ST. CROIX — United States Virgin Islands, Boy Scouts of America (USVI, BSA)\u2013a district of the Bethesda, MD-based National Capital Area Council (NCAC)\u2013is inviting the community to visit Camp Howard M. Wall (Southside Road @ Milord Point, Christiansted) from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, 2017 for an Open House. The event will feature interactive, fun, informative experiences for youth and adults to \u2018show and tell\u2019 the impact of Scouting\u2019s programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cScouting has been a part of the USVI community for almost a century,\u201d said Virgin Islands Presiding Superior Court Judge (Retired) Darryl D. Donohue, Sr., a former BSA youth member with Explorer Post 101 when it was associated with St. Croix\u2019s St. Joseph High School who now serves as an assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 7227, which is chartered to St. Croix\u2019s Good Hope Country Day School, and as a district merit badge counselor. \u201cIt helps young people develop better academic habits, self-confidence, self-respect, respect for others and healthy living habits as well as the life and leadership skills necessary for them to thrive personally and as productive members of our\u2014or any\u2014community.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a volunteer-led organization, BSA underpins a local community’s efforts to ensure its young people have every opportunity to grow into their personal and professional potential. The aims of its youth development programs, which serve males ages 7-21 and females ages 14-21, are to nurture young people into quality citizens by developing their character, fostering their understanding of participatory citizenship, and promoting a commitment to mental and physical fitness.<\/p>\n
\u201cScouting programs are fundamentally a form of education, workforce development and juvenile diversion,\u201d said NCAC\u2019s Deputy Scout Executive\/Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey S. Berger, CNP. \u201cThey help young people make positive decisions and develop a personal code of morals and ethics that every community needs at its core to not just survive but thrive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recent changes in the USVI\u2019s economy have affected involvement in and financial support for local Scouting just as with other local community organizations. To address this situation, the USVI, BSA District is launching a bold new initiative\u2013USVIsion 2020: Scouting Forward\u2013with a goal to serve 1,000 young people between St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John by the year 2020. In partnership with public, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, the BSA will assist the USVI community\u2019s short- and long-term health and welfare, safety and economic needs by actively engaging youth in a variety of educational, cultural and character-development experiences as well as mentoring opportunities beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to available 2014-2016 statistics from the Virgin Islands Department of Education, there were upwards of 17,000 young people enrolled in USVI public and private\/parochial during that time period,\u201d said Berger. \u201cAnd during that same timeframe, the BSA served an average of 246 young people. Together\u2014the BSA and the local USVI community\u2014can offer more opportunities to help prepare today\u2019s youth to be tomorrow\u2019s leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n
For youth attending the June 3 Open House, there will be several age-appropriate activities to showcase the combination of education and fun that is fundamental to all Scouting programs. For adults attending that day, there will be an informative and interactive session offering details about the value and benefits of Scouting as well as available youth membership and adult volunteer opportunities.<\/p>\n