Courtesy of Hattie Trail

Boy Scout Troop 244 of Radford held a cake bake-off Monday. The cakes were made by Scouts with the help of their fathers. The winners were (from left) first place, Will King; second place, Tyler McDaniel; third place, Jake Potter.

Courtesy of Jan Bohn

Boy Scout Troop 158 of Blacksburg took a hike Feb. 7 on the Appalachian Trail to take part in a sunrise Scout service.

| Mary Hardbarger

mary.hardbarger@roanoke.com, 381-1679

The Boy Scouts of America turned 100 on Monday, and New River Valley area troops have been celebrating the milestone birthday.

Founded in 1910, the BSA provides character-building programs, encourages service in the community and promotes personal fitness among its 2.8 million youth members, according to the BSA Web site.

In the New River District, which serves Pulaski, Montgomery and Floyd counties and the city of Radford, there are roughly 1,800 youth members and 600 adult volunteers.

Chris Dempsey, district executive, said local units will be working on individual events throughout the year to recognize the monumental celebration. He said most troop projects revolve around community service, such as planting trees.

"We're doing what we've always done but in a more visible way," he said.

On Feb. 2, the Christiansburg Town Council honored Cub Scout Pack 145 and Boy Scout Troop 42 of Christiansburg with a proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary.

Boy Scout Troop 158 of Blacksburg backpacked to Chestnut Knob on the Appalachian Trail overlooking Burkes Garden to celebrate a sunrise Scout service Feb. 7.

On Monday, Boy Scout Troop 244 of Radford held a cake bake-off at Central United Methodist Church.

The cakes were made by Scouts with the help of their fathers. District Scout leaders Ron Davis, Melissa Obenhaus and Bill Lacy were the judges. Winners were Will King, Tyler McDaniel and Jake Potter.

Dempsey said the Boy Scouts have been an important organization in the area and have helped thousands of area youth develop leadership and personal skills.

"We're teaching our youth to make ethical choices over their lifetimes," Dempsey said. "We focus on service over self, and you'll find that many of our Scouts end up in professions involving service."