Area Boy Scouts celebrate organization's 100th anniversary

After nearly a year of celebrations, Boy Scout officials returned to their roots on Saturday, culminating their 100th anniversary where it all started: outdoors.

From a rope bridge and climbing tower, to fire building, falconry and fishing, Scouts and their families rediscovered the "Outing in Scouting."

Officials with the Northwest Suburban Boy Scout Council, based in Mount Prospect, hosted the event, ScoutTrek 2010, in Busse Woods in Elk Grove Village.

It featured 50 exhibits and stations, spread out across a 1-mile stretch in Busse Woods. Troops from all five of its districts, which span 34 North and Northwest communities, participated, leading officials to expect nearly 5,000 people to attend.

Cub Scout Kristopher Young, 9, of Mount Prospect Pack 316, jumped down from the crossing the rope bridge with a wide grin.

"It's hard, but fun," he exclaimed. "You really have to balance."

Visitors found historical storyboards set up at pavilions along the way, that told the story of Scouting from 1910 forward, as well as some of its more modern day activities, from geocaching using GPS technology to podcasting and LEGO robotics.

Even the Air Force was on hand, reflecting Scouting's role in both world wars. They brought a van filled with simulator equipment to allow Scouts to experience the sensation of flying.

"We wanted to make it a trek, not stationary, and have Scouts moving from point to point," said Steve Taylor, Northwest Suburban Boy Scout Council executive director. "And we wanted to include the skills that covered the evolution of Scouting."

One of the first stops Scouts encountered was a station covering "signaling," which is a long distance form of communication using a flag system to relay letters. It no longer is required for Scouts, but is considered to be one of the historical merit badges since it was among the first four in Scouting.

"You might use it if you were on a ship to signal someone on shore or on a stranded island," explains 12-year-old Jared Turreo of Boy Scout Troop 72 in Skokie.

Cullen Beutel, 13, of Boy Scout Troop 159 in Arlington Heights, tried his hand at signaling and found it was harder than it looked. Even harder than texting, his father, Doug, quipped.

Nearby, boys tried to start a fire without matches, while younger Cub Scouts tried their hand at one of the foundations of Scouting: tying knots.

Jonathan Ehret, 15 of Mount Prospect's Troop 23, compared the many stations and exhibits to the National Boy Scout Jamboree, which he attended in July at Fort A.P. Hill, Va.

"A lot of these are similar," Ehret said. "It's just fun to be outside and learn about how to survive on your own."