TRADITION RICH IN SCOUTING; AREA BOY, GIRL SCOUT UNITS AMONG FIRST FORMED IN COUNTRY

COURT HONORS EAGLE SCOUTS: Each year, the top Boy Scouts are honored during the Southeast Missouri Council Eagle Court of Honor. This ceremony in February of 1987 honored 32 area Scouts. Among those were David B. Sheets, a member of Troop 10, who receives congratulations from his mother, Nita. (SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN)

Boy Scouting and Girl Scouting both have rich traditions in Cape Girardeau, with units organized here being among the first formed in the country.

Although Boy Scouting was incorporated in the United States in 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916, records reveal that a "troop" was formed in Cape Girardeau in 1908 by a Coach Schultz, a member of the faculty at what is now Southeast Missouri State University.

Boy Scouting was initially organized by Lord Baden-Powell in London, and the movement was brought to the United States by William Boyce, a Chicago businessman.

Boy Scouting did not become formally organized in Cape Girardeau until 1924. But prior to that some units operated directly through the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America. On July 1, 1924, a Mississippi-Cape-Scott Area Council was organized, with six troops and 95 Scouts. This council created a strong program for units under its leadership, with C.E. Middleton serving as the first professional Scout leader.

Organized camping activities were carried on at White Springs, near Fredericktown, and later the council participated in a camp at Irondale. In 1927, the council was disbanded; however, at least three troops continued to operate as separate units, served directly through the national BSA office.

The present Southeast Missouri Council of the Boy Scouts was formed in December 1930, with Cape Girardeau attorney Rush Limbaugh Sr. serving as its first president.

Among the first Scout troops formed in this area were those sponsored by Grace United Methodist Church, Centenary Methodist Church, St. Mary's Cathedral, First Presbyterian Church, and Trinity Lutheran Church.

Girl Scouting began in the home of Juliette Gordon Low on March 12, 1912, when she formed the first troop of girls in her home in Savannah, Ga.

In Cape Girardeau, Girl Scouting began in 1917, when Jane McGown had a troop of 18 girls that met for about a year. Eleven years later Mrs. D.H. Hope began a troop of 15 girls from her Sunday school class at First Presbyterian Church, and within six months there were 40 Scouts participating in four troops.

Other adults involved in that effort were Mrs. Charles Himmelberger, Mrs. Alvin Macke, Mrs. Bern Sands, and Mrs. Ben Vinyard.

In 1939, the Cape Girardeau Council of Girl Scouts was formed as part of the Covered Wagon Region. One year later they were chartered. The present Otahki Council was formed in 1947 with the addition of Jackson and Perryville to the council. Officers of the first council included: Mrs. David Shaltupsky, president; Mrs. W.L. Kunze, vice president; Marietta Logan, secretary; and Dorothy Miles, treasurer.

Over the years the Otahki Council has grown. The Chaffee and Benton areas joined in 1953; Bollinger County and northern Stoddard County came in in 1954; the Scott City area in 1955; Ellington and Wayne counties in 1960, Alexander, Union and Pulaski counties in 1962; and Madison County in 1983.

The Southeast Missouri Council of the Boy Scouts serves 14 counties: Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, Perry, Madison, Wayne, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Dunklin, Stoddard, Butler, Carter, and Ripley.

In the 1930s, the Boy Scouts began acquiring land along the St. Francis River for what became Camp Lewallen. The first major building at the camp was completed in 1939 when a dining hall was built. Many improvements have been made in the camp, which has served tens of thousands of boys over the years.

Lewallen now has almost 700 acres, which provide long-term camping for over 700 Scouts during the summer and a site for other events throughout the year. The SEMO Council also has a winter cabin at Lake Wappapello known as the Elery B. Pool Lodge and another outpost site on the lake.

In 1966 the Girl Scout council began a campaign to purchase 1,100 acres on the St. Francis River in Wayne County as site of what is now known as Camp Cherokee Ridge. The camp is still being developed. It serves as a summer resident camp and is used for weekend program and training activities.

Cherokee Ridge has a lake, swimming pool, primitive and contemporary camping areas, and a modern stable with 20 horses.

In their early years, the council headquarters for both the Boy and Girl Scouts were in the Chamber of Commerce building in the 200 block of Broadway. Eventually, the council offices were moved to temporary locations and now both are housed in modern facilities owned by the councils.

The Otahki Girl Scout Council headquarters is at 1432 Kurre Lane, while the SEMO Boy Scout Council headquarters is at 3000 Gordonville Road.

Over the years, in keeping up with the changing society and the changing needs of youths, both organizations have upgraded programs and have expanded to include a wider range of youths.

Girl Scouting's programs have been expanded to include participation by all girls of school age. In 1973 membership was open to first-grade girls and a Daisy Girl Scout level was started in 1984 for kindergarten girls.

Today, there are 2,734 girls being served by the Otahki Council, with 942 volunteers serving in various capacities from troop leader to fund development.

Millie Turner, public relations director for the council, said: "it is still the mission of Girl Scouting to encourage girls to be the best they can be by providing program opportunities and experiences with caring adults, so that these girls can develop decision-making skills that will help them in making positive life choices."

Boy Scouting, which once served boys over the age of 11, has expanded over the years to include a Cub Scout program for younger boys, and an exploring program for high-school-age boys and girls. Recent innovations in the Boy Scouting program have been a tiger cub program for first-grade boys and a career awareness exploring program designed to assist high schools in sharing career opportunities with students.

Mark Wappel, executive of the SEMO Council, said the council served over 6,000 youths in 1992 with over 130 Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops and explorer posts sponsored by churches, schools and civic organizations.

Wappel said the goal of Boy Scouting is to help develop in youth desirable qualities of character, to teach and promote the skills of Scouting, to train them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop in them personal fitness along with a belief in God.