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Boy Scouts of America Welcomes
Its 100 Millionth Member Since Its Establishment 90 Years Ago
12-Year-Old New Yorker Helps Boy Scouts Reach Historic
Membership Milestone
The Boy Scouts of America announced today (4 April 2000) that the
90-year-old organization officially reached a historic membership
milestone with the addition of its 100 millionth member. Mario
Castro, a 12-year-old from Brooklyn, N.Y., became the 100 millionth
member of the Boy Scouts of America, the premier youth-serving
organization in the country. Castro joined Troop 986, sponsored by
St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn.
"Reaching this milestone proves how valuable and enduring the
lessons provided through Scouting are to our society and our youth,"
said Jere Ratcliffe, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of
America. "The Boy Scouts of America has prepared 100 million youth
and adults for life through effective character, citizenship, and
personal fitness training, and we are dedicated to preparing 100
million more."
Castro, who emigrated from Mexico City with his family 10 years
ago, said, "Joining the Boy Scouts of America and being the 100
millionth member is very exciting. Now, I'm eager to go on
adventures with my troop and share with my family and friends what I
have learned."
Scouting evolved during the early 1900s through the efforts of
several men dedicated to bettering youth. These pioneers of the
program conceived outdoor activities that developed skills in young
boys and gave them a sense of enjoyment, fellowship, and a code of
conduct for everyday living. The Boy Scouts of America was
incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916.
With more than 4.9 million youth and supported by more than 1.2
million registered adult volunteers, the Boy Scouts of America
fosters the philosophy of duty to God, country, and self, and a
commitment to others through a comprehensive program of outdoor
adventure and service projects. The Boy Scouts of America program
includes an active, year-round set of activities for boys and young
men ages 7 through 18, available through 318 local councils. The BSA
program includes Cub Scouts, for boys in the first through fifth
grades, Boy Scouts for ages 11 through 17, and Venturing, a new
program for 14- to 20-year-old boys and girls. |
