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Baden-Powell - Scouting's Founder
Robert S.S. Baden-Powell was a general in the British army who became famous for his leadership during the Boer War in South Africa between Britain and the descendants of Dutch settlers, the Boers. After the war, Baden-Powell wanted to use his fame to help boys become better men and to have fun while they were doing it.
In 1907, Baden-Powell invited a group of boys to Brownsea Island off the coast of England to attend the world's first Boy Scout camp. Its success led him to write a book called Scouting for Boys. Thousands of boys read it and wanted to join the new organization. Scouting spread like wildfire throughout England and, before long, around the world.
History of the Boy Scouts of America
Scouting came to America because a boy did a Good Turn - an act of kindness for which he expected no reward. It happened many years ago on the foggy streets of London, England, when an American named William D. Boyce lost his way. A boy walked up and asked if he could be of assistance.
Mr. Boyce explained where he wanted to go. The boy led him to his destination, but when Mr. Boyce offered to give him some money, the boy said, "No, thank you, sir. I am a Scout. I won't take anything for helping."
William Boyce was so impressed by the boy's kindness that he met with Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts in Great Britain. He liked what Baden-Powell told him, and he knew that boys in the United States would want to be Scouts, too.
On February 8, 1910, Mr. Boyce and a group of businessmen, educators, and political leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts celebrate February 8 as the birthday of the BSA.
No one knows what happened to the boy who guided Mr. Boyce through the London fog, but he will never be forgotten. Like many acts of kindness, what was done proved to be far more significant than who did it. The boy's Good Turn helped bring Scouting to America. History of Troop 658
Winooski Scouts - 86 Years Old
Boy Scouting is an exciting program for youth and adults who want to share in the development of young people. In 1923 Saint Francis Xavier Church became the charter organization establishing Winooski Boy Scout Troop and Cub Scout Pack 658. In signing the charter, church leaders made the commitment to adopt the program concepts and values of the Boy Scouts of America as an integral part of their outreach to the youth of the community.
For over 86 years, Winooski Boy Scouts has provided that educational program for our boys and young adults. The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to serve others by helping to instill values in our young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices during their lifetime in achieving their full potential. Our purpose is to build character, to train in the responsibilities of citizenship and to develop personal fitness. |