1910
The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated February 8, 1910, under the laws of the District of Columbia
Founders of Scouting: William D. Boyce; Colin H. Livingstone; Daniel Carter Beard; Ernest Thompson Seton; James E. West; President William Howard Taft, honorary president; Former President Theodore Roosevelt, honorary vice president and Chief Scout Citizen
1911
The Scout Oath, Scout Law, badges, and fundamental policies were adopted
National Court of Honor presented the first awards for heroism: 22 Bronze Medals
1912
First Eagle Scout, August 12, Arthur Eldred
Boys’ Life became the official BSA magazine
1915
Fifty-seven merit badge pamphlets were issued
The Handbook for Scoutmasters was issued
The Order of the Arrow was founded
1916
Constitution and bylaws were adopted
1919
First four Gold Medals were awarded by the National Court of Honor for saving a life at the risk of the rescuer’s own
1920–1929
First World Jamboree, 1920, in London, England. 8,000 Scouts from 34 countries were present
1930–1939
Cub Scout program was formally launched, 1930
First national jamboree, 1937, in Washington, D.C., at the invitation of President Roosevelt. 27,232 attended, representing 536 councils
Scouts’ War Effort: 1941–1945
Included 69 specific requests from the government
Collected 30 million pounds of rubber during a two-week drive
20,000 Scouts earned the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Medal for Victory Gardens
1950–1959
Second national jamboree, 1950, at Valley Forge, Pa. 47,163 Scouts and leaders attended
First Boy Scout stamp issued by the U.S. Post Office Department, 1950
2 million pounds of clothing collected for domestic and foreign relief, 1952
Distributed more than a million posters and 30 million Liberty Bell doorknob hangers in the Get-Out-the-Vote campaign, 1952
20-millionth member joined, 1952
1960–1969
Scouting’s Golden Jubilee, 1960
Fifth national jamboree, 1960, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 53,378 Scouts and leaders attended
1970–1979
Scouting Keep America Beautiful Day, June 5, 1971
Scouts collected more than a million tons of litter
National Eagle Scout Association formed, 1972
1980–1989
30 millionth Cub Scout, 1980
10th national jamboree, 1981, at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. 30,000 Scouts and leaders attended
The 1 millionth Eagle Scout, 1982, Alexander M. Holsinger
75th anniversary, 1985
2000–2009
The 100-millionth youth member, 2000, Mario Castro
15th national jamboree, 2001, at Fort A.P. Hill, Va. 40,000 youth and leaders attended
National Scouting Museum was built, 2002, in Irving, Texas
The 2 millionth Eagle Scout, 2009, Anthony Thomas
The Boy Scouts of America celebrate 100 years of teaching boys and young men to always be prepared in 2010, and Rockdale gets in on the celebration starting this weekend.
Rockdale along with Newton County forms the Yellow River District of the Boy Scouts of America. The Yellow River District is comprised of 1,351 scouts ages 7 through 21, along with 338 adult volunteers in 42 scouting units.
The Yellow River District will be hosting a scouting expo today at the old Maxell building at 1400 Parker Road from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The expo will feature several Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs displaying scouting skills and selling small items. Both children and adults can witness fire building displays, see a rope bridge constructed or buy native American-themed products sold by the Scouts' honor guard, who will have teepees set up.
Participating groups from Rockdale are Troops, Packs and Crews 410 out of St. Pius, 1827 out of Smyrna Presbyterian Church and 888 from Epiphany Lutheran.
Troop 410 will be doing a fire building display, and demonstrate the art of roasting marshmallows, Pack 1827 will build a rope bridge and Pack 888 will have booths set up.
Other booths and demonstrations will include a pine wood derby track and races, a rain gutter regatta, archery and Dutch oven cooking over fire.
Scout masters will also be presenting the Order of the Arrow, the BSA's honor society.
On Sunday, Scouts will have a time of reflection during a rededication service at Salem Campground. The service, geared to the Scouting community but open to the public, will start at 3 p.m. and speakers will talk for around 45 minutes.
"The point of the event is to have a time where leaders and children can rededicate themselves to the purpose of scouting," said Yellow River District Executive David Abercrombie.
The purpose of scouting will be celebrated all year, with events planned in March and May. Also, later this month the scouts will be planting oak trees donated by Home Depot at an area near Covington Square, Benny Dobbs Park, Rockdale Medical Complex and another location to be determined.
In March the Atlanta area council partnered with Publix to donate food to local food banks.
"Our scouts are excited about getting that food," Abercrombie said. "Our district does this year round, but we kick it off in March. We pass out bags to the boys, and they take those to the community."
In May comes one of the area's biggest scouting events in what the Atlanta Scouting council calls the Campout of the Century. Officials are estimating around 5,000 scouts will descend on Burt Adams Scout Reservation to celebrate 100 years of scouting and the 50th anniversary of the scout reservation.
Making the trip to Burt Adams Scout Reservation will be the Atlanta Council, which stretches from Pickens to the north, Clayton to the south, Carrol to the west and Newton to the east.
