New Thinking, New Programs
The journey continues in celebration of today and tomorrow.
Since the remarkable moments we all experienced at the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day, we’ve seen a phenomenal year for Scouting—an incredible celebration. Look at all we’ve accomplished, and the year isn’t even over yet!
Our 100th Anniversary programs have taken hold and are getting more people than ever engaged in Scouting and our centennial celebration. Adventure Base 100, our mobile Scouting campus and museum, is drawing thousands of visitors to experience what we have to offer to America’s youth as it makes its way to cities all across the country. (Go to adventurebase100.org to find dates and locations where the free traveling exhibit will be for the remainder of the year.)
 Photograph by Dan Bryant |
As with the introduction of the Scouting stamp last fall, Scouting carved another notch in the history books with the issuance of the 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Silver Dollar—an immediate hit with collectors. And kids (and big kids, their parents!) flocked to racetracks across the country to see the BSA’s centennial-edition IndyCar after it was unveiled in partnership with the Dale Coyne Racing team at the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend.
I’ve been asked many times: After all this hoopla is over, what’s next for Scouting? We’re building an incredible future. Our new BSA strategic plan, unveiled at this year’s national annual meeting, will embrace new thinking and new programs and take Scouting to new heights in serving America’s youth.
We’ll launch the new Scouting initiative to help communities deal with problems of youth health in 2011. In my view, the health of our young people is our most important priority for the next century.
In 2013, we’ll see the glimmering jewel of The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve—our new national Scouting center and high-adventure base in West Virginia—open and ready for Scouts. And if all goes as planned, our North American bid to bring the 2019 World Scout Jamboree to the West Virginia site will be successful.
As I’ve said, we’re building an incredible future, and we’ll need everyone’s energy to make these dreams a reality.
The journey into Scouting’s next century is just beginning.
Robert J. Mazzuca
Chief Scout Executive