Series: Grant reports for Freeborn County Community Foundation

Published 9:00 am Sunday, April 10, 2016

Reginal Nelson from The Southern Trails District of the Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of America and Jill Peterson, chairwoman of the Freeborn County Community Foundation. - Provided

Reginal Nelson from The Southern Trails District of the Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of America and Jill Peterson, chairwoman of the Freeborn County Community Foundation. – Provided

Organization: Southern Trails District of the Twin Valley Council

Project: Cub Scouts camps and Freeborn County Scouting sustenance

Report: Southern Trails District of the Twin Valley Council hosted two Cub Scouts camp programs in Albert Lea this past summer with a theme of “Pirates of the Seven Seas.” The one-day Cub Scouts day camp had 46 Cub Scouts and 15 adult leaders in attendance from nine Cub Scouts packs from eight different communities. Registration began at 8 a.m. and the program ran to 3:30 p.m. Activities provided BB guns and archery ranges, fishing, team sport activities, crafts and nature products, supervised by a trained camp staff. Each camper received a camp T-shirt, commemorative patch, activity materials and fun.

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The Cub Scouts Fun with Son Camp proceeded at 5 p.m. It provided an opportunity for quality time to be spent between a scout and their parent or guardian. A total of 33 Cub Scouts attended with their parent/guardian and camped overnight. This represented participation from 12 Cub Scouts packs from 10 communities. Program highlights were overnight camping, archery, BB guns, games, crafts and nature projects. Parents/guardians and scouts received a commemorative patch, activity materials, supper, breakfast and fun.

The scout program in Freeborn County is supported by a full-time professional district executive, commissioned by the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America. Through the leadership, recruitment, training and coaching by the district executive, a volunteer district committee and commissioner staff provides support to chartered community organizations and volunteer leaders to use scouting to instill values in young people and to prepare them to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime.

In the scout oath, the phrase, “to help other people at all times” teaches Scouts to always be of service to others. The local scouting packs and troops do community service projects in local parks, schools, churches and senior centers, as well as many other places in the community.