Urban Base Camp

Here is some big news for the Scouts in and around the Twin Cities in Minnesota. The Northern Star Council has plans to open an "urban base camp" near Fort Snelling. Here is a portion of the article found in the Star Tribune:

The regional Boy Scout council's plan to create an "urban base camp" at Fort Snelling promises to bring life to an empty century-old building that has cost taxpayers at least $3 million. The current owner of Fort Snelling's old Drill Hall, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, acquired it in 2000, but its plans for a skateboard park and other uses never materialized, and the cavalry building has sat vacant and unused.

Now the Boy Scouts of America Northern Star Council hopes to close on the building in November and to open its $7.25 million complex in October 2010, the centennial of the chapter's founding.

The urban location of the "Northern Star Base Camp" is unprecedented nationally. The council aims to reach out to city kids who haven't grown up going to the woods, said John Andrews, the council's scout executive. What's more, Scouts could take the Hiawatha light-rail line there.

I hope things work out well for this project. The full article can be found at http://tinyurl.com/3fsaop
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Scouting News

Here are some news releases about Scouting that have been recently found online. It is great to see Scouts making a positive impact on their community, and the financial support from some major corporations.

Eagle Scout Paul Banwart from Shakopee, Minnesota, awarded American Legion Award:

And now, this Shakopee teen is being honored nationally this month as the top Eagle Scout by the American Legion, which also gave him a $10,000 college scholarship. "Paul Banwart represents the best in scouting, and the American Legion is proud to have selected him as its Eagle Scout of the year," said Commander Marty Conatser, the national leader of the organization.

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/26223804.html

AT&T Donates $3 Million To BSA To Kick-Off 100th Anniversary

The Boy Scouts of America announced today that AT&T has donated $3 million to kick off nationwide support for the youth organization’s 100th Anniversary Celebration. The announcement came during the opening of the BSA’s Annual National Leadership Training Conference in Nashville.

AT&T is the first major donor to step forward with a multi-million dollar contribution and will serve as Scouting’s official communications partner during the 100th Anniversary celebration. Feb. 8, 2010 marks 100 years of Scouting in America for one of the country’s largest youth-serving organizations.

http://www.scoutingnews.org/2008/08/05/att-donates-3-million-to-bsas-100th-anniversary-celebration/

Top Ten Reasons Why Scouting Beats TV (from Lone Star Scouter)
No batteries required
Commercial-free
Strengthens families
Burns more calories
Grows character, not potatoes
Offers college scholarships
Violence-free
Develops leaders
Prepares kids for real life

#1: It’s the Ultimate Reality Show!
TV shows like Survivor, Fear Factor and the Human Race have nothing on Scouting. Just ask a Scout.

http://buffaloeagle.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/top-10-reasons-why-scouting-beats-tv-hands-down/

Have a great Scouting Day!