Published:
Boy Scouts of America Plans Largest National Service Project Since World War II
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 andJefferson, 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 acrossthe 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 throughoutthe 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 ofTexas. 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."
SOURCE Boy Scouts of America
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