Marc.22 - Boy Scouts Celebrating 100 Years With “Scout Fest”
The Coastal Empire Council Boy Scouts of America will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of scouting with a local event called “Scout Fest” on Sat., March 20 from 10am to 4pm at the Taro DZ at Fort Stewart in Bryan County.
The public is invited to see Scout games and competitions and Coast Guard helicopter demonstrations, and learn about scouting. There will be a trading post featuring 100th anniversary commemorative items, and parents can register their boys in scouting that day for Savannah area troops.
Across Georgia, many of Georgia’s state parks will get help cleaning up its facilities thanks to the Boy Scouts. A new partnership has been announced as part of the Boy Scouts of America’s 100th anniversary, with the young volunteers teaming up with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to complete service projects such as trail construction, grounds cleanup and playground installation.
“Scouting for State Parks” was announced in February at the state Capitol with support from Gov. Sonny Perdue; the project is funded in part by a donation from Verizon Wireless.
The program brings together thousands of youth, leaders and volunteers from Boy Scout groups across Georgia. Each of the state’s 13 councils has committed to undertake a large-scale service project for a local state park during 2010. Additionally, the councils will encourage youth pursuing Eagle Scouts to perform their capstone service project in a state park. Annually in Georgia, 1,200 youth earn Scouting’s highest rank.
According to Barbara Foley, the Learning for Life program director with the Coastal Empire Council Boy Scouts of America, a number of local troops will be participating.
“For 100 years, Scouts have served Georgia’s communities,” said Scouting’s Georgia State President Scott Sorrels. “Now, during Scouting’s Centennial, we’re focusing our resources like never before to address a critical need – the budget crisis in our state parks.”
Economic challenges have forced many of Georgia’s state parks to rely heavily on volunteers, cancel improvement projects and forgo much-needed maintenance. The partnership will help the agency provide better facilities and outdoor recreation opportunities to Georgia’s citizens and visitors.
“We are proud to announce this partnership that helps us improve state parks all across Georgia, and also gives young men a sense of community and accomplishment,” said Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Clark. “We couldn’t do it without the generous support of Verizon Wireless, our governor and our leaders in the state legislature.”
For more information on Scout Fest, go to www.bsasavannah.org.
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