The Boy Scouts of America designates the Sunday before February 8th as Scout Sunday, also known as Scouting Anniversary Day. This year, Scout Sunday happens to fall on that exact day! This date commemorates February 8, 1910, when the Boy Scouts of America was founded in the United States by William D. Boyce. Each year, Scout Sunday offers an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s history and its lasting impact on communities across the country, including Marple Newtown and Newtown Square.
The origins of the Boy Scouts trace back to 1908, when Robert Baden Powell founded the movement in London, England. After serving in the British Army, Baden Powell gained national recognition for leading his troops during the Siege of Mafeking in the Second Boer War in South Africa. Much of his success was attributed to a military training manual he authored titled Aids to Scouting. Upon returning to England, he revised the publication to appeal to youth groups, laying the groundwork for what would become a global movement.
That revised work, Scouting for Boys, was published in six installments in 1908 and quickly inspired the formation of Scout troops throughout England and beyond. By the end of 1910, more than 100,000 Scouts were active in England. By 1939, Scouting had grown to more than 3.3 million members worldwide.
The establishment of the Boy Scouts of America began with a chance encounter during one of William Boyce’s business trips to London. After becoming lost in the foggy streets, Boyce was approached by a uniformed boy who helped guide him to his destination. When Boyce offered a tip, the boy declined, explaining that he was simply performing his good deed for the day as a Scout. Inspired by the experience, Boyce returned to Chicago and shared the concept with fellow businessmen, officially founding the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1910.
The movement gained momentum quickly, with troops forming across the nation and locally in Marple
Newtown. While World War I created challenges for many early troops due to a lack of leadership, some persisted, while others reemerged stronger following the war. Charles H Russell is the unsung hero of both Marple Newtown, Scouting and education here in Delaware County. He took over the Marple-Newtown Troop 1, which was founded by Wesley J. Campbell. This troop met at the high school, which is the current day Gauntlet Center.
Today, those looking for a troop in our area will find Troop 315, Newtown Square’s oldest active troop. Troop 315 traces its roots back to Newtown Square Troop 1, founded in 1922. When the Boy Scouts adopted a three-digit numbering system, Troop 1 became Troop 315, with the final digit reflecting its original designation. Nearby options include Troop 122 serving Broomall and Newtown Square, Troop 151 based at Marple Presbyterian Church, Troop 76, which meets at Rose Tree Firehouse and Troop 284 in Radnor, which also offers both male and female Scout programs. Each provides opportunities at both the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA levels.
Scouting has long been a tradition for many local families. For local resident and Newtown Square Fire Company’s Information Technology Officer and Historian, Preston Tyrrell, that history includes his mother, who was a Girl Guide in Canada during her youth and continued her commitment to Scouting after settling in Newtown Square. She volunteered throughout Delaware County and supported her children as they became Scouts themselves.
That legacy continues today as Preston’s daughter, Avery, participates in Scouts Troop 284-G in Radnor, which offers a female Scout program. Last summer, Avery earned her Eagle Scout rank after she designed and installed a walking trail to Mill Ruins and a Nature Path behind the Paper Mill House along Darby Creek. Complete with permanent informational signs and Aldo Leopold wood benches, the new trail offers visitors a visual guide to the 1860 Paper Mill and the other mills that lined the Darby Creek, along with information about the wildlife, creek life and plant life along this picturesque trail.
For the Hines family in Broomall, what has shaped them the most is a deep involvement in Scouting. For several years, Melinda served as Cubmaster of Marple Pack 151. While Tom doesn’t officially wear a scout uniform, he’s the go-to support crew for setting up, hauling gear and keeping projects grounded and fun. Melinda and Tom and their three boys first joined Scouts for the same reason as many families do, for a bit of structure and a bit of adventure. “What we found was far more than weekend campouts and pinewood derbies (though we love those too),” they said. “We found a community. A tribe. A framework for raising kids who are kind, curious and resilient.”
Will Lain, a junior at Cardinal O’Hara High School, recently completed his Eagle Scout project and was recognized at his Court of Honor on January 4. For his Eagle requirements, Will constructed sturdy tables designed to support recently transplanted tree saplings as part of the Newtown Township Tree Program, an environmental initiative started by George Sharretts. At the ceremony, Will awarded his brother Matthew a mentor pin for his guidance on his Eagle Scout journey.
Scouting continues to thrive locally, with multiple Cub Scout and Scouts BSA troops serving area families. Those interested in joining can find information at BeAScout.scouting.org. Girl Scout troops are also active throughout the community, with details available at MyGS.girlscouts.org.