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!

The Original Scout Camp Mascot - Carranza the Mule

Chattanooga's First Scout Camp - Boulder Nook

The Cherokee Area Council's Scout Service Center

The number of new families joining Scouting jumped 148% over the prior year, as parents seek a safe refuge from rising digital risks through authentic outdoor adventures. The number of new families joining Scouting eclipsed the number of those who joined in both 2024 and 2023. Local officials expect that hundreds of boys, girls and families will be welcomed into Cub Scouts as the weather cools. “Every great leader, athlete or innovator can trace their success back to those first, formative steps,” said Jared Pickens, scout executive and CEO of Chattanooga’s Cherokee Area Council, Scouting America. “In Cub Scouts, we empower young people with the courage, curiosity and skills they need to confidently embrace every new challenge and opportunity ahead. And I’m thrilled to be personally involved in the program as both a parent and volunteer.” Cub Scouts is known for offering a fun, welcoming and structured environment where all boys and girls can try new things, build friendships and discover their strengths. It’s more than hiking and camping, it’s about helping kids be prepared for life, Pickens said. Cub Scout programming is calibrated to help kids learn critical real-world skills including teamwork, problem-solving, empathy and perseverance. The program is designed to transform wide-eyed beginners into leaders capable of tackling any challenge with a “can-do” mindset. Over the last year, local Scouts have: ● Delivered 1,874 pounds of food to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank through the “Scouting for Food” drive and over 120,000 pounds of hurricane emergency relief supplies were collected, loaded, and shipped; ● Decorated 58,500 graves of veterans with an American Flag for Memorial Day; and ● Contributed 9,750 hours of community service on their path to Eagle. 58 young people earned the rank of Eagle Scout including 6 girls. Girls now represent 24% of local youth membership. As a parent of a scout, Pickens said he understands that balancing school, sports and other activities can be a challenge. That’s why the organization offers flexible programs that fit into busy schedules. This fall, parents can visit www.BeAScout.org to find a local pack and start their Scouting journey, he said. About Local Scouting Cherokee Area Council, Scouting America provides the nation’s foremost outdoor youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, which helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.” Scouting America welcomes all youth into its programs throughout 11 counties across Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. Our goal is to give them fantastic experiences in the outdoors, and elsewhere, where they can grow with us in a safe environment. Join Scouting today by visiting www.BeAScout.org . https://www.clevelandbanner.com/news/local-families-join-cub-scouts-at-record-rates-for-august/article_331e3fb3-f792-53b0-a4e9-b1b9869422ae.html https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/9/17/508705/Local-Families-Join-CubScou  ts-At.aspx

Troop 10 Scouts out of Cleveland load up and head out onto the open water, ready for the 100 mile trek ahead. The group spends the week before the six-day trip making sure their skills were ready. "All the scouts on the water had to pass a swimming test. You have to make sure everybody is a proficient swimmer to do something like this," Troop 10 Scoutmaster Shannon Ward said. Ward said the troop has been an aquatics-based group for more than 100 years. "A lot of our scouts are scuba certified. They do a lot of canoeing," she added. The group started on the Ocoee, went through the Hiwassee and ended at Brown's Ferry Marina on the Tennessee River. Boston Heier is a youth leader for the group. He said there were times when the water's currents were challenging. "I definitely think going down the Ocoee was the hardest part. At times, whenever I was taking a break or I wasn't paddling for whatever reason, we would actually go backwards," Heier said. Abby Ross agrees, but said the challenges on the water taught her an important lesson in perseverance and teamwork. "We did a lot of miles. That was a little difficult. Sometimes the big boats would drive by and make waves that we would have to go over," Ross said. The older leaders of the group also had to learn how to work with the younger scouts and different experience levels. "Leading them was definitely a challenge and I definitely learned how to cooperate with them and make sure everyone had a good time," Heier said. A ground team of adults made sure the scouts had campsites and food ready at the beginning and end of each day. But Ward said, the overall goal was for the group to overcome and persevere together, building a bond that's long lasting. "The kids, they know that they make or break this troop. It's all about them. It's all about what they can achieve," Ward said. https://www.local3news.com/local-news/making-a-difference/making-a-difference-local-scout-troop-makes-history-with-100-mile-canoe-trip/article_b2ec1fe8-e80a-4430-aa06-c864a7390ded.html