Boy Scouts of America and Polaris Invite 2017 National Jamboree Attendees to Be the First to Experience Off-Road Vehicle Program and Safety Training at the New Polaris OHV Center for Excellence
Polaris OHV Center for Excellence will welcome 40,000 Scouts, volunteers, and staff to learn how to ride ATVs the right way, the safe way, while respecting the environment
Irving, Texas (July 27, 2017) – The Boy Scouts of America and Polaris Industries, the leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles (ORVs), debut the opening of the Polaris OHV Center for Excellence, a new world-class ATV experience at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia. The Polaris OHV Center for Excellence is part of a ten-year partnership between the BSA and Polaris to provide off-road vehicles, safety equipment, and ASI Rider Safety Training to local BSA camps and High-Adventure bases around the country. Attendees at the 2017 National Jamboree will be the first users to explore the center and experience the excitement of off-road riding in a safe environment.
“Through the Polaris OHV Center of Excellence, we are thrilled to help Scouts from across the country experience the joy and adventure of riding, while helping them understand how to safely and properly ride our vehicles,” said Stacy Bogart, president of the Polaris Foundation. “Our extensive partnership with the BSA helps us continue to promote and reinforce the importance of responsible riding, especially when a rider is first learning how to operate an off-road vehicle.”
Jamboree attendees are invited to ride along the twists and turns of the new ATV-designated trails and learn how to enjoy the vehicles safely at the ATV educational safety pavilion, in coordination with the National Off Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC). The trails were constructed by NOHVCC to not only be challenging and fun, but also environmentally responsible and safe for riders. After the Jamboree, the trails will be available to all other attendees of the Summit Bechtel Reserve.
“The BSA is committed to developing the leaders of the future by introducing Scouts to fun and exciting adventures they can’t get anywhere else,” said Brad Farmer, Assistant Chief Scout Executive leading the Office of Development for the Boy Scouts of America. “By combining the educational training from the Polaris OHV Center with the character-building programs that the BSA offers, this partnership is a natural fit to provide youth with the opportunity to participate in a dynamic and growing outdoor sport, while also teaching the importance of off-road vehicle safety.”
To rev up the excitement of vehicle safety and fun, Polaris donated a customized Indian “Scout” motorcycle to the BSA, which was featured at the opening show of the Jamboree. Chief Scout Executive Michael Surbaugh drove the motorcycle across the show stage to showcase the Eagle Scout-themed design, customized by the Music City Nashville Indian dealership. The motorcycle will be auctioned at the Mecum Auction on September 8 in Dallas, Texas, with the proceeds going to the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) scholarship fund.
“The National Eagle Scout Association would like to express our appreciation for our partnership with Polaris,” said Dustin Farris, National Eagle Scout Association Director. “We are excited about this opportunity to action off such an iconic machine. As exciting, the funds will go to support sending Eagle Scouts to World Explorer opportunities.”
As the official all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and utility task vehicle (UTV) supplier of the Boy Scouts of America and Summit Bechtel Reserve, Polaris is providing all ATVs and UTVs used in the ATV program, as well as supplying ATVs for additional Jamboree needs such as medical assistance and general transportation.
Media can find more information about the National Jamboree throughout the 10-day event on Scouting Newsroom. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit BeAScout.org.
About Polaris
Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) is a global powersports leader that has been fueling the passion of riders, workers and outdoor enthusiasts for more than 60 years. With annual 2016 sales of $4.5 billion, Polaris’ innovative, high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER®, RZR® and Polaris GENERAL™ side-by-side off-road vehicles; the Sportsman® and Polaris ACE® all-terrain off-road vehicles; Indian Motorcycle® midsize and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot® moto-roadsters; and Polaris RMK®, INDY®, Switchback® and RUSH® snowmobiles. Polaris enhances the riding experience with parts, garments and accessories, along with a growing aftermarket portfolio, including Transamerican Auto Parts. Polaris’ presence in adjacent markets globally includes military and commercial off-road vehicles, quadricycles, and electric vehicles. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe. Visit www.polaris.com for more information.
About the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America provides the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.®” The Scouting organization is composed of nearly 2.3 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 21 and approximately 960,000 volunteers in local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.
To access daily photos of the National Jamboree, please visit the official Boy Scouts of America Flickr photostream found here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/boyscoutsofamerica/. Instructions are as follows. Visit the photostream, choose the photo you want and click on it. In the bottom right corner of the screen just beneath the photo, look for the three dots; click the dots and choose “View all sizes” from the menu that pops up; this enables you to choose the size you want to download. Photos should be credited as “Photo courtesy of Boy Scouts of America” or “Photo: Boy Scouts of America.”
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