10,000 Boy Scouts to Converge in Sea Girt, N.J. for N.J. State Police & N.J. Army and Air National Guard Camporee with STEM Focus

Editor’s Note: Media wishing to cover the event should contact Tom Kraeutler and report to the VIP building upon entering the facility to register for credentials. 

Contact: Tom Kraeutler, 732-778-9300, [email protected] 

SEA GIRT, N.J., May 16, 2017 --

What: State Troopers, Soldiers and 10,000 Scouts at one of the Boy Scouts of America’s Largest Events in 2017
When: May 19-21, 2017 (Most events will happen on Saturday, May 20)
Where: N.J. National Guard Training Facility, Sea Girt, N.J. (Monmouth County)
Visuals:

• 10,000 Boy Scouts encamped in 1,000-plus tents covering acres of fields.
• Scouts exploring activities related to STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – such as robotics, designing and constructing a 100-foot rope cable stay bridge, and much more.
• Scouts will share the Camporee experience via social media using the hashtag #BSACamporee and a special Geofilter on Snapchat.
• Scouts see science come to life through fascinating demonstrations, such as creating a “vortex cannon” – using a trash can, fog machine and some engineering, they’ll create smoke rings that can travel the length of a small field depending on wind conditions.
• Scouts participating in giant, LIFE-SIZE games of Connect 4 and Jenga.
• Scouts watch a thrilling N.J. State Police Aviation unit demonstration as police descend from a helicopter, combined with a K-9 unit demonstration.
• Scouts compete to earn PHYSICAL FITNESS awards for sit-ups, pull-ups and push-ups with the Top Physical Challenge, under the watchful guidance of N.J. State Police Training Bureau instructors.
• Scouts ascend rock climbing walls with the assistance N.J. National Guardsmen.
• N.J. State Police School and Traffic Safety Unit will have Scouts use a visual impairment device to navigate walking a course to simulate how mind-altering substances affect judgment.
• National Guard resources on display: helicopters, a Humvee and a security vehicle, Howitzer, MK19 grenade launcher, and sniper rifles (no live fire).
• N.J. State Police static displays including Cyber Crimes, Crime Scene Investigation, Composite Artist Unit, Major Crimes Unit and Polygraph Unit.
• Interactions between N.J. State Troopers, National Guard and military personnel, and Boy Scouts during numerous activities.

Key Coverage Opportunities and Schedule for Saturday, May 20, 2017

• 8:30 a.m.: Opening Ceremony – See thousands of Scouts fill an outdoor amphitheater.  Welcoming remarks by Boy Scouts of America Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh, as well as high ranking officials from the N.J. State Police and N.J. National Guard
• 9:00 a.m.: N.J. National Guard Blackhawk Helicopter flyover
• 10:00 a.m.: Thousands of Scouts begin participating in activities throughout the 5 million square foot Camporee area
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.:  Physical Fitness Challenge – Scouts test their fitness while being coached by N.J. State Police fitness instructors
• 1 p.m.: State Police Aviation and K-9 demonstrations
• 2 p.m.: National Guard helicopter hoist demonstration
• 3 p.m.: National Guard fast-rope insertion – Guardsmen descend from a helicopter
• 4 p.m.:  Activities close. Scouts return to campsites for dinner
• 6:30 p.m.:  Closing Ceremony – Scouts fill the outdoor theater for a ceremony including a high-energy performance by the band Life Speed and a laser light show
• 7:10 p.m.: N.J. State Police flyover* opens the closing ceremony

*All aviation activities are weather permitting

Details
The Boy Scouts of America, N.J. State Police and the N.J. Army and Air National Guard are joining forces to host the fifth Camporee, bringing together roughly 300 troops from all over New Jersey and from parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and Connecticut. 

This year’s theme is STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. All aspects of the Camporee have been geared around the STEM theme.  From fingerprinting to welding, robotics to insects, and more, Scouts will be able to enjoy a wide range of STEM-related activities.

The Boy Scout Camporee is held once every three years and is the one of largest Scouting events in the nation, second only to the 2017 National Scout Jamboree, being held July 19^th to the 28^th at the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia.

This is a weekend of fun and excitement, showcasing the best that our service members, law enforcement and Scouts have to offer, as well as fostering a spirit of innovation that will encourage the Scouts to explore STEM fields.