Suburban Boy Scouts celebrate 100 years at Scout-O-Rama

Scouts from DuPage, Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, and parts of Will and Cook counties served by the Boy Scouts of America-Three Fires Council will showcase decades of timeless ideals in scouting at this year's Scout-O-Rama.

The event celebrates 100 years of the Boy Scouts of America -- from the organization's inception in 1910, leading up to the coming milestone in 2010 at Scout-O-Rama.

The event is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at Cantigny Park in Wheaton. Tickets are $4 each. Coupons are available through Burger King, Colonial Cafe, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Oberweis Dairy.

Additional parking will be available at the corporate headquarters of International Truck and Engine Corp. (Navistar), 4201 Winfield Road in Warrenville.

The theme for this year's Scout-O-Rama is "Scouting through History-A Century of Service."

Some of the highlights of this year's Scout-O-Rama include a special opening ceremony (weather permitting) of paratroopers landing with the American flag; a climbing wall; geocaching; Radio Disney Patrol; and the vast offerings of Cantigny Park, including its beautiful gardens, just in time for Mother's Day.

"Cantigny Park is a natural partner for the Three Fires Council because we both focus on serving children, communities and our country," Scout Executive Matthew Ackerman said in a press release. "With its long history of hosting local scouting troops and educational opportunities within the park, such as museums, hiking trails, and gardens, Cantigny Park is the ideal venue for the several thousand scouts and general public we anticipate to attend Scout-O-Rama."

The Three Fires Council serves more than 36,000 youth. More than 8,500 volunteers make its programs possible.

"For almost 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has provided a means by which our nation's youth could develop into the leaders of tomorrow," Daniel J. Zedan, Scout-O-Rama program chairman, said in a written statement. "Working with the great staff at Cantigny, and many of our area businesses, Scout-O-Rama will be a day of fun activities for the entire family, highlighting many of Scouting's values and skills while affording the residents of the communities around us the opportunity to experience firsthand what Scouting continues to offer."

For more information on purchasing tickets for the upcoming Scout-O-Rama, contact the Three Fires Council at (630) 584-9250, or visit www.threefirescouncil.org.