Hundreds Of Boyscouts To Camp Out This Weekend At Lighthouse Field
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS)-- More than 300 local Boy Scouts are 'camping out' this weekend at Lighthouse Field, at Front and Erie Streets in North Philadelphia. They will be taking part in activities such as, pioneering, first aid and other core scout skills.
Organizer Peter Walts says the Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts of America is playing host, and focusing on inner city boys involved in Scoutreach, an after-school program that seeks to give them the opportunity to join Scouting, regardless of their circumstances.
"The message here that we'd like to communicate is that scouting is for everyone."
He says in many suburbs, three of 10 children are Cub Scouts.
"Here in Philadelphia, less than 1 percent of those people get the opportunity to be in scouting."
Scoutreach runs through 5th grade, and these organizers are trying to get them into traditional scouting.
Philadelphia elementary school Principal Brian Wallace is a Scout Master and Director of the Encampment.
Wallace says, "We want to make that bridge so that when they start in the Scoutreach program, they can aspire all the way to Eagle Scout."
