Boy Scouts of America Plans Largest National Service Project Since
World War II
Five National Forest Sites, 5,000
Scout Volunteers, Five Weeks of Service
DALLAS, April 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boy Scouts of America
announced today that the Order of the Arrow, the BSA's national honor society,
will conduct its largest national service project since World War II. The
service project is called ArrowCorps5 (pronounced Arrow Corps Five) and will be
conducted at five U.S. Forest Service sites across the country over a five-week
period during the summer of 2008. This service project is expected to include
5,000 members of the OA providing more than 250,000 hours of
service.
"ArrowCorps5
is the largest, most complex, most challenging conservation project ever
conceived by the Order of the Arrow and Boy Scouts of America," said Brad
Haddock, chairman, National Order of the Arrow Committee. "This project provides
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for each participant to set an example of
leadership in service to those who treasure our national
forests."
The national
forest sites selected for this project are Mark Twain, Missouri; Manti-La Sal,
Utah; George Washington and Jefferson, Virginia; Shasta-Trinity, California; and
Bridger-Teton, Wyoming.
"Kids must
understand why forests are so valuable so they will grow into citizens who
support conservation. Building on the Forest Service tradition of conservation
education, we will work with partners to ensure that American children have the
opportunity to experience the great outdoors, whether it is a remote mountain
wilderness or a spot of nature in the heart of a city," said Forest Service
Chief Gail Kimbell. "Today's children -- and theirs -- will need to be able to
take the baton and finish the race. For that, they will need a full
understanding of why forests are so valuable, along with a strong land ethic. It
is our job to give them both," Kimbell said.
Scouts from
all across the United States will be given an opportunity to make significant
and positive impacts on their national forests. These service projects will
include ecosystem restoration, invasive plant and tree removal, trail
construction and maintenance, bridge work, campsite improvements, erosion and
weed control, and fence removal.
The project
also serves as a precursor to the Boy Scouts' plans for its 100th anniversary
celebration in 2010. "For nearly 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has
created a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for millions
of America's youth," Haddock said. "We celebrate this legacy as we reaffirm our
commitment to inspire and prepare future generations of leaders through historic
and meaningful projects and partnerships."
ArrowCorps5 Service Project Schedule:
Mark Twain National Forest June 7-14, 2008
Missouri
Manti-La Sal National Forest June 14-21, 2008
Utah
George Washington and
Jefferson National Forests June 21-28, 2008
Virginia
Shasta-Trinity National Forest July 12-19, 2008
California
Bridger-Teton National Forest July 26-August 2, 2008
Wyoming
About the Boy Scouts of
America
Serving nearly
4.7 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age with more than 300
councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of
America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and
values-based leadership training. For more information on the Boy Scouts of
America, please visit http://www.scouting.org.
About the
Order of the Arrow
More than
180,000 youth and adults are members of the Order of the Arrow, the national
honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. The purposes of the Order of the
Arrow are to (1) recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath
and Law in their daily lives, (2) develop and maintain camping traditions and
spirit, (3) promote Scout camping, and (4) crystallize the Scout habit of
helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to
others.
About the U.S.
Forest Service
Established in
1905, the Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The
Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. These
public lands encompass an estimated 193 million acres of land, an area the size
of Texas. The Forest Service has a long and distinguished history of service to
the public and stewardship of our national forests and grasslands. The agency's
mission is best captured by the phrase "Caring for the Land and Serving
People."
Website: http://www.scouting.org/