Boy Scouts Celebrate 100th Anniversary

It is a special year for the Boy Scouts of America, a national organization that is celebrating 100 years of existence.

This is also true locally for Rye Troop 2, which is ten years away from reaching the centennial mark.

The 50-member troop, which also includes Boy Scouts from Rye Brook, started in 1920 with at least four separate groups, but combined to form Rye's current Troop 2.

"The Rye troop is a little different than most," said current Rye Troop 2 Scout leader Bill Haigney.

The troop has been involved in helping to celebrate the national organization's 100-year milestone with such activities as a big spaghetti dinner in February and marching in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in March.  

However, the celebrations are not over, as thousands of Boy Scouts will convene in Manhattan from July 31 to August 1 to continue the commemoration.

Boy Scouts of America, which has more than four million members across the country, aims to build character, develop personal fitness and train members to be responsible citizens.

Troop 2 Boy Scouts  have acquired these attributes through participating in outdoor and skill-building activities, such as community service projects and camping trips.

Through these projects, Boy Scouts learn valuable life skills they can use when they mature, such as first aid.

"We've always had a very healthy outdoor program," said Haigney who has been leading the troop's weekly Tuesday meetings for a month at Rye Presbyterian church, since taking over Scout Leader duties from former Troop leader and now Algonquin District Comissioner Bill Langham.

The organization has provided lots of learning experiences for its young members.

First-year Boy Scout Daniel O'Neil, who marched in the recent parade, said the organization has taught him the importance of helping the community, but also is great for "having fun and lots of activities."

His father, Kevin O'Neil, said Boy Scouts of America has thrived because it has changed with the times.

"I think they've adapted to be a very important organization for young boys and young men," he said. "They also give the kids an opportunity to make mistakes in a safe environment."

Tim Hardis, a third year Boy Scout and First Class honoree, said that Rye Troop 2 teaches members the skills they need to become successful in life.

"It's just a really good quality organization," he said. "People really appreciate what scouts do to help the community."

Second-year Boy Scout Connor Doetsch agreed. 

"Scouts is about having fun and doing something good for everyone," he said. "[And] Showing that you're a good citizen."

James Doetsch, Connor's father, said his son has become more independent because of the organization.

"It's a good chance for kids to have fun and do good deeds for the community and build character," he said.

Troop 2 members will strengthen their character even more in the next year. The troop will take a 50-mile trip to the mountains in New Hampshire, while older scouts will journey to Fort AP Hill in Virginia. A thirty-mile hike in the Catskills and a National Jamboree at the end of July are also on the troop's schedule.

Next year, many members of the troop may journey to Sweden for the World Jamboree, which occurs once every four years. The event will be held in Japan in 2015, and current Boy Scout Yuta Makita, whose family is from Japan, is excited about the prospect of representing the Boy Scouts in his family's homeland.

Makita, along with Wilson Hunt, and Daniel Newmark, have already been awarded the honor of Eagle Scouts, the highest Boy Scout rank, which is given to members who exemplify the organization's mission. 

The three are now members of a select group, as only four percent of Boy Scouts receive this honor nationally.

Other Troop 2 members were honored and earned badges at a ceremony this month, including Hunt, Simon Edmonds-Langham, Brendan Duffy, Patrick Duffy and Wilson Kaiser.

Troop Leader Haigney said the organization has increasing appeal in the Rye area, something that may guarantee its existence for another 100 years.