Practicing the Scout Law in Manchester, NH
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 8:41AM Across the country this year, scouts past and present will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.
After being in existence nationally for a mere two years, Scouting came to Manchester, NH, in 1912, when the local YMCA chartered two troops. By 1920, when the Manchester Council was formally presented with its charter, the city boasted 10 troops containing 256 scouts.
And 90 years later, Scouting in Manchester, NH, is still going strong. According to Greg Osborn, Massabesic District Director for the Daniel Webster Council (which covers most of New Hampshire, including Manchester), the local Scout program currently serves 757 city youth with the assistance of nearly 300 adult volunteers. The breakdown is as follows:
- Cub Scouting – 11 packs, 300 youth, 91 volunteers
- Boy Scouting – 12 troops, 206 youth, 175 volunteers
- Venturing – 5 crews, 97 youth, 17 volunteers
- Exploring – 4 posts, 154 youth
After a 15-year absence from the Boy Scouts of America, I was brought back into the scouting fold myself several months ago when I organized Manchester, NH’s newest Cub Scout pack to serve the elementary school-age boys living in the affordable apartments owned by the local nonprofit for which I work.