World Scouting Museum 2026
National Jamboree Essay Contest
The World Scouting Museum will be holding an Essay Contest open to members of the Scouting America Buckskin Council located in Charleston, West Virginia. The Winner(s) of the contest will be given a scholarship to be used only to attend the 2026 World Scout Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Beckley, West Virginia, July 22-31, 2026.
Winner(s) will be expected to trade and obtain patches for the World Scouting Museum that are produced for the 2026 National Jamboree. Their goal will be to get as many of the patches produced for the 2026 Jamboree for the corresponding Museum Exhibit. The Winner will be given Patches from the Museum to trade with other Scouts. We are looking for Scouts who have an interest in patch trading and want to ensure the Winner spends more time experiencing the 2026 Jamboree than patch trading.
Winner(s) will be expected to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours after the 2026 Jamboree at the World Scouting Museum, cataloging and helping put out patches on display. Winner(s) (& Parent/Guardian) will be expected to sign a contract with the World Scouting Museum committing to trading patches in good faith, being above board in patch trading, completing their 20 hours of volunteer time, and being a positive ambassador for the World Scouting Museum as our agent at the Jamboree.
Applicants must write a 500-word essay, topic: The importance of National Scout Jamborees and why it’s necessary for museums to document their history.
3 Semi-Finalists will be chosen, and each essay will be published in our Monthly Museum Newsletter, leading up to the 2026 National Scout Jamboree. All 3 Semi-Finalists will be required to have a short 30-minute video conference or in-person meeting with the Museum Curator (Parents/Guardians will be required to attend with Semi-Finalists) to learn about the Scouts’ background and their commitment to patch trading and helping the World Scouting Museum in its 2026 National Jamboree Mission.
Winner(s) will be announced on March 15, 2026.
All Essays should be submitted to wsmwvcurator@gmail.com by email no later than February 15, 2026. Late essays may be considered, but cannot be guaranteed.
Essay Contest Flyer
2026 NSJ Essay Contest FAQ Sheet
Essay Contest Rules
Winner(s) must be registered members of Scouting America Buckskin Council and Youth under 18 years of age. Winner(s) and Parent/Guardians will be required to sign a contract accepting the 2026 National Jamboree Scholarship and agreeing to the terms and conditions contained within. The World Scouting Museum 2026 National Jamboree Essay Contest is a merit-based contest; its winner(s) will be chosen by their merits in Scouting, the strength of their written essays, and their overall performance during the Semi-Finalist Interview. By entering the contest, you are agreeing that the World Scouting Museum has the right to choose the winner of this contest. Scouts may only enter 1 essay into the contest; they must live within 3 hours of the World Scouting Museum to volunteer after the Jamboree. Any Scouts found to be using Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) to write their essays will be disqualified from the contest and will be reported to the Buckskin Council for violations of the Scout Oath and Law, which may result in ineligibility for advancement. Essays must be double-spaced, be attributed to their writer, and include a title page with the writer’s Rank, Troop Number, Troop Positions held, Scouting Achievement, and a short Scouting Activity Record.
