Scouts to tour East Coast

A regional Boy Scout troop comprising 39 Orange County residents,

about half of whom live in Newport-Mesa, was scheduled to leave

Tuesday night on a 2 1/2-week trip that culminates with the National

Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia.

National Jamboree Troop 834 is led by Stephen Skahen, a physician

at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and a National Jamboree

scoutmaster.

Much of the trip’s focus in on American history. The group visits

New York, Boston, Gettysburg, Pa., and Washington, D.C. It will also

make tours of both Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park.

At the National Jamboree, which occurs every four years, 40,000

Boy Scouts from all over the world celebrate with music, arts and

adventures.

About 320 scouts from the Orange County region are attending the

Jamboree, which runs July 25 through Aug. 3.

In order to offset expenses, the scouts from Troop 834 held a

series of fundraisers.

Each scout has had to earn an emergency-preparedness award and can

earn merit badges at the conference.

Skahen, who attended a past Jamboree with his son, said, I “was so

impressed with the setup I wanted to go back, even if I had to lead a

troop.”

One of the troops traveling is Connor Garrett, a 12-year-old First

Class Boy Scout from Corona del Mar.

He said he is most interested in learning about United States

history and seeing the sights in New York.

“It’s going to be a fun, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.

-- Elia Powers