21 photos from the first-ever Scouting 500 in Kansas City

More than 12,000 Scouts turned up at Kansas Speedway last weekend for the inaugural Scouting 500. The final results: Everyone in attendance had a high-octane weekend they’ll never forget.

As this positive story in the Kansas City Star explained, Scouts could have “ridden a zip line, raced go-karts, flown remote-control helicopters, climbed rock walls and learned about welding, carpentry, archery and more.”

But seeing, as they say, is believing. So check out 21 photos from the event, courtesy of Heart of America Council Marketing Director Matthew Armstrong.

I gotta say, it looks like these Scouts had a life-changing experience that reminds them why they joined Scouting.

Some Scouts found their way through the Meltdown
Some Scouts found their way through the Meltdown
How many Scouts flipped for the Fling Thing
How many Scouts flipped for the Fling Thing
Smiles all around on the zip line
Smiles all around on the zip line
Let the jousting begin
Let the jousting begin
Fencing anyone?
Fencing anyone?
Climbing with casts...No problem!
Climbing with casts…No problem!
The Olathe Fire Department may have found a future firefighter
The Olathe Fire Department may have found a future firefighter
Ready to Race! Event Chairman, Scott Boswell, Emcee, Christa Dubill, and Scout Executive, Kenn Miller
Ready to Race! Event Chairman, Scott Boswell, Emcee, Christa Dubill, and Scout Executive, Kenn Miller
Falcon Skydiving Team helps kickoff the Saturday night festivities
Falcon Skydiving Team helps kickoff the Saturday night festivities
STEM provides an out of this world experience for one Scout
STEM provides an out of this world experience for one Scout
Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail, teaches proper shooting techniques at the BB gun range
Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail, teaches proper shooting techniques at the BB gun range
The Beechnutz put on an impressive show in the sky
The Beechnutz put on an impressive show in the sky
Malaysian Scout leader Ms. Ping Ying Choo and Gill Clay, grandaughter of Baden Powell
Malaysian Scout leader Ms. Ping Ying Choo and Gill Clay, grandaughter of Baden Powell
Back from Antarctica, Alex Houston speaks to fellow Eagle Scouts at the Royal Gathering of Eagles
Back from Antarctica, Alex Houston speaks to fellow Eagle Scouts at the Royal Gathering of Eagles
The writing is on the wall. This graffiti is encouraged
The writing is on the wall. This graffiti is encouraged
Full speed ahead...One of the most popular activities had to be the go kart track
Full speed ahead…One of the most popular activities had to be the go kart track
A patriotic start to a busy Saturday
A patriotic start to a busy Saturday
Scouts learn disability awareness during wheelchair basketball
Scouts learn disability awareness during wheelchair basketball
Making it to the top of the climbing tower...No problem
Making it to the top of the climbing tower…No problem
BSA NASCAR driver, Scott Lagasse Jr., greets Scouts during the pre-race flag parade
BSA NASCAR driver, Scott Lagasse Jr., greets Scouts during the pre-race flag parade
An impressive Saturday night fireworks finale
An impressive Saturday night fireworks finale

About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.