Scouts in Boy Scouts of America celebrated Scout Sunday, a national opportunity to express their appreciation for Scouting and religious institutions on Sunday, Feb. 9, which charter local Cub Scout Packs, ScoutsBSA Troops and Venturing Crews. This year, Scout Sunday was observed the day after the Boy Scouts of America celebrated its 110th anniversary. This year, Scouts also had the opportunity to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the United Methodist Churches chartering Scout units.
Local Cub Scouts of Pack 495 in the Renton Highlands helped celebrate this centennial anniversary at the Renton First United Methodist Church by attending services in uniform and presenting the church a stole commemorating the partnership of the Methodists and the BSA. Each of the scouts was excited to help get involved prior to service, passing out
programs and telling the congregation about activities they enjoy and hearing stories about earlier years of their pack. The Renton First United Methodist Church has been continuously chartering Cub Scout packs since 1998.
The scouts of Pack 495 can often be found performing service projects around their community, including at their base school, Maplewood Heights Elementary, camping, hiking, playing educational games, participating in STEM activities and learning life skills. Scouts in the pack learn planning, craftsmanship and sportsmanship through annual derby races including the Pinewood Derby and Raingutter Regatta. Scouts gain confidence, practice public speaking skills and develop an entrepreneurial spirit through fundraising to help the pack function and participate in community activities.
Look for scouts in your community at they participate in the Annual Scouting for Food Drive around March 28. This important community service project is designed to fight hunger locally by helping to fill the shelves of neighborhood food banks at a time of year when needs are high and supplies are low. During the last 31 years, this national program has collected millions of non-perishable food items for families in need. Our collaborative council goal is to collect 60,000 pounds. A second objective is to increase community awareness about hunger in Western Washington.
Scouting offers opportunities for youth to learn civic responsibility, leadership, community service, physical fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship and more all framed in activities which are designed to be fun and educational. The Boy Scouts of America offer opportunities for boys and girls in Cub Scouts from Kindergarten through 5th grade, Scouts BSA from 5th grade through age 18 in addition to local Venturing Crews and Sea Scout Ships. Youth can join at anytime during the year.
For more information, visit www.BeAScout.org or contacting the Chief Seattle Council. Opportunities in the Girl Scouts of America can be found at www.girlscoutsww.org.
Troop leaders Patrick Montemerlo and Craig Benton, as well as Pastors Rev. Michele Campton-Stehr and Rev. Laura Baumgartner stand with local Renton Scouts on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. Photo courtesy of Patrick Montemerlo.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Montemerlo Local scouts greet attendants at the Renton First United Methodist Church on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020.
