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More than 38,000 Boy Scouts from across the world attended the jamboree. The boys met scouts from around the world, including Pakistan, Poland, Denmark, Japan, and Germany.

Adam Ingalsbe (center front) took part in a cermony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery during the jamboree.

The jamboree is held every four years. Boy Scouts between the ages of 12 and 17 who have attained first class rank are eligible to attend.

Minnesota had about 500 scouts attending the jamboree, including 72 from the Central Minnesota Council that includes Paynesville. Paynesville scouts who attended the jamboree were Derek Burris, Troy Gerding, Adam Ingalsbe, Scott Millner, Bobby O'Fallon, Ben Lingl, Joe Lingl, Jon Scheierl, and Brad Torborg.

At the jamboree, the scouts tried scuba diving, played buckskin games, and viewed a military exhibit with helicopters and tanks. Big shows with musical acts started and ended the jamboree. The closing show featured a fireworks display choreographed to music.

While at the jamboree, the scouts put into practice Boy Scout virtues such as patience, being helpful to others, and making friends. They often found themselves standing in line waiting for an activity.

The scouts toured Washington, D.C., visiting the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Capitol, and the Smithsonian. They also visited Monticello, Mt. Vernon, and Virginia Beach.

Enroute to the jamboree on a bus, the scouts saw the Indianapolis speedway, Jacob's Field, where the Cleveland Indians play, and visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Ingalsbe, a sophomore this fall at Paynesville, applied for and was chosen to be an assistant senior patrol leader at the jamboree. A highlight of the trip for Ingalsbe was to be selected to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a ceremony.

Trading council patches was a big activity at the jamboree. Millner came home with 150 different badges.

The Paynesville Boy Scouts took along personalized pins to trade. Louis Industries cut out a stainless steel figure of Minnesota with its laser and the boys attached Central Minnesota pins to it.

The scouts held a wheelchair basketball game, had a food booth during Town and Country Days, picked rocks, and sold pizza and popcorn to help pay for the trip. They agreed the jamboree was definitely worth all the effort.