For many years the Breaks Interstate Park has provided scouts in the Breaks District of the Seqoyah Council with a location for their annual fall and spring camporees. This year, a scout group from the Bluegrass Council also held their fall camporee inside the park. But now, the park will be able to be a part of scouting in a new way, as recruiting began this week for the newly chartered Breaks Park Troop 750. The park commission voted in the spring to become a charter organization for boy scouts, allowing the formation of a troop.
"As someone who has been involved in scouting in some aspect for most of my life, I think this is just wonderul," said Park Superintendent Matthew O'Quinn. "I learned and grew so much because of the scouting program, and being able to bring that to more kids is very exciting," he said.
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations. The BSA provides a program for young people that builds character, trains them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and develops personal fitness.
For nearly a century, the BSA has combined educational activities and lifelong values with fun as a means to build leadership and strength of character among its participants. The keystone belief of the BSA is that helping youth is imperative to building a more conscientious, responsible, and productive society.
Some interesting Boy Scout Alumni facts (provided by the BSA website)
179 U.S. astronauts were involved in Scouting (57.4% of astronauts).
--39 are Eagle Scouts.
35.5 percent of the United States Military Academy (West Point) cadets were involved
in Scouting as youth.
--15.6 percent of cadets are Eagle Scouts.
30.5 percent of United States Air Force Academy cadets were involved in Scouting as
youth.
--13.5 percent of cadets are Eagle Scouts.
25 percent of United States Naval Academy (Annapolis) midshipmen were involved in
Scouting as youth.
--14 percent of midshipmen are Eagle Scouts.
212 members of the 111th Congress participated in Scouting as a youth and/or adult
leader.
--22 are Eagle Scouts.
Breaks Park charters Boy Scout Troop
Mountaintop Lights to begin November 27