The National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., is the destination for Scott Kelly and fellow Scouts of Troop 562 of Florida’s Gulf Coast Council. However, the journey will be as much a part of the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree experience as the Jamboree itself.

Kelly is a member of Boy Scout Troop 555 in Troy but is also a member of the troop in Florida where he lived before recently moving back to Troy.

The Scouts left DeFuniak Springs this morning and will visit Washington D.C. before going to Fort A.P. Hill July 26 through Aug. 4. There, they will participate in the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree and the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

“I’m almost as excited about visiting Washington as I am about going to the National Jamboree,” Kelly said, with a smile. “When we arrive in Washington, we’ll take a bus tour of the city. Later, we’ll visit the museums and monuments and participate in the Boy Scout Parade, which is the first time for a parade like that since 1937.”

When the Scouts arrive at Fort A.P. Hill they will participate in a “ton” of activities.

“They have so many activities that you just have to choose the ones that interest you most,” Kelly said. “I’m especially interested in scuba diving, biking and the 5K run. I plan to do all of those and as many other activities as I can.”

Many of the activities and events of the National Boy Scout Jamboree will focus on the Centennial Celebration, and Kelly said he will seek them out.

“There will be about 40,000 Scouts and leaders so there will be opportunities to meet Scouts from all 50 states and from around the world,” he said. “President Obama will speak at the Jamboree and that will be exciting. I’m looking forward to being a part of the Jamboree and the celebration of 100 years of Scouting.”

The spectacular closing ceremony will bring down the curtain on the 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree but it will not be the end of the fun and excitement of the journey for Kelly and his fellow Scouts.

They will visit sites along the way home and go whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River. Kelly said Scouting offers many learning opportunities and exciting adventure camps. He takes advantage of as many opportunities as possible.

“This summer, I attended High Adventure at Camp Thunder in north Georgia,” he said. “We went rock climbing on Dripping Rock, rode the 400-foot Zip line and went canoeing and tubing on the Flint River. It was a great camping adventure.”

Kelly will be a junior at Charles Henderson High School in the fall.

He is a Life Scout and is working on his Eagle Project, which is to paint the posts, and arches at the school.

“Scouting is a great program,” he said. “My brother, Nathan, is an Eagle Scout, and it has helped him get into the Marines. And I think it will help me get into the Navy SEALs. That’s what I really want to do ,and that’s what I’m working toward. Scouting will help me get where I want to go.”