Celebrate scouts, volunteerism at annual Scout-O-Rama
Saving a life, helping out after a flood or disaster and recycling community trash are acts of kindness that Scouting calls good turns.
You may know that the Scouts’ slogan is “Do a Good Turn Daily.”
But you may not know why. It has to do with how American Scouting came to be and why today, that phrase is at the heart of a program that gives every Scout a chance to volunteer to help people around him or her. It is no surprise that the third Scout law is “A Scout is Helpful” or that in the Scout Oath, one pledges to honor to help other people at all times. Scouting even has a Good Turn coin to apply the slogan daily. It’s safe to say that Scouting encourages our youth to live out a set of principles. It’s also where today’s youth can find adventure.
The Boy Scouts of America, Three Fires Council will host a daylong community showcase Scout-O-Rama, Daily Good Turn from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road in Wheaton. More than 100 hands-on family activities will mix fun and important life lessons. Join them to honor the men and women on Armed Forces Day and do a good turn by donating a food item to the event partner, the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
“All acts of volunteerism make communities better today and teach our youth lifelong lessons,” said Matt Ackerman, president and scout executive at Three Fires Council. “We want our communities and youth to have the opportunity to learn the power of giving back. To learn more about teamwork, leadership, service and character. We want our youth to grow up to be successful at what they do, to have a sense of place, of community, to have strong values and a chance to volunteer to make the world a better place.”
Scout-O-Rama is open to the public. Tickets cost $5 per person for one ticket or $20 per family for four tickets. Plus, they have a variety of one-time and yearlong discounts that local consumers know and use frequently such as Legoland, Colonial Cafe, Burger King and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Tickets can be purchased at Cantigny Park, the Norris and Deicke Scout shops and at all Colonial Café locations.
On-site parking is available at Cantigny Park and auxiliary parking with free shuttles will be at the DuPage County Government Center, which is a half-mile north of Roosevelt Road just off County Farm Road.
Be one of the first 1,500 to stop by the BeAScout.org booth to receive a goody bag sponsored by Chicago Parent, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Plano Molding. To learn how Scouting can make a difference in your child’s life or for more event information, visit ThreeFirescouncil.org or call (630) 584-9250.
Northern Illinois Food Bank is a nonprofit organization that provides food to hungry people in 13 Illinois counties through more than 600 network partners. Counties served include: Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago. Northern Illinois Food Bank acquires and distributes donated, government and purchased food to more than 60,000 different people each week through local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth activity centers, senior centers and other food assistance sites. Learn more at www.SolveHungerToday.org.