National Park Service Youth Programs Staff Visit New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Preparation for the Boy Scouts National Jamboree

NPS headquarters staff with park staff and Superintendent Charles Sellars on a visit to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in preparation for the BSA National Jamboree

NPS Photo

"A river runs through it" - This is the saying for the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve because a river cuts directly through the gorge. It is one of the oldest rivers in the United States.

A view of the New River Gorge

NPS Photo

Since the park was newly redesignated in 2020 from a National River to a National Park and Preserve, the visitor rate also increased with the new name by 25-30 percent between 2019 and 2022. Suddenly people were visiting from across the country who were at times perplexed by the name "New River," since it is not new, and that this was now a national park. Last year, the park welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors.

On February 13-15, National Park Service (NPS) staff from the Youth Programs Office of the Workforce and Inclusion Directorate visited New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in preparation for the Boy Scouts National Jamboree taking place July 19-28, 2023. This event is hosted every four years and is estimated to welcome 15,000 Scouts and their families at this year’s event. Thousands of members of the Boy Scouts of America come together to connect with the outdoors, provide service to the nation, learn life skills, and more. There will be several exhibit tents where the Scouts can earn merit badges. Scouts camp out in tents at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, a 10,000-acre property right across from the park. The Summit is a high-adventure space used for other programs during the year and includes zip lining, shooting, rock climbing, 3D archery, sporting clays, powder ball, and other activities.

It was three beautiful days of sunshine and fall-like weather. There was no snow, and the rain held off until the day after we left. This made driving the six-hour ride each way enjoyable. We got to know one another better and spend some in-person time together.

We got a behind the scenes look at visitor center park operations and met with interpretation and education staff, including Eve West, the Chief of Interpretation and Education, frontline Park Rangers Dave Bieri and Jonathan Malriat, and the new Superintendent Charles Sellars.

From left to right: A park sign; An interactive light up display of a map; The old National Bank of Thurmond that is currently closed to the public; The Yard Master's Office room in an exhibit about the Historic Thurmond District; The old New River bridge; A coal mining tower

NPS Photo

The Thurmond Historic District is a must see. It used to be a bustling coal-mining town employing 100 coalminers. Thurmond is also where the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad is located, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. There are several historic buildings, like the National Bank of Thurmond. Maintaining and preserving historic structures and buildings is part of taking care of the park. Some of them may need to be taken down for reasons, including safety hazards, toxic waste, and mold. Looking out from the town, we could see the historic Thurmond bridge that intersected with the railroad tracks. Though we did not see the Thurmond train pass through, the train is still operating. To help visitors imagine the town when it was active, virtual reality technology could be used to show where historic structures once stood and where different activities occurred.

A group photo of NPS staff and Summit Bechtel Reserve staff outside during a luncheon

NPS Photo

After leaving the park, we rode to the Summit Bechtel Reserve and met the General Manager Rob Ridgeway, along with a group of his team members and Summit financial supporters, who were involved with the Jamboree. This included a luncheon and time to network. The NPS will have a tent on the Conservation Trail with ten NPS employees from across the organization working the exhibit booth at the event.

There was still more to tour after the Summit, so we explored the North District Canyon Rim Visitor Center and boardwalk, and the Fayetteville Station Road. There, we saw the iconic New River Gorge bridge, made of 22,000 tons of structural steel, built in 1977. The nearby city of Beckley hosts “Bridge Day” every October, where experienced BASE-jumpers can purchase tickets to jump off the bridge. BASE jumping is a recreational sport where one jumps from a fixed object with the help of a parachute. Some 200 individuals participate in the event and NPS staff help with logistics

A view of Cliffside Amphitheater

NPS Photo

A unique venue at the park is the Cliffside Amphitheater, located in the South District at Grandview. It was built in 1961 and has been used for plays, educational programs, and local events. Adding a roof to it could help make it available to visitors all year round. It seats about 1,200. One might not see a theater like this at other parks, except Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. We visited the Grandview, which certainly was a grand view, as well as the Sandstone Visitor Center. There, we got to see a demo from Park Ranger John Malriat on a future interactive careers display that will allow Scouts and their parents to learn about different careers in the NPS through a series of short videos during the Jamboree.

We enjoyed ourselves, learned history of the park, and marveled at the scenic landscapes. This river is like no other. If planning for future trips, consider visiting the park during the Jamboree in July, or at some other point.

A view of the sun setting over the iconic New River Gorge bridge at sunset

NPS Photo

Have a question about Youth or Young Adult Programs? Please e-mail us. Learn more about what we do. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.