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GREENSBORO - A few English boys picking up a manual on survival in the wilderness turned into one of America’s most treasured organizations nearly a century later.

A couple thousand of the khaki-clad corps from the Old North State Council assembled at NewBridge Bank Park Monday night to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

Cub Scout Dylan Smith was one of the 2,000 boys and leaders at the ballpark for the event. Dylan, a member of Pack 316 from Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church in Greensboro, is 10 years old but has quickly learned a Scouting basic 10 times his age.

“It means that you never want to quit, and you always stick with it,” he said of the meaning of the centennial.

Tim Harper, the finance director of the council, said the council has about 400 troops and 10,000 registered youth in its programs.

The council serves eight counties: Rockingham, Caswell, Person, Guilford, Alamance, Randolph, Davidson and Davie.

Harper figured about 600 people might show up at the ballpark. But a turnstile tally counted nearly 2,000 people.

“This is a tremendous milestone for us, that we’ve been able to exist for 100 years and really just continue to flourish,” he said. “We have the same ideals today that we had in 1910 when we were formed.”

British military hero Robert Baden-Powell founded Scouting in 1907. Chicago publisher William D. Boyce incorporated the  American organization in 1910 after he got lost in a London fog and was led back to safety by a Scout trained under Baden-Powell’s teachings.

On Monday night, Scouts adhered to that tradition of doing a good turn by collecting old tents and bags of rice and dry beans for Burlington’s New Directions International church for Haiti relief.

And canned food — their form of admission for Monday night’s event — will be given to the Greensboro Urban Ministry.

Although the ideals of trustworthiness and helpfulness remain, the organization has seen a lot of change. Stalking badges awarded for following animals have been replaced with space exploration badges. The latest edition of the Boy Scout Handbook is now available on an iPhone application, and new uniforms include pockets for cell phones and MP3 players.

Old North State Council President David Barksdale said the organization is critical to teaching good values.

“Our founder talked about Scouting as a game with a purpose,” he said. “The game is the fun. The purpose is instilling character and preparing youth for ethical choices.”

“So we’re here to celebrate,” he said. “We’re here to pay tribute to the Scouting organization.”

The Scouts played cornhole, ate ice cream and cake, and squeezed together to take a group photo.

Marty Key, the scoutmaster of troop No. 42 chartered in High Point’s Covenant United Methodist Church, traded cameras with 18-year-old Greg Hrycaj and 17-year-old Daniel Nance to pose with Guilford, the Grasshoppers mascot.

Key was having fun with the furry creature but turned serious when talking about the growth of Hrycaj, who will become an Eagle Scout in a few weeks.

“You got to realize this boy went from,” Key held his head down while clasping his hands together at his hips, 'I’m just here,’ to being, 'I’m here and I’m leading.’ And he did a phenomenal job. That’s what Scouting did to this young man. It brought him up from a different level.”

Key said Daniel was quiet. Now, he can lead a group of boys in a complex project, such as building a greenhouse.

“Scouting — it brings out the best in the boys,” Key said, “and (gives them) experiences they’ll have the rest of their lives.”
 

Contact Dioni L. Wise at 373-7090 or dioni.wise@news-record.com