Boy Scouts Changing With the Times

ST. CLOUD -- Today (Monday) is National Boy Scout Day and members of the Boy Scouts Central Minnesota Council say technology is playing an increased role in what troops are doing around the state.

Paul Ravenberg is the Development Director for the council and he says they have been emphasizing science and technology more in recent years.

"We built a science lab at our camp by Brainerd last summer and piloted our first science camp program last fall," Ravenberg says. "So we're excited about that and we had a lot of positive reviews with that."

Ravenberg says along with the science camp, they've had a number of troops participate in the VEX Robotics program, including Troop 211 in Sartell who is moving on to the world competition in Louisville this April.

"As an organization, we still really emphasize the outdoors because we think it's important for young people to be exposed to nature and be active," Ravenberg says. "That's always going to be an important part of our program but we've ventured a bit more into science and technology because we know there's an interest and a need in those fields."

Chris Wayne, Cub Master for Pack 18 in St. Cloud, says membership has been good in the area, jumping from 36 last year to 50 this year.

"You have to make it more of a family involvement rather than just the scout themselves, you encourage them to bring their friends and I think that's helped our pack," Wayne says. "You show them the fun things you can do outdoors and indoors and just make the activities fun."

Every year on February 8th, National Boy Scout Day commemorates the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. The Central Minnesota Council spans 12 counties with 4,000 families involved in Boy Scouts.