Happy birthday Boy Scouts! The Boy Scouts of America was founded by Chicago publisher William Boyce on Feb. 8, 1910, however its roots go back a few years to England.
Scouting began in England in 1907-08, created by General Robert Baden-Powell, a hero of the Boer War, known for his unusual ideas about military scouting. When he learned that many boys were using his book, “Aids to Scouting” as a guide to outdoor activities, he began to think about how he could convert his concepts of army scouting for men to “peace scouting” for boys. He rewrote his military guide, calling it “Scouting for Boys.”
While visiting London in 1909, Boyce became lost in dense fog. A boy came to his aid and, after guiding the man, refused a tip, explaining that as a Scout he would not take a tip for doing a good turn. This meeting inspired a meeting with Baden-Powell, and the next year the Boy Scouts of America was chartered under the laws of the District of Columbia.
Boy Scout troops have been active in Pratt since the early 1910s. There have been as many as 12 troops, although never more than three or four at a time, according to David Hearn, a leader of the current Troop 201.
Ted Loomis, assistant scoutmaster for Troop 201, chartered by the First United Methodist Church, recalled that other troops and Cub Scout packs (organized nationally in 1930 and probably about 1939 in Pratt) have been chartered by Southwest Elementary School PTA, Sacred Heart Church, the Pratt Rotary Club, First Christian Church, and Pratt Presbyterian Church.
In 1984, more than 75 boys were members of two Boy Scout troops, according to “Pratt, Kansas: A Centennial View 1884-1984.” The second troop was sponsored by the American Legion post. There was also a Webelo troop, two Cub Scout packs and one C.Y.A. Explorer troop (for older boys) at that time.
Boy Scout Troop 201 currently has a dozen members. Brett Houdyshell is the scoutmaster, assisted by Loomis and Hearn, who takes care of most of the record-keeping and serves as advancement chairperson.
Clinton Skaggs and Dave Cronister are cubmasters for Cub Scout Pack 222, chartered with the Rotary Club. They have about 75 members.
The Boy Scouts meet twice a month and have a campout every month to month-and-a-half. On a cold December weekend they camped on the island at Pratt County Veterans Memorial Lake. A fire warmed them up and they had a good time, Houdyshell reported. The boys plan the menus for a weekend, go shopping with a budget in mind and do most of the cooking, according to Hearn.
In January, the troop joined a throng of 4,500 Scouts at a Trappers Rendezvous at Harvey County East (lake). A large Army surplus tent kept all troop members together, and with a heater inside, they were warm. The boys bring items to trade, Hearn said; deer antlers and animal hides are especially popular.
Summer outings include a week-long stay at the Quivira Scout Ranch near Howard. They have stayed fairly close to home, Houdyshell said, because most of the boys are young, in the sixth and seventh grades. As they get older, some out-of-state camps are a possibility.
Pratt, Kan. —
