Scouting America celebrates 115th anniversary this weekend with pinewood derby

Scouting America chapters in St. Joseph and across the country will honor the organization's 115th birthday with special events this Saturday. 

St. Joseph's local chapter, the Pony Express Council, will mark the occasion with a Pinewood Derby Race at the East Hills Shopping Center courtyard on Saturday. The event will begin with weigh-ins at 9 a.m. followed by races at 10. 

The event is open to all Cub Scouts registered with the council. Parents, grandparents and siblings also can join in on the fun by participating in a separate open race at the event.

First-, second- and third-place trophies will be awarded for each division of Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos. 

Saturday's coast-to-coast celebration will kick off with historic sites illuminated in red, white and blue lights in honor of Scouting America, including St. Louis’ wheel at Union Station.

It also marks a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey as it officially adopts its new name, changing from Boy Scouts of America to Scouting America. 

St. Joseph's Pony Express Council has more than 1,500 youth currently participating in scouting programs.

Local scouting officials are preparing for this year's five-week summer camp at Camp Geiger, which brings youth from more than 10 states to St. Joseph to participate in a variety of activities and projects, including shotgun and rifle shooting, swimming, archery and more than 50 merit badge classes.

The council also is preparing to unveil an all-new tech-based invention program in 2025 called Invention Scouts. The team-based program provides high-tech equipment and skills to help scouts become innovators and inventors. 

More information on this weekend's Pinewood Derby Event can be found by contacting Alan Franks at 816-233-1351 or by emailing him at alan.franks@scouting.org. 

To learn more about Scouting America and the Pony Express Council, visit ponyexpressbsa.org and BeAScout.org.