NOAC 2024 is one of the largest events in Scouting America, second only to the National Scout Jamboree. More than 6,000 Arrowmen attended but they represent a small fraction of the over 160,000 active Arrowmen around the country. That’s why NOAC 2024 featured a unique Remote Delegate option, allowing even more Arrowmen the chance to experience NOAC from the comfort of their own home.
NOAC began offering a formal remote delegate option in 2018 and the program has grown with each subsequent NOAC. This year, NOAC provided exclusive programming to more than 700 Arrowmen who were unable to attend conference in person.
This year, the team made it bigger than ever. Remote Delegates received a curated box filled with things to help their NOAC experience. The box included the exclusive NOAC 2024 Remote Delegate patch, a program guide, gear provided by Merrell, and snacks to give Arrowmen a taste of Boulder!
“We took feedback from past NOACs,” shared Remote Delegate Platform Content Lead Mikey Dawson, “and we wanted to do this to help connect our Remote Delegates to CU Boulder in a deeper way.”
Remote Delegates received access to exclusive live streams, high quality training sessions presented at NOAC, amazing activities, and broadway-caliber evening shows. Remote Delegates were also treated to exclusive interactive opportunities, including meet and greets with the national officers, and NOAC Tonight, the pre-show for the evening shows which allowed Arrowmen to connect to all of the happenings at CU Boulder.
“Our Remote Delegates have been highly engaged throughout all of NOAC,” Dawson explained. “The virtual info booths alone have received tens of thousands of visits over the week.”
Remote Delegates also got to participate in their own version of Ascent sponsored by America’s Navy, where they earned points towards their own Ascent journey. Arrowmen earned points by checking out different areas of the Remote Delegate offering.
Throughout the conference, Remote Delegates took steps of their own to take their NOAC experience to new heights. Arrowmen ran their own 5Ks during the week as those on site raced in the Brotherhood 5K, and shared their photos and times on social media. Others participated in trivia, bingo, and other interactive activities. Still others asked questions of each other to help them along their Scouting and OA journeys.
Just like for the on site delegates, the goal is for Remote Delegates to have an experience that they will take with them throughout their lives.
“We want them to Seek New Heights just as much as those who joined us in person,” Dawson said.