TOP PHOTO: Scouts Stewart Thacker (left) and Timothy Humphreys participate in the archery shoot, while assistant Scout Master Claude Roberts watches.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Rock wall climbing, archery, campfire cooking and more was part of the Boy Scout event held at Cedar Hill Baptist Church Saturday. 

The “youth fun” day was hosted by the Mount Cammerer District-Campbell County Boy scouts and provided an opportunity for area youth to check out what the Boy Scout Program is all about. A rock climbing wall was provided by the Great Smoky Mountain Council, as was the archery equipment. 

Members of the LaFollette Police Department and the Campbell County Rural Fire Service also attended for the kids.    

Eli Sweet of Troop Pack 508 practices his whittling skills at Saturday’s Scout event.

There were several camping demonstrations such as how to pitch a tent and how to make shelters out of tarps. At the “mock campsite” BSA Troop Chair Crystal Thacker and Boy Scout Ryan Cronin baked a cherry cobbler in a dutch oven and smoked a ham. 

Scouts and youth took turns climbing the rock wall and shooting bows. 

Aiden Roberts tries his hand at the rock climbing wall at Saturday’s Scout event held at Cedar Hill Church.

BSA Troop Master Chris Thacker said the event went well, but he is hoping for more area kids to get into Scouts, which is now open to boys and girls. According to Thacker Troop 310 has been the only one in Campbell County for the last five or six years, and he is hoping to change that by recruiting more youngsters.

“It’s a great opportunity to get outside, have fun and learn at the same time,” Thacker said.

Assistant Scout Master Claude Roberts said he hoped to get a Sea Scout Unit going on Norris Lake. 

Boy Scout Troop Master Chris Thacker, right and assistant Scout Master Claude Roberts, left.

“There are adults with time to give to the program; we just need to recruit the kids,” Thacker said.

Thacker also said he wanted to say a big thanks to the Great Smoky Mountain Council, as well as the police and first responders who helped with the event.

“Without those guys and people like Logan Hickman, these events wouldn’t be possible,” Thacker said. 

Dutch oven cherry cobbler cooked at Saturday’s Scout event by Scout Chair Crystal Thacker and Scout Ryan Cronin.

Cub Scouts is open to boys and girls in grades K-5, along with Scouts BSA is for young men and women aged 11 to 18. Venturing and Sea Scouts is open to young men and women aged 14 to 20.    

For more information about joining Boy Scouts of America here locally, contact Chris Thacker at 423-494-6221, or contact Chris Hargis at 865-455-6722 or Chris.Hargis@scouting.org.

For information about joining Cub Scouts, contact Tom and Stephanie Fellows at 423-437-1246. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 03/22/2021-6AM)

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