big event
The 17th Annual Varsity Scout Big Event
Who : Varsity Scouts ages 14 and up and their leaders.
When : June 18 - 21, 2008
Where : East Fork of the Bear Scout Camp
Cost :TBA
Click here for Participant Online Registration
---------------- Staff Registration Information Section--------
Each Staff Member participating in the Big Event should be registered
with the BSA and have filled out the Staff registration form.
Staff Registration requires that you know your
Personal Identification Number.
Personal Identification Number (required)
This is your ID number from the BSA.
You can get this number from your registration card, the Internet Advancement program in your local unit, or from the Registration Office at the Scout Service Center.
Click Here for the Staff Registration form.(pdf format)
Please take this form for registration to your nearest Scout offices.
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Important new information for all participants.
If you plan to do climbing or rappelling, you will need an informed climbing consent and class 3 medical form completed BEFORE you arrive...
Participants who are not climbing will need a class 2 medical form
Download and Print the registration form for Big Event
Online Registration will be available when costs are announced
The Leader Packet will be available for download in early 2008. Included are the Medical form, and Permission slips required for participation at the Big Event.
All documents are in PDF format. If you don't have a reader then follow the links at the bottom of this page to download your free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Have we found a camp for you!
It is the purpose of the Boy Scouts of America to provide for boys an effective program designed to build desirable qualities of character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop in them personal fitness, thus to help in the development of American citizens. But boys are more interested in FUN. To accomplish the aims of scouting while satisfying this thirst for fun, the Varsity Scouts have taken the traditional Mountain Man Rendezvous theme and developed the BIG EVENT.
The site is in the High Uinta Mountains, just off of the Mirror Lake Highway, were we have access to the entire East Fork Reservation. There are over 50 different activities which represent all five fields of emphasis. The boys can spend all three days participating in events and never visit the same one twice (unless they want to!). Many of the activities are TIMED events and it is not unusual to see a team come back time and again to better their score.
We look forward to seeing you at this summer's BIG EVENT. Please check back here; we will be updating this website with more information soon. .
- All registered Varsity Scout teams Welcome
- Daily Activities and Demonstrations where the boys can earn beads.
- Historical Goods for sale at Traders Row
- Nightly Fire Bowl Ceremonies & Entertainment
- Dutch Oven Cook-off
Just what in the heck is a Rendezvous, anyway?
Basically, a Rendezvous is an historical reenactment of the gatherings of the Mountain Men during the fur-trade era of the American West. Lovers of America's history get together from all over the country to create an old-time camp that re-creates the sights, sounds, smells, flavors and feelings of 160 years ago. A Rendezvous is like stepping into a time machine to see Utah in 1840, the way it really was! Some of the participants look like they stepped out of a museum. The BIG EVENT is an evolution of that theme which caters to boys aged 14 years and older. Many of the activities are from the Mountain Man era, while others are HIGH TECH survival. There is something for everyone at the BIG EVENT.
Program Details
The Event features over 50 different activities. Each activity is separated into one of the five fields of emphasis High Adventure, SP&E, Advancement, Personal Development, and Service. A special score card is used to help ensure that all team members have a chance to visit each field of emphasis and that program manager has an opportunity to "lead" his group through the exercise. Service is expected from each team as well and a special bead is given for completion of a service project. (Many projects are needed before the event gets underway so if you would like to complete your service project before the activities - please contact the scout office).
Big Event History
The first Rendezvous we did here was to help celebrate the Mountain Men entering the area, in 1898. It was a rousing success, with over 250 participants. It was one of the greatest summers on record, and so wet you couldn't keep dry, but we had a darn good time.
As soon as the first camp came down, we started talking about "going Annual." The second year was even better, we had nearly 300 participants. We found a groove the next summer and converted the name to "The Big Event" to signify the types of activities that Varsity Scouters could experience. In '95, the camp had nearly 1200 participants.
Camp Considerations
The primary objective for this event is to provide an ultimate Scouting experience for every young man and leader. This encampment will provide the opportunity to discover, learn and refine Scouting skills. For each participant it will be one of life's great memories.
TOUR PERMIT - This will be your ticket to enter the Big Event.
UNIFORM - BSA uniform to include field uniform, golf shirts, or appropriate, clean, modest, mountain man attire. (Remember this is a BSA camp.)
CAMPING - Varsity Units will be assigned to one of five camp areas at registration time. After your camp is identified, return to the Camp Commissioner assigned to your campground to post the camp site on the master camp area map. Vehicles may park in the parking areas of each camp. Prior to leaving, campsite must pass inspection by the Camp Commissioner.
FIRST AID - KITS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR EACH TEAM. FIRE SAFETY
NO TRACE CAMPING - ALL FIRES MUST BE IN A METAL CONTAINER AT LEAST 18 INCHES OFF OF THE GROUND. Fire buckets and/or fire extinguisher at each camp will be required for fire control. WHEN BREAKING CAMP, PLEASE BE SURE ALL FIRES, LOGS, CHARCOAL, OR ANY COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE EXTINGUISHED DEAD OUT. Fire policy is subject to change.
MEALS - Teams will provide their own food for all meals.
SCORING - The high score will be posted on bulletin boards for each scored event. Scouts will carry their own score card and will be awarded a special bead for participating in each event. Each person will need to participate in 10 events (1 in each of the five fields of emphasis and 5 elective events.) The score card may then be presented for the 1999 Varsity Letter Pin. There will be over 40 events to choose from. From these a participant may choose as many as he would like.
WHAT TO BRING - Tents or lodges, bedding, team food, fishing gear (Utah license required if you want to fish), compasses, Dutch ovens or other cooking utensils, water containers, fire buckets, and adequate clothing for mountain weather (hint, you can usually see your breath in the cool of the morning) and clothing for water sports.
NOTE: UNITS WITH APPROPRIATE UNIFORMS (VARSITY ACTIVITY SHIRT, FULL UNIFORM OR MOUNTAIN MAN ATTIRE) WILL BE USED FOR EVENT PHOTOGRAPHS.
PERMISSION SLIPS AND MEDICAL FORMS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CLIMBING, RAPPELLING, BICYCLING, AND WATER ACTIVITES. REGULATION BICYCLE SAFETY HELMETS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED FOR ANY PERSON RIDING A BICYCLE.
WORDS OF WARNING - Fireworks of any kind will not be tolerated. Walkman type systems MUST BE equipped with headphones. Boom Box's and electrical generators for participants will not be allowed.
If you have any questions about the BIG EVENT, E-mail us at rehall@bsamail.org. or call the Boy Scout Service Center at (801) 582-3663.
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