Boy Scouts Celebrates 100 Years, Harlem Troop Featured In PBS Special

Colin Byers, a 16-year-old Life Scout from the Greater New York Council in New York, N.Y., was selected by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for a high Scouting honor. He was part of an eight-member youth delegation which traveled to Washington, D.C. to deliver the BSA’s annual Report to the Nation. He stopped by our show along with Bill Kelly of the Greater New York Boy Scout Council.

Colin is also featured with his troop in the documentary film "759: Boy Scouts of Harlem," which has been picked up by PBS and is expected to air this fall.

The Report highlights the BSA’s achievements during the past year, including progress on Scouting programs that address national service, conservation, healthy living, and community involvement. This year’s Report is especially significant because it heralds the close of the Boy Scouts of America’s first century. The BSA, which marked its first 100 years of service to the youth of America on February 8, 2010, has created a strong foundation of leadership and service for millions of America’s youth and adult leaders.

In celebration of its centennial, the organization will present 100th Anniversary Camporee recognitions in honor of national dignitaries such as President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Each recognition will be gifted to the recipient’s home BSA local council and will provide a scholarship for a local youth to enjoy a Scouting adventure at summer camp in 2010.

Other members of the delegation presenting BSA’s Report to the Nation include Morgan Johnson of Arkansas; Edward Myers of North Carolina, Sabrina Delgado of Arizona; Anthony Thomas of Minnesota; Bradford Lichota of Michigan; Matthew McGroarty of Nevada; and Connor Rieve of Connecticut. Steve and Monica Weekes of Minnesota will serve as
the host couple for the group.

The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 20, 1.1 million volunteers, and nearly 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

More information about 100 Years of Scouting can be found at www.scouting.org/100years.