Over 1,000 Scouts to attend 3rd Annual Forest Discovery Day

Saturday, April 24 at the Forest Discovery Center

([ Portland], [Or], [04/15/04])— Over 1,000 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Campfire youth are expected to learn about wood, water, wildlife and recreation on Forest Discovery Day, Saturday, April 24 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Forest Discovery Center across from the Oregon Zoo. The free youth event is held in partnership with the Cascade Pacific Council Boy Scouts of America, Forest Discovery Center, Columbia River Girl Scouts of America and Mt. Hood Council, Campfire USA.

Youth will be participating in programs throughout the campus led by natural resource and forestry volunteers; participants and will have the opportunity to hike in adjoining Hoyt Arboretum and Forest Park.

Scouts of all ages can work towards forest-related advancement requirements. A commemorative patch will be available. All participants must pre-register. Call 503-228-1367, ext. 108 for more information.

“Leaders of the Boy Scouts of America continue to teach youth about nature and the environment and how critical it is to preserve what Mother Nature has provided,” said Sherry McVey, Marketing Director of the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America.

The Boy Scouts have made a positive impact on the environment in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Since the 1930's, during and following the devastating Tillamook burns, Scouting units have planted in excess of 2 million tree seedlings on forestlands needing reforestation. The Boy Scout Council Tree Plant Program initiated in 1977 and now called the Guy Miller Tree Plant Program resulted in the 2-millionth tree seedling being planted at the World Forestry Center in April 2002. Last year over 2,500 youth and family members planted 37,500 seedlings in local forests and neighborhoods .

About the Cascade Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America

 

The Cascade Pacific Council ranks among the nation’s largest Scout councils (out of 319) in terms of membership. The Cascade Pacific Council serves more than 47,889 youth in 18 counties in northwest Oregon and southwest Washington, and is supported by more than 15,902 adult volunteer mentors.

 

Local Boy Scouts of America Accomplishments

This last year (2003) Scouts of the Cascade Pacific Council reached out to the community and achieved the following outstanding accomplishments:

Goodwill/Good Turn – Scouts collected 362,895 pounds of usable clothing and household goods for Goodwill Industries in 2004. Over the past ten years, 4.2 million pounds have been collected.  

Camping Program – The Cascade Pacific Council has one of the strongest outdoor camping programs in the country, camping 11,000 boys at seven summer resident camps and ten day camps last year.  

Scouting for Food – Scouts collected 519,766 pounds of food for local hunger relief agencies through the Scouting for Food drive in December 2003.  

Guy Miller Tree Plant – Over 2,500 youth and family members planted nearly 37,500 tree seedlings in our forests and neighborhoods in support of the Guy Miller Tree Plant program. Since 1977, this program has accounted for the planting of more than 2 million trees.  

Violence Free Spring Break – In partnership with the Portland Police Bureau, the Police Activities League, Multnomah County, Boys and Girls Club, and other organizations, the Cascade Pacific Council has planned, coordinated and staffed special events like “Violence Free Spring Break.” Over 375 youth were served for this event alone. These events use Scouting facilities and curriculums to deliver positive, values-based programs.

Outreach – Over $29,930 in scholarships was awarded to over 536 youth members for summer camp.

Boy Scouts of America - Connecting youth with communities and families.