Special needs Scouts go scuba diving at National Jamboree

FORT A.P. HILL, Va. — Scouts by the tens of thousands have come to the 2010 National Jamboree and found themselves in new environments. And they've been challenged to do things they didn't know they could do.

For one young man, his jamboree "gut check" may be rappelling down the side of a stories-high wall. For another, it's conjuring the courage to approach Scouts from another troop and offering to swap patches. And for many, it's simply being away from mom and dad for a couple of weeks.

A group of special needs Scouts from Utah's Great Salt Lake Council encountered such moments Friday night.

Without hesitation, they stepped from dry ground, strapped on scuba gear and — with the assistance of a scuba instruction team schooled in working with injured combat veterans — took their first underwater breaths.

These Scouts from Troop 601 range in age from mid-20s to late 40s. The troop's senior member, Eagle Scout Terry Brown of West Valley City, turns 48 on Monday. While young men typically exit Scouting when they turn 18, those with Down syndrome and various other disabilities are allowed to continue in the program for as long as they wish.

Most of the Scouts participating in Friday's scuba training are involved in LDS special needs Mutual groups from the Salt Lake Valley. During the activity, the Scouts learned the nuances of scuba equipment and had fun learning to breathe in an underwater environment.

"The main reason why we are here is to show (the Scouts) that they can do it — they can try," said Danny Facciola, an instructor with Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba.

Troop 601 is not exclusively special needs — several traditional Scouts are also participating with the group at jamboree.

"It's a great experience for the other boys who help out with the (special needs) Scouts," said Scoutmaster Paul Aldous of Millcreek. Nine other adults assist him here.

Most of the Utah special needs Scouts are National Jamboree veterans. And they generally enjoy a full jamboree experience and participate in most activities. The special needs Scouts sometimes just travel a bit slower from one activity to the next, Aldous said.

"We've learned we can't move as quickly as some of the other troops."

Over the past week, the special needs Scouts have joined in several aquatic activities and were resting up Friday for a troop water fight out on the jamboree lake.