Church in the Acres to host this year's 'Scout-O-Rama'

Date: 4/11/2011

SPRINGFIELD — Western Massachusetts Council of the Boys Scouts of America announce the date and location for "Scout-O-Rama" as May 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Church in the Acres, 1383 Wilbraham Road.

The "Scout-O-Rama" is a family event open to the general public, which will involve activities geared towards youth/young adults in the following age ranges — 6 to 10 years old (Cub Scouts), 11 to 17 (Boy Scouts), and 14 to 20 (Venture Scouts — co-ed).

The activities that will be showcased at this outreach event will cover the spectrum of scouting with an emphasis on the family. Items of note will be: Masons of Massachusetts will be hosting a free MYCHIP (Masonic Youth Child Identification Program) service; area scouting units will be hosting activities centers encompassing — but not limited to — scouting skill demonstrations and education, arts and crafts, outdoor skills, high adventure, climbing wall with more content being added regularly. Details will be posted and updated on the Western Massachusetts Council Web site, www.wmascouting.org.

In addition to the activities centers, there will be staff on hand to explain the program in detail, as well as connect families with the units closest to them. In cases where there may not be a unit nearby, there will be staff on hand who can assist interested organizations with the process of chartering a unit.

Scouting is a program that reaches across the ages and has been based on the same principles of building strong character and ethical decision making for over 100 years. In a time where families are seeking positive outlets for their children, scouting is more relevant than ever with a program that has proven its worth for more than a century with age-appropriate programs available throughout the region, hosted by a variety of chartered organizations.

For further details, contact either Rory O'Donnell, district executive of the Council offices at 594-9196 ext. 7032 (via e-mail: rory.odonnell@scouting.org), or Mike Giovaninni, "Scout-O-Rama" event coordinator at 636-5189 (via e-mail: mrg@scouting192.org).