By By Randall Peterman Guest columnist
This month, Scouts worldwide celebrate the Scouting movement's birthday. The Boy Scouts are 95-years-old and Cub Scouting celebrates its 75th anniversary. Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouting movement, described Scouting as a game with a purpose. Fun is the game, values are the purpose and learning is the process.
This anniversary theme serves as an opportunity for Scout units to demonstrate what they have learned and for sponsor organizations to attract new boys and parents. The first Sunday in February is Scout Sunday where religious organizations invite Scouts and their families to worship with them. Many Cub Scout packs hold their Blue and Gold Banquet where Cubs receive advancement awards, show-and-tell what they have learned and celebrate Scouting's birthday. Senior Cub Scouts called Webelos graduate to a Boy Scout troop in the Crossover Ceremony. Boy Scout troops also present rank advancement and other awards during a Court of Honor.
Cub Scouts is for boys in grades 1 to 5. Boy Scouts is for boys ages 11 to 18. Venturing is for co-ed young adults, ages 14-20 and focuses on high adventure.
Exploring is part of Learning for Life, a non-traditional Scouting program. Explorers focus on learning an art or skills which may lead to employment opportunities in that career field.
Local Scouting units are part of the Alabama/Florida District of the Gulf Coast Council, headquartered in Pensacola. The district includes the south Alabama counties of Escambia, Conecuh and Monroe and the northern portions of Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in Florida.
The annual District Banquet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Agriculture Science Center located on Hwy. 31S, Brewton. The public is invited. This includes both men and women, past and present Scouters and supporters and men who were Scouts as boys. Attendees are asked to bring a dish for the wild game potluck plus a regular dish. A $3 donation is requested to cover beverages, etc. Guest speaker will be Paul Padgett of Brewton. Banquet Chairman is Alan Caudle 867-9281.
Randy Peterman is the scouting executive for the Gulf Coast Council of Boy Scouts of America. He can be reached at 867-3592