General

The Seagoing Buoy Tender is a type of U.S. Coast Guard cutter originally designed to service aids to navigation, throughout the waters of the United States, and wherever U.S. shipping interests require. The Coast Guard has maintained a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dating back to its origins in the U.S. Light House Service.

Scouts will have the opportunity to interact with members of the United States Coast Guard and observe the USCG interaction with other agencies during several dynamic demonstrations.

Fast-roping is a technique for descending a thick rope. It is useful for deploying troops from a helicopter in places where the helicopter itself is unable or unwilling to touch down. Several people can slide down the same rope simultaneously, provided that there is a gap of approximately 3 meters between them, so that each one has time to get out of the way when they reach the ground. The rope must be thick, typically 40 mm diameter, to prevent it from being wildly jerked about from the rotor blast of the helicopter. It is essential to wear gloves, as sliding down a rope generates great heat from friction.

Scouts will watch an amazing fast rope demonstration out of a helicopter.

Several agencies have indicated their intent to participate with our Centennial Celebration. The United States Coast Guard, NJ National Guard, New Jersey State Police, and Northstar have all communicated their desire to participate.

(Helicopter availability subject to change pending each agency’s duties on day of presentation)

A fireboat is a specialized watercraft with pumps and nozzles designed for fighting shoreline and shipboard fires. They are frequently used for fighting fires on docks and shore side warehouses as they can directly attack fires in the supporting underpinnings of these structures. They also have an unlimited supply of water available, pumping directly from below the hull and can be used to assist shore based firefighters when other water is in low supply or is unavailable.

Scouts will watch the Philadelphia Fire Department’s Fire boat in action.  Bring a bar of soap…their water cannons can reach quite far!

A modern fire engine is usually a multi-purpose vehicle carrying professionals and equipment for a wide range of fire-fighting and rescue tasks. Therefore, most fire engines carry equipment such as ladders, pike poles, axes and cutting equipment, halligan bars, fire extinguishers, ventilating equipment, floodlights, hose ramps, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and general tools.

Scouts can chat with New Jersey’s firefighters showcasing close to 100 fire engines from the past several decades. Scouts will be able to climbing on the trucks, try on gear, and even attempt to roll up a fire hose.

Scouts will be given admittance to an antique car show featuring Corvettes, Mustangs, and several other classics from the last century.

Scouts will be given admittance to an antique car show featuring cars from the last century.

Local law enforcement is responsible for general police services, traffice enforcement, local investigation and intelligence services, emergency management, maintenance of criminal records, and regulation of certain commerce such as firearms ownership.

Scouts will enjoy a demonstration of police from our area perform a high risk traffic stop, including tactical driving techniques.

A police dog is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work. A growing number of law-enforcement organizations outfit dogs with ballistic vests, and some even go so far as to make the dogs sworn officers, with their own police badges and IDs. Furthermore, a police dog killed in the line of duty is often given a full police funeral.

Scouts will enjoy a demonstration by the Camden County Sheriff’s Department’s K9 Unit. They will be seeing police dogs in action subduing a suspect and seeking out dangerous materials.

Battle ship New Jersey earned more battle stars for combat actions than the other three completed Iowa-class battleships, and is the only US battleship to provide gunfire support during the Vietnam War.

Scouts can tour the Battleship New Jersey and speak with veterans who served on the battleship. Scouts may also enjoy the experience of sleeping in the crew’s bunks, but register early for this special offer.

Adventure Aquarium debuted in 1992, and re-opened in its current form on May 25, 2005, featuring approximately eight thousand animals living in varied forms of semi-aquatic, freshwater, and marine habitats. The facility has a total tankage volume of over two million gallons, and public floor space that covers nearly 200,000 square feet.

Scouts can tour the aquarium to explore the underwater habitats of thousands of animals. Scouts may also have the the chance to sleep with the sharks by registering  to camp at the aquarium for a night.

The National Constitution Center had its ground-breaking ceremony on September 17, 2000, 213 years to the day that the original Constitution was signed. The Center’s location at 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reminds visitors that this city is the cradle of the United States and its democratic Republic form of government. The National Constitution Center is a recent addition to other notable sites and iconic exhibits in what has been called America’s most historical square mile.

A limited amount of Scouts can tour Independence Hall, the liberty bell, and the constitution center by taking a walk just across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.