These clips were digitized from the WSLS-TV News archives and preserved by the University of Virginia Special Collections Library. They are posted online for non-commercial use. They offer rare, unseen footage of the Roanoke scouts in the field, in meetings, holding camporees, and preparing for jamborees. Most clips include the news anchor’s notes, and any pertinent voice-over script.
Blue Ridge Boy Scout Council Holds Rallies to Plan Golden Heritage
March 30, 1965
(ROLL FILM) The ten Districts in the Blue Ridge Boy Scout Council conducted rallies this evening on behalf of (TAKE FILM) the Council’s Golden Heritage Show. That project is scheduled for May 15th at Victory Stadium. The Rawenoch District held its rally at the Public Library Auditorium. Scout Officials explained the Heritage program and handed out tickets for sale in the community. Similar Rallies were held at Salem, Radford, Martinsville, Rocky Mount, Pulaski, and Marion. An estimated 10-thousand persons are expected to attend the Show which commerorates the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Blue Ridge Council in 1915. (LIVE ON) RCH
Boy Scouts Hold Expo at Salem Civic Center
May 18, 1968
Girl Scouts To Attend a New Camp in Botetourt County
October 5, 1968
(FILM ROLLING) Girl Scout Camp wlm. 10/5/68 Saturday. (ROLL FILM) OPEN HOUSE WAS HELD TODAY AT LAKE CATHERINE, THE NEW BOTETOURT COUNTY CAMP SITE RECENTLY (TAKE FILM) PURCHASED BY THE VIRGINIA SKYLINE GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL. THE CAMP–WHICH INCLUDES 180 ACRES, HAS A THREE ACRE LAKE, STOCKED WITH FISH, AND A LODGE. WATER IS SUPPLIED TO THE LODGE BY A SPRING LOCATED WITHIN THE TRACT. HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE APPROVED THE WATER SUPPLY. THE FACILITY ALSO INCLUDES SEVERAL NATURE TRIALS. THE COST OF THE CAMP, WAS 63 THOUSAND DOLLARS, INCLUDING THE LAKE, FORMERLY OWNED BY FRANK EADES OF ROANOKE. ANOTHER FEATURE IS AN UNEXPLORED CAVE, CLOSED OFF BY A STEEL DOOR AND SECURED WITH PADLOCKS. THE DOOR WAS OPENED FOR CHANNEL 10 (MORE) (FILM ROLLING) Girl Scout, 2 (FILM ROLLING) NEWS, AND FILM WAS TAKEN OF THE FIRST 60 FEET OF THE CAVE. CAMP CATHERINE IS LOCATED ABOUT SEVEN MILES WEST OF BUCHANAN, OFF STATE ROUTE 43. (LIVE ON)
More Than 400 Boy Scouts Board a Train Headed to Idaho for the Annual National Jamboree At Farragut State Park
July 11, 1969
SCOUTS 7-11-69 LG MORE THAN 400 BOY SCOUTS BOARDED A NORFOLK AND WESTERN PASSENGER TRAIN IN ROANOKE TODAY, BOUND FOR THE HILLS OF IDAHO. THE SCOUTS, INCLUDING SOME FROM THE ROANOKE AREA, ARE TAKING THE TRIP TO THE ANNUAL, NATIONAL JAMBOREE AT FARRAGUT STATE PARK. THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN FOR THE BLUE RIDGE COUNCIL, C. L. WHITEHURST, SAYS THE BOYS ARE IN FOR A SURPRISE. WHITEHURST SPOKE OF THE TRIP IN THIS CHANNEL 10 INTERVIEW. (SHOW FILM) (AUDIOTAPE TO CONCL: 52s) (OUT CUE: “….A WORLD AND NATIONAL JAMBOREE.”)
A Group of Roanoke Scouts Returned From Their Trip to Philmount, New Mexico
July 15, 1969
A TIRED BUT MORE KNOWLEGEABLE GROUP OF BOY SCOUTS FROM THE BLUE RIDGE COUNCIL RETURNED TO ROANOKE TONIGHT. THE ANNUAL AFAIR STARTED TWENTYONE DAYS A-GO WHEN THE SCOUTS LEFT ROANOKE WITH THERE DESTINATION PHILMOUNT, NEW MEXICO. SCOUTS FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES TRAVEL TO THE PHILMOUNT SCOUT RANCH FOR A WEEK OF CAMPING, HIKEING, GOLD MINING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. AREA COMMISSIONER DAVE STEPHENSON SAID THE OBJECT OF THE TRIP WAS TO DEVELOPE LEADERSHIP AND CHARACTER IN THE BOYS, SINCE THE SCOUTS ARECREQUIRED TO DO THERE OWN COOKING AND LIVING IN TENTS. ONE SCOUT MIKE VARNEY SON OF MR. AND MRS RAY VARNEY TOLD CHANNEL TEN NEWSMAN JOHN GILBERT HIS IMPRESSION OF THE TRIP……
T. Marshall Hahn, President of Virginia Tech, Speaks About
the Importance of Scouting
August 29, 1969
HAHN: SCOUTS WLM. 8/29/69 (LIVE ON) VIRGINIA TECH PRESIDENT, DR. T. MARSHALL HAHN–STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, AND THE SCOUTING EXPERIENCE–IN A SPEECH LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE BLUE RIDGE COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. (ROLL FILM) (TAKE FILM, SOUND UP. TIME: 55 SEC. END CUE: “AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE.”) (LIVE ON)
Boy Scouts Lead Roanoke City Council for a Day
February 10, 1971
6:00 NEWS 2-10-71 LT STUDIO THE YOUTH OF ROANOKE were IN CHARGE OF CITY GOVERNMENT TODAY. WITH A REPORT HERE IS WSLS NEWSMAN LOU THACKER….. SILENT FILM OVER AUDIO TAPE……………TIME: .52 SEC. OUT CUE: “…FOR WSLS TV-10 NEWS.”
Three Clifton Forge Boy Scouts Receive Honor of Eagle Scout
February 21, 1971
EAGLE SCOUTS/11 P.M./2-21-71/MHF STUDIO: START SILENT FILM THREE MEMBERS OF A CLIFTON FORGE BOY SCOUT TROOP WERE BESTOWED SCOUTING’S HIGHEST RANK TODAY IN CEREMEONIES AT THE CLIFTON FORGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. BECOMING EAGLE SCOUTS TODAY WERE ROBERT HUNDLEY AND HIS BROTHER, RIDGE, SONS OF MR. AND MRS. RAYMOND E. HUNDLEY–AND DANNY COFFMAN, SON OF MR. AND MRS. MELVIN COFFMAN. BOTH ARE MEMBERS OF TROOP TWO–THE OLDEST SCOUT TROOP IN THE STONEWALL JACKSON AREA COUNCIL. THE COURT OF HONOR CEREMONY WAS PART OF SCOUT SUNDAY AND TROOPS FROM THROUGHOUT THE CLIFTON FORGE AREA ATTENDED. END. FILM
Roanoke Area Boy Scouts Gather At Victory Stadium for a “Scout Circus”
May 15, 1971
997 LTS&H-SCOUT CIRCUS/11:00PM/5-15-71/RWC (TAKE FILM-AUDIO TAPE) THE WEATHER–THOUGH OVERCAST–COULDN’T HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL CARNIVAL AT THE LYNCHBURG TRAINING SCHOOL AND HOSPITAL. THERE WERE TRAINS TO RIDE, ICE CREAM, HOT DOGS, COTTON CANDY, POP CORN, AND SOFT DRINKS TO ENJOY. THERE WAS EVEN A RADIO STATION DOING A BROADCAST. VARIOUS LYNCHBURG AREA CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS MANNED GAME BOOTHS THORUGHOUT THE AREA–AND THE PATIENTS KEPT THEM ALL BUSY. THE PATIENTS HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY FOR SOMETIME AND IT WAS A DAY FOR THEM TO STROLL, AND LAUGH, AND HAVE FUN. LATER IN THE DAY, THE SCENE CHANGED TO CITY STADIUM, WHERE THOUSANDS OF SCOUTS IN THE PIEDMONT AREA COUNCIL PUT ON A ‘SCOUT CIRCUS’. AS THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS, GRANDPARENTS, NEIGHBORS, YOUNGER BROTHERS AND SISTERS LOOKED ON, THE SCOUTS GAVE ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE MYRIAD OF ACTIVITIES THAT GO INTO MAKING A VIABLE AND VALUABLE SCOUTING PROGRAM. THE THEME FOR THE DAY WAS “SCOUTS TODAY, LEADERS TOMORROW”. IN ADDITION TO THE LYNCHBURG AREA, THE TROOPS HAD COME FROM THE ROANOKE VALLEY, ALTA VISTA, BEDFORD, AND DANVILLE. THE SCOUTS JUMPED, HOOPED, BOXED, WRESTLED, TUMBLED, CLOWNED–IT WAS TRULY A 3-RING CIRCUS…AND FUN FOR ALL. DICK CANTER, WSLS-TV NEWS.
Boy Scout Camporee Held In Henry County, Virginia. 1971.
May 23, 1971
SUNDAY NEWS 5-23-71 LT STUDIO A SPRING SCOUT CAMPOREE WAS HELD THIS WEEKEND IN HENRY COUNTY. PETE SHOOKNER REPORTS…. AUDIO TAPE OVER SILENT FILM…………..TIME: 1.19 SUPER: Pete Shookner OUT CUE: “…WSLS-TV NEWS, HENRY COUNTY.” SUPER: WSLS News Henry County
Retired Leaders of Boy Scouts Recognized In Roanoke
June 20, 1971
OUT CUE: “…WORK OR NOT.” END FILM, STORY SCOUT LEADERS/11 P.M./6-20-71/MHF STUDIO: TWO RETIRED LEADERS OF BOY SCOUTING IN ROANOKE WERE RECOGNIZED THIS MORNING BY THE CHURCH IN WHICH THEY BEGAN THEIR SCOUTING CAREERS. ALTON B. PARKER AND JOSEPH SAMUEL SCOTT–both having A TOTAL OF NINETY YEARS IN BOY SCOUT LEADERSHIP–WERE PRESENTED WITH PLAQUES OF RECOGNITION AT THE GREENE MEMORIAL United METHODIST CHURCH–HERE AT IN ROANOKE. BOTH PARKER AND SCOTT ARE LIFETIME MEMBERS OF THE ARROW–AN EXCLUSIVE SCOUTING GROUP–AND BOTH ATTAINED HIGH HONORS WHEN THEY WERE SCOUTS–THEN AS LEADERS OF TROOP 21 AT THE METHODIST CHURCH. PARKER ENTERED SCOUTING LEADERSHIP IN 1924, WHILE SCOTT JOINED THE TROOP AS ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER A YEAR LATER.
Views of Boy Scouts At Camp Powhatan
June 27, 1971
Girl Scouts Stuff Envelopes
(Date unknown)
Cub Scout Den Mothers Receive Useful Crafts Instructions
(Date unknown)
Late News Saturday, October 24, 1959 Approximately 150 den mothers and other Scout leaders received instruction SATURDAY at Raleigh Court Methodist Church (START FILM)… on how to teach useful crafts to Cub Scouts (SHOW FILM)… The one-day training institute, termed a “Cub Scout Leaders’ Pow-Wow,” was under the supervision of Doctor B. M. John as general chairman. Women workers largely outnumbered men, but SOME fathers were on hand for the training. Areas represented were Salem, and Roanoke, Botetourt and Craig counties. Lyman Carr was Boy Scout leader in connection with the program. Among the things the den mothers and fathers learned were how to mould articles out of rubber and various types of wood carving. Puppet making was another feature of the training program and There was an impressive display of exhibits.
NC Girl Scouts End 25-mile Appalachian Trail Trek Near Roanoke
(Date unknown)
There’s nothing like a 25 mile hike and there’s nothing like getting over with it….. ((((SHOW FILM)))) Today eight senior girl scouts and two counselors completed a trek of 25 miles, The girls are attending a camp at Roaring Gap north Carolina. They started out Monday on a camping-walking trip near Hanging Rock. They finished the trip today near Daleville in Botetourt county after following the Appalachain trail. The scouts were on the trail for four days and slept under the stars three nights. The girls carried their food with them. Their packs weighed 23 pounds at the start of the hike. The senior counselors on the trip were 21 year old Julia Felton of Raliegh NC and 17 year old Louise Beeson of Wallerton, NC. The girls returned to Roaring Gap by car this afternoon…
French Girl Scout Leader Observes Roanoke Group
(Date unknown)
In other Roanoke news (Start film) A French girl-scout leader is observing the activities and organization of her country’s young counterparts. (Show film) She’s Miss Christine Arbousset of Neuilly sur Seine. Miss Arbousset is visiting with Mr. and Mrs. P.A.T. Bibb of 3125 Stoneridge Road, southwest. The french girl scout leader will be here for about 2 months. She’s to observe training techniques used in American girl-scouting. Mrs. Bibb – her Roanoke hostess – is vice-president of the Roanoke Girl Scout Council. Today, the two went over some plans to be carried out during Miss Arbousset’s visit. The French lady is sponsored by the Juliet Lowe World Friendship Fund.
Dr. Kenneth D. Wells Speaking At a Meeting of Region Three
October 11, 1963
(Roll film))) In Roanoke News – – – The president of Freedoms Foundation today called scouting the most constructive force for youth on this planet. (Show film) Dr. Kenneth D. Wells told a meeting of Region Three of the Boy Scouts of America that Americans ought not to take scout activities as a matter of course. Wells – from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania expressed the belief that Boy Scouts and the scouting movement itself were a vital force against the cold war being waged by Communism. Wells believes more people ought to give their time, money and resources to scouting. Tonight, the president of the National Council of Boy Scouts – Ellsworth H. Augustus- speaks on “The Man Who Makes the Difference.”
Sea Explorer Scouts Launch the Newly Refurbished Navy Personnel Landing Craft; Miss Toni Lants Christens the Craft
(Date Unknown)
(ROLL FILM) For about two years now Sea Explorer Scouts have been working on refurbishing a surplus Navy Personnel (TAKE FILM) landing craft. The culmination of the project came today as the the explorer post, designated “Ship 300”, participated in a launching ceremoney on the shores of Smith Mountain Lake. The launching took place at the Smith Mountain Yacht Club after Roanoke Hauling and Rigging company trailered the large craft to the launching boom. Ship 300 is sponsored by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the All State Insurance Company. The ship has been named the “Sea Scout Ship Rambler”. During the launching ceremoney, Miss Toni Lants who represented Ship 300 in the competition for Miss Explorer last year, christened the vessel……with the following result. (SOUND UP End Cue: “bottle breaking”.) (LIVE ON)
WSLS-TV Roanoke Scouting News Clips: Part One