Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. A lot has changed in America and the world since Feb. 8, 1910, but the mission of Scouting remains, according to the new executive director of the Calumet Council Boy Scouts of America.
"Scouting is for every boy. It's as relevant today as it was in 1910," Jim Lakeman said. "Scouting is character building. We don't just teach outdoor skills and sports. We teach values and develop ethical character."
Much of Scouting today is about going green, Lakeman said. Scouts have environmentally friendly activities such as encouraging the use of recyclable bags for shopping.
This environmental effort isn't new, Lakeman said. During both World Wars, Boy Scouts of America organized paper drives, and this recycling effort has expanded to cans, glass and other materials. In addition to planting trees for Arbor Day, Scouts of the Calumet Council support the Centennial Tree Program, which encourages people and Boy Scout troops to plant trees in their communities as memorials.
To replenish area food pantries, troops participate in Scouting for Food. Scouts provide bags for families to donate canned and other nonperishable goods and pick up the food to deliver to pantries, Lakeman said.
The Calumet Council, with headquarters in Munster, serves urban, suburban and rural communities from Chicago's south suburbs throughout Lake and Porter counties.
Designed for boys ages 7 to 10, Cub Scouts is a year-round program that offers challenging activities that promote character development, citizenship training and physical fitness.
Boy Scouts is an outdoor program for boys ages 11 through 17. The Eagle Scout Award, the highest rank in Scouting, is recognized around the world as a mark of excellence.
Not all programs offered through Boy Scouts of America are for boys only. Venture Scouts and Explorer Scouting are designed for boys and girls ages 14 to 20 and focus on building leadership skills and other abilities.
Over the next year, the Calumet Council plans activities for Scouts and the community, Lakeman said. A yearlong program will encourage Scouts of all ages to earn patches with special ribbons for character, service, outdoor activities and achievement leadership.
"The heart and soul of the Scouting program is giving back to the community," Lakeman said. The Calumet Council has formed partnerships with community organizations such as The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity.
Other centennial programs include:
-- Get in the Game, a year-round geo-caching activity that will lead Scouts to various Eagle Scout projects in their communities.
-- Adventure Base 100, a multimedia camping program designed to simulate wilderness camping for those Scouts who haven't had that experience. The program will come May 5 to Chicago's Douglas Park during the Cinco de Mayo celebration.
-- Pitch for Scouting, which will pair major league baseball teams with Little League teams. On May 22, the Calumet Council Scout troops will be honored at a White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field.
-- Shining Light Across America on July 31 will include simulcasts from the National Jubilee near Washington, D.C.
