Boy Scouts Giving Out Rockets Amid Registration Drive
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Boy Scouts of America were conducting a major recruitment drive Thursday in the Chicago area, northwest Indiana, and southern Wisconsin.
Pathways to Adventure Council COO Marc Ryan said 750 elementary schools are hosting the one-day registration drive, called "Blast into Scouting."
Every boy who signs up for Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts on Thursday will receive a rocket that will be able to blast off at one of eight designated sites on October 3.
Ryan said scouting is still about leadership and character building, but is so much more.
"We've taken … the values that have made us great over the last century, and we've tried to couple that with programs like STEM – science, technology, engineering, mathematics – hence the big Blast into Scouting rocket theme, and we're trying to reach more families and more scouts," he said.
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Ryan admitted scouting numbers have struggled in recent years, due to changes in family schedules, as well as scouting's former ban on gays, but he expects that to turn around.
"Ultimately, what scouting does, or what scouting aims to do is prepare young people for life, so scouting has to continue to be relevant, and understanding where life is going, and the options and the things that are going to be facing young people 3, 5, 10 years down the road," he said.
He said scouting has adapted to who kids are today, so there are things like robotics and chess merit badges; and more to go along with traditional things like camping and first aid preparedness.
Blast Into Scouting locations can be found at BlastIntoScouting.org.
