Chattanooga Non-Profit Pioneers Unique Cub Scout Pack For Children With Special Needs
February 29, 2024
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A group of Chattanooga moms are in the process of forming a new Cub Scout pack for children with special needs.
Downside Up Inc. is a nonprofit that provides support for families of children with varying disabilities, and 10 of those children will soon be official Cub Scouts.
Theresa Nix, founder and executive director of the nonprofit says it was important that the Cub Scout pack was tailored to the children's specific needs.
“A lot of times, we've tried to fit into a dance group or a theater team, or many things that we would love for our kids experience. But it just takes a lot of people to make that happen, or they don't have the resources," says Nix.
Nix says many of the children need extra support, whether it be they have mobility issues or issues with going to the restroom. By working alongside the Boy Scouts of America, Downside Inc. will try to ensure that the boys get the ideal cub scout experience.
“Sometimes it's with a multitude of them. It is a lot for a group to accommodate those needs. So we could just have that same experience and create it in our own way however the Boy Scouts will allow us . They've been very kind and helpful in that respect," says Nix.
Nix’s son Everett has down syndrome and autism. He is the reason why Downside Up was created.
She, along with Patty Casey, the scout leader, wanted to create an environment the children could feel like they belong.
The 10 boys have different abilities and were already friends. Now they get to move forward in the process of becoming Cub Scouts together.
In their first unofficial Cub Scout meeting the group did a trail mix and talked about eating healthy foods.
Jared Pickens, CEO of Boy Scouts of America Cherokee Area Council, sent us the following comment:
“Our team is truly excited to collaborate with this outstanding community partner. We work hard every day to include more families, especially those from underserved areas and communities, and we are grateful for opportunities like this to work together. We envision a community where everyone can experience meaningful and life changing Scouting programs. Growing access to families of all types is critical to achieving our vision."
Nix says that since Downside Up Inc. posted about the Cub Scout pack, parents have also expressed interest in a Girl Scouts group as well.
CHATTANOOGA, TN – The Cherokee Area Council of Scouting America is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Troop 2, chartered to St. Elmo Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Congratulations to Scoutmaster Ed Sunder and Troop 2, as five outstanding young people have earned the rank of Eagle Scout: Caden Gildernew, Phinehas Doe, Nathan Sunder, James Tracy, and Lyle Vaughn. The Eagle Scout rank places service at its core, and these new Eagle Scouts exemplify that ideal through impactful projects benefiting the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, Dade County Schools, Lookout Mountain Trails, the Town of Flintstone, Georgia, and Chattanooga Valley Middle School. Collectively, these projects contributed more than 600 hours of community service, engaging a multitude of volunteers and supporters. Since its founding in 2007, 26 young people have earned the rank of Eagle Scout through Troop 2. Among their many shared experiences, these Scouts fondly recall attending—and serving on staff at—Camp Sidney Dew in Armuchee, Georgia, as well as Skymont Scout Reservation in Altamont, Tennessee. They also attended Seven Ranges Scout Reservation in Kensington, Ohio, over several years. All five have now graduated from high school and are pursuing further education and careers in the Chattanooga region. Adding to this milestone celebration, the Sunder family of Flintstone, Georgia, marked an extraordinary achievement as Nathan Sunder became their sixth Eagle Scout. The youngest of six, Nathan joins his older brothers—Isaac, Samuel, John, Bennett, and Eddie—in attaining Scouting’s highest rank. The Sunder brothers completed Eagle Scout service projects that contributed nearly 800 total service hours. Project beneficiaries included Cloudland Canyon State Park, Audubon Acres, Chickamauga City Parks, and Chattanooga Valley Middle School. Looking back, their parents, Ed and Betsy Sunder, reflect, “It was a joy to watch the Scouts work together and see the boys become young men. Our boys have learned valuable skills, life lessons, and made lifelong friendships through Scouting.” Betsy grew up in a Scouting family and attended both Philmont and Sea Base as a youth member. Ed has served as a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for the past 22 years. Looking ahead, Troop 2 is partnering with Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center alongside Cub Scout Pack 4 to welcome boys and girls ages kindergarten through 12th grade into the adventure of Scouting. Key volunteer leaders include Scoutmaster Brian Purvis, Cubmaster Joy Smith, and Assistant Cubmaster Jim Daughdrill..
23rd Annual Friends Of Scouting Luncheon Held Feb. 24
Aiden Castellanet - Student Body President from Signal Mountain Middle High School Interview from CityScope Magazine
The Adventure Begins!
100 years ago in 1925, the Chattanooga Council built their second scout camp, Camp Tsatanugi, the namesake of Boy Scout Road in Hixson. It served as the summer camp for 25 years, and was used for other activities for even longer. Two of the buildings from this camp still stand, now owned by the Highland Sportsman Club, which has done a great job of preserving them. The largest building is Patten Hall, which was given by the sons of John A. Patten in his honor. It served as the dining hall for the camp.
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90 years ago, the Chattanooga Council celebrated Scouting's Silver (25th) Anniversary with a Scout Exposition at the Memorial Auditorium. Mrs. James F. Finlay, a respected civic leader and active community supporter in Chattanooga during the early 20th century and known for her involvement in youth development and patriotic programs, played a visible role in public events including the 1935 Boy Scout Exposition. There, she portrayed Miss Columbia in the grand finale, joining over 1,200 Scouts from the Chattanooga Area Council in a pageant celebrating American values and youth leadership. Her participation reflected a broader commitment to uplifting civic spirit, supporting local organizations, and encouraging leadership and character development among young people in the region. Portraying Uncle Sam alongside her was Estes Kefauver, who would later become a reform-minded U.S. senator from Tennessee, nationally recognized for exposing organized crime in televised hearings and championing consumer protection, antitrust laws, and early civil rights efforts. Excerpt for the Chattanooga News – Wednesday, February 13 th , 1935 “The Scouting Trail to Citizenship is the theme of the 25th Silver Anniversary Scout Exposition to be held at the Memorial Auditorium at 8:00 pm on Saturday, February 16, 1935. More than 1,200 boys of the Chattanooga Area Council will participate. For the prologue, boyhood activities from the Stone Age, the Crusades period, the Pre-Columbian Era, and the early Pioneer Era will be highlighted. One of the principal features of the exposition will be showing the evolution of signaling from caveman until modern times. The demonstration of pyramid building and wall scaling will be given by a group of boys of Troop 41, while members of Troop 11 and 53 will exhibit many forms of first aid. The Sea Scouting program will present several demonstrations of their activities. A group of African American scouts will demonstrate the practicality of various scouting equipment including the scout neckerchief and scout staffs. The exposition will culminate with a gigantic demonstration of pioneering skills, including constructing a log cabin in only 15 minutes!" Thank you to the Cherokee Area Council History subcommittee for composing this article!
The Original Scout Camp Mascot - Carranza the Mule
Chattanooga's First Scout Camp - Boulder Nook