The Bechtel family has a long and strong Scouting tradition. The Bechtel family runs the privately held Bechtel Corporation, a worldwide engineering, construction, and project management company. The international company is well known for completing major projects, such as the Hoover Dam and the Hong Kong International Airport.

Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. became an Eagle Scout in 1940, and received both the Silver Buffalo Award and the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. His uncle, Kenneth K. Bechtel served as National President of the Boy Scouts of America from 1956–1959 and received both the Silver Buffalo Award and the Order of the Arrow’s Distinguished Service Award. Kenneth was the first president who had been a Boy Scout in his youth. The expanding age of flight made it possible for him to cross the country every three months to conduct meetings of the National Executive Board. Using his private plane to attend many other Scouting functions, at the time he became Scouting’s most traveled president.

Scouting’s new high adventure base, and permanent home to National Scout Jamborees will be called The Summit: Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve. It is being made possible in part by a $50 million contribution to the project from the Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. family.