Boy Scouts from the Kanza District had the opportunity to enjoy the “Wild West” right here in Barton County on a beautiful spring day on Saturday. The Jamboree is an annual event held each fall and spring.
Around 70 Cub Scouts and 40 Boy Scouts from as far away as Greensburg and Medicine Lodge met at the Scoutlands just south of Great Bend for a weekend of camping and appreciating the outdoors.
“It is an opportunity to get kids outside to do some activity,” said Kenton Abbott, Cubmaster of Pack 184 in Great Bend. “This weekend is about fun and games.”
The boys practiced swinging a lasso, BB gun shooting and rode in a bicycle rodeo. They also practiced knot tying.
Barton County Sheriff Greg Armstrong and members of the new Barton County Deputy Reserves Mounted Posse taught horsemanship to the boys. Armstrong said it is important for the community and deputies to work together.
It “builds trust and develops a working relationship with the kids,” said Armstrong. “You have to have a working relationship with the community.”
Saturday evening, the Boy Scouts tested cooking skills with a stew competition and will end with a campfire, skits and songs.
Volunteers ran the learning stations.

Another volunteer was local pediatrician, Dr. Chris Koster. He was in charge of the event. “I was an Eagle Scout and had a lot of fun,” he said. “It helped me in my career.”
Dr. Koster only has daughters, but chooses to be involved in Boy Scouts.“It’s just my way of giving back to an organization that did a lot for me,” he said.
The boys didn’t want to admit that they had learned anything because that would be like school, they said. But, they still had praise for the Jamboree.
“I wish it would be like this every day,” said one about the day’s events.