Get all the details on registering for the 2023 National Jamboree

Attending a National Jamboree isn’t your normal camp. It’s 10 days of high-adventure fun and fellowship with Scouts and Scouters from around the country. It’s an experience like no other, and you and your Scouts can now sign up for the 20th installment of this flagship BSA event.

The National Jamboree is slated for July 19-28 at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia. You can register online by visiting the Jamboree website. Before you do, remember to ensure your profile on your My.Scouting account is updated.

For details on registering, either as a participant or staff member, read below. You can also watch this livecast, which aired last week.

Participant requirements

Youth participants must:

  • Have a current BSA membership.
  • Be at least 12 years of age by the first day of the Jamboree but have not reached their 18th birthday by the last day of the Jamboree.
  • Be approved by their local council.
  • Have appropriate parent/guardian to complete the online parental consent. (An email will be sent to the parent/guardian of any applicant currently 17 years of age or younger during the application process.)
  • Participate in pre-Jamboree training experience with local council and unit leader.
  • Submit BSA Annual Health & Medical Record using the online Jamboree submission process. The AHMR must be dated on or after July 1, 2022.
  • Submit all registration fees per the local council’s payment schedule.

Young adult program participants must:

  • Have a current BSA membership.
  • Be at least 18 years of age by the first day of the Jamboree but have not reached their 21st birthday by the last day of the Jamboree.
  • Be housed as an adult due to chronological age, while allowed to participate in program consistent with a youth participant.
  • Be approved by their local council.
  • Participate in pre-Jamboree training experience with local council and unit leader.
  • Submit BSA Annual Health & Medical Record using the online Jamboree submission process. The AHMR must be dated on or after July 1, 2022.
  • Submit all registration fees per the local council’s payment schedule.

Adult participants must:

  • Have a current BSA membership in a local council unit.
  • Be at least 21 years of age by the first day of the Jamboree.
  • Be approved by their local council.
  • Scoutmaster, First, Second or Third Assistant Scoutmasters must currently be serving in any unit leadership position.
  • Scoutmaster applicants must have completed appropriate leader specific training.
  • Be current with Youth Protection Training.
  • Register online through the Jamboree registration system as a “Leader.” The council will designate specific leadership or chaperone positions at the time the Jamboree units are assigned.
  • Participate and assist in planning the pre-Jamboree training experience with local council.
  • The Unit Care Provider must be one of the unit leaders and is required to hold either current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certificates or a current healthcare license. This unit leader’s responsibilities include providing for the safety and well-being of each unit member by reviewing their AHMR and maintaining a binder/file containing all the unit’s AHMRs, maintaining the unit first-aid kit and providing first-aid treatment within the unit and overseeing administration of required medications.
  • Submit BSA Annual Health & Medical Record using the online Jamboree submission process. The AHMR must be dated on or after July 1, 2022.
  • Submit all registration fees per the local council’s payment schedule.

Registration and fees

The cost for youth and adult participants will be $1,285.

Individual fees for council contingent members as well as deposit requirements and fee payment schedules are set by local councils. These fees include a national fee that covers the expense of program materials, food, insurance and equipment.

Jamboree Service Team (staff) requirements

There will be three staff sessions; applicants can select the session that best fits their schedule: July 17-23, July 24-29 or July 16-29. All applicants are required to submit a $100 nonrefundable deposit with their application. Fees vary on which session is chosen and the age of the applicant.

For adult JST (age 34 and up):

  • Session 1 (July 17-23, 2023) – $700
  • Session 2 (July 24-29, 2023) – $700
  • Session 3 (July 16-29, 2023) – $1,200

For young adult JST (ages 16-33)

  • Session 1 YAJ (July 17-23, 2023) – $400
  • Session 2 YAJ (July 24-29, 2023) – $400
  • Session 3 YAJ (July 16-29, 2023) – $675

All JST are required to:

  • Have a current BSA membership.
  • Have current Youth Protection Training at the time of registration. and at the time of the Jamboree.
  • Be available to arrive at the Jamboree site up to one week before the Jamboree as stipulated by their respective area lead to receive training and assist in final preparations for participant arrival.
  • Be at least 16 years of age by the first day of the Jamboree.
  • Submit all registration fees per the published payment schedule.
  • Complete any Jamboree-specific training as directed by their respective area lead.
  • Submit BSA Annual Health & Medical Record using the online Jamboree submission process. The AHMR must be dated on or after July 1, 2022.
  • Agree to abide by the Jamboree Staff Code of Conduct.

About Michael Freeman 438 Articles
Michael Freeman, an Eagle Scout, is an associate editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines.