Local Boy Scout troops looking to add to ranks
Sep. 26—For nature lovers or kids simply looking for a new after-school activity, the Boy Scouts of America is inviting families to see what the organization has to offer this fall.
This season is the best time of year to bring kids into the ranks of the scouts, said Justin Duncan, senior district executive of the Pony Express Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
"In the elementary age stuff (for Scouts), it is kind of grade level based," Duncan said.
In the St. Joseph area, there are Cub Scout packs for kids aged 5 to 10 and Venture Crews for those aged 14 to 21, in addition to Boy Scout troops.
The Pony Express Council serves 18 different counties in both Missouri and Kansas. Duncan said the council is made up of a total of 1,232 scouts of all ages.
Duncan said the strategy to get kids to join is relatively straightforward. The council partners with local schools to hand out fliers, put on assemblies, make announcements and even put out yard signs.
There are also community activities to help give interested kids a first-hand experience of the organization.
The scouts will be hosting a "Spooktacular Saturday" on Oct. 21 at Camp Geiger. The event is open to all Scouts and the general public as a way to recruit young people and show them what scouting is all about.
"It's a great way to bring in newbies. They can come and check it out and get a feel for what we do," Duncan said. "It's in the woods, it's outside and they're going to just enjoy it. It's a little mini camp experience with a Halloween twist."
Although fall is the ideal time to get started with the Scouts, there are no hard deadlines to sign up. Duncan said that unlike seasonal school sports, scouting is year-round and kids can join these ranks at any time.
"People sign up all times of year and then they do just fine. It's never too late," Duncan said.
As a lifelong Scout, Duncan said what sets the organization apart from others is that parents can be directly involved with their kids in creating lifelong experiences.
"You don't just bring your kids to Scouting, drop them off and then come back in an hour and pick them up. You're there with them and you get to experience that with them, especially the young kids," Duncan said. "Go out and learn how to canoe, build a fire with two sticks, look through a telescope at the stars and some more really cool things with your kids."
For more information on how to sign up for the Boy Scouts of America, reach out to the Pony Express Council at (816) 233-1351.
Riley Funk can be reached at riley.funk@newspressnow.com.
