At our 19 May meeting our guest speaker was Ethan Bachand, representing Scouting America. Previously called Boy Scouts of America with its name change to Scouting America, the organization now welcomes girls. Scouting began in 1907 in England by Lord Robert Baden-Powell and came to America in 1910, and in Rhode Island. In 1916, the purchase of 130 acres of "the old Palmer Farm in Rockville, RI" resulted in Camp Yawgoog which is now the second oldest continually operated Scout Camp in the country and the second largest by attendance. It now encompasses 2000 acres and is the "crown jewel" of Narragansett Council and national leader among scout camps.
The Narragansett Council now serves "youth across Southeastern New England including 30 towns in Massachusetts, all of Rhode Island and Pawcatuck, CT and maintains six camp grounds for Scouting purposes.
This year RI Scouts will celebrate 115 years of Scouting.
