This month marks the 97th anniversary of one of the nation’s most well-known and influential youth-serving programs.
On Feb. 4, 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was chartered by the United States Congress. There is no underestimating the impact this program has had over the years. According to the Boy Scouts of America, one in three American males have been associated with Scouting at some point in their lives.
Presidents, astronauts, sports figures, and business leaders all count themselves among Scouting’s 110 million-plus alumni. Today, more than 4.5 million young men and women wear the uniforms of Scouting. They are supported by more than 1.2 million volunteers and countless parents and adults.
Lord Robert S. S. Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scouts in Great Britain in 1907. Two years later, William Boyce, a Chicago publisher traveling in London, became lost in a fog. A young boy helped him find his way.
When Boyce thanked the boy for his aid and offered him a tip, the boy explained, declining the tip, that it was his duty as a Scout to help others. Impressed with the boy’s actions, Boyce met with Baden-Powell and laid the groundwork to bring Scouting to the United States. The rest is history.
“The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America—to help America’s youth reach their full potential—has not changed,” said Chief Scout Executive Roy L. Williams. “That stability and clarity of mission is one reason Scouting is as successful as it is today. Scouting focuses on mentoring youth, building their character, supporting their faith traditions, and helping them establish patterns for lifelong learning, healthy living, and serving others. These attributes have never been more important than they are today.”
Sweet Home has a long tradition of great scouting. Two units, troop 395 and 362, celebrate more than 50 years of activity.
Legacies created by men, such as Sam Cairnes, Jim Riggs, and many others continue to impact the lives of young people through great programs.
Sweet Home currently has a “bunch of Super Scouters in [our] area,” says local Scout executive Eileen Schnee.
The Scouting program here is successful thanks to the hundreds, even thousands of volunteer hours as well as financial donations from parents and friends of Scouting.
The Scouting programs in Sweet Home have taken many different shapes. Cub Scouts learn first aid, safety, craft skills and much more. Scout service projects have helped beautify our city and help the less fortunate. From trail and gazebo construction and new paint jobs to food and clothing collections, Scouts have learned to work and serve.
Boys complete merit badges in subjects ranging from citizenship to auto mechanics to wilderness survival to nuclear science. The youth in these programs have trekked long miles through the wilderness, rappelled down cliffs, and rafted rivers. They learn leadership, teamwork and commitment as they lead each other through the program. These young people are our citizens and future leaders.
Cub Scout Packs 395 (LDS-Beth Young), 362 (Foster-Chris Wingo) and 363 (Holley-Steve Mabe) participate with over 100 Cub Scouts. Boy Scout Troops 395 (LDS-Ivan Wolthuis), 362 (Foster, Bob Snyder), and 363 (Holley, Terry Fosback) go camping, canoeing and hiking with over 30 boys. There are also five youths participating in a Police Post with the local police department.
Those interested in Scouting may contact any of these leaders or visit the Scouting Web page at http://www.scouting.org for more information.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Troop 362 will be having a fund-raising pancake dinner on Friday, Feb. 16, at Foster School. Troop 395 is conducting a fundraising dinner/auction on Feb. 24.
Dr. Ivan Wolthius
Sweet Home