Congratulations to Boy Scouts of America for being applauded by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.
Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) is an international youth program that focuses on character development and values-based leadership training that is meant to prepare both young men and women for life.
Clarissa Castillo, the Suncoast District executive for the BSA since 2019, says the local western Florida council participates in many service projects in the area that helps give its young members a sense of community. These projects include community cleanups, food drives and much more.
“It’s quite impactful that everything that we’re doing for our community goes back into it,” says Castillo, “We help our community, which helps others around us… I feel like it’s more along the lines of the ripple effect.”
Castillo’s main duties include recruitment, scouting and forming the committees that help run and maintain each district. She also helps bring awareness to Friends of Scouting, which is an annual giving campaign that raises money for scouting programs across the nation.
According to Friends of Scouting’s website, it costs $240 to provide one year of quality program for each scout. This investment helps with camp scholarships, uniforms, registration fees, professional staff, and so much more.
“We talk to the local community about who and what we are, and a lot of that helps us continue to push forward the scouting program. It helps us keep our five camps in the area regulated and maintained,” says Castillo.
According to Castillo, not only does the BSA teach young scouts confidence and leadership skills, but it also helps them get into colleges and get jobs when they are older.
“We help develop our scouts into the leaders of tomorrow,” says Castillo, “Because of all the volunteer experience and life skills learned from BSA, our scouts will certainly impress their future employers.”
Members who participate in BSA walk away with various skills and lasting memories, so much so that a lot of alumni come back to the program and volunteer in hopes to impact the current generation of scouts, Castillo adds.
To find a local unit near you, visit BeAScout.org. If you would like to contribute to support the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, follow the link, https://boy-scouts-of-america-greater-tampa-bay-area-council.secured.atpay.com/, and select “Suncoast” as the district. You also can find a list of upcoming events on the website.
