History of Boy Scouting
In 1930, the Boy Scouts of America created a new opportunity called Cub Scouting for those boys too young to be Boy Scouts. Through chartered organizations, Cub Scouting provides a year-round, Family-centered program, which emphasizes involvement between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends. In the multidimensional plan of the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouting is where it all begins. Currently, it is the largest of the organization's three membership divisions (the others are Boy Scouting and Exploring.) The purpose of Boy Scouting is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, reverence to God and to train in the responsibilities of participatory citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.
Tidewater Council, No. 596, is the fifth oldest council in the country and traces its origin to 1911, two years after the establishment of the Scouting movement in America and only three years after the founding of the movement itself by Sir Robert Baden-Powell in England. In 1934, the Council formally adopted the Cub Scout program. The challenge of the day was "new ambition for greater service to more boys throughout America." The council has a current strength of five districts, plus an Exploring Division, which encompasses the Virginian cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth and the North Carolina counties of Currituck, Camden, Dare, Chowan, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans. The council serves more than 21,000 boys through more than 400 packs, troops and posts with a force of 5,500 adult volunteer leaders. The Council arranges Scout Days with the Norfolk Tides, Norfolk Admirals, and Hampton Roads Mariners, and also hosts the Freeze-O-Ree and the Camporall (for Webelos), the Scout Fest, and residential summer camps at the Pipsico Scout Reservation in Surry along the James River. The council offers a Scout Store and is located at 1032 Heatherwood Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23455-6675. The Council can be reached via telephone at (757) 497-2688 or e-mail at Tide596BSA@aol.com.
The
District
The Elizabeth River District is a geographical area of the Tidewater Council
and is composed of the major portion of the city of Chesapeake. The Western
Branch section of the city is the notable exception. Included in the area
are the communities of South Norfolk, Greenbrier, Great Bridge, Hickory,
Northwest, and Deep Creek.
Membership
There are presently 23 Cub Scout Packs, 20 Boy Scout Troops, and 10 Venture
Crews including 1 Sea Scout Ship in the Elizabeth River District. There
are 1400 youth participants in the program with 600 adults. While youth
are encouraged to register as members of the Boy Scouts of America on
a year round basis, (call 497-2688 ext. 14 for additional information),
the spring and fall sign up programs garner the majority of new registrants.
In the spring the emphasis is placed on kindergartners and first graders
as Cub Scout Packs build their Tiger Den groups. As youth complete the
fifth grade they transition between the Cub Scout Program and the Boy
Scout Program. In the fall all programs experience a growth as the youngsters
start back to school and parents get involved in their activities.
Other
Facts
The Elizabeth District plays host to the monthly Roundtable, which is
open to all leaders and parents; the annual District Pinewood Derby in
February; the Webelos-ree in May; and several summer day camps. District
also conducts periodic leadership and safety training for adult leaders.
A volunteer Commissioner heads the district but has a full-time employee
representative that works at Tidewater Council's headquarters. Please
contact the Cubmaster if you are interested in attending any of the Roundtables
which are scheduled on the second Thursday of the month at Messiah United
Methodist Churxh at Dominion Blvd & Cedar Rd Intersection.