager, said new restrictions limiting the height of structures and requiring that all tent poles be made of wood will make the event safer.

Scouts must achieve First Class rank to participate in the Jamboree, a classification that requires extensive safety training and swimming tests.

The 100-year anniversary had Long Island Scouts particularly excited.

"This is 100 times bigger than anything I've ever done before," said William Purdy, 15, of Great River.

The Boy Scouts of America

Founded: Feb. 8, 1910

Current membership: 2.7 million, second-largest worldwide (Indonesia has the largest association)

First Eagle Scout: Arthur Eldred of Oceanside (earned in 1912)

Total merit badges offered: 121

Other Scouting facts: 11 of the 12 men who have walked on the moon are former Scouts; the last three presidents - Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton - were all Scouts. Gerald Ford is the only Eagle Scout to serve as president.