27-02-2025
‘A natural fit' Scouts partner with American Eagle Foundation for 110th anniversary
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Great Smoky Mountain Council celebrated it's 110th anniversary on Wednesday with the organization partnering with the American Eagle Foundation.
The partnership was signed Wednesday morning, and Great Smoky Mountain Council CEO and Scout Executive David Williams told 6 News the new partnership was 'a natural fit.'
'Our organization's just match up values and service together. It's an awesome opportunity for us to provide service to their organization and we're super grateful for the opportunity,' Williams said.
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He explained that one of the first projects lined up is for a crew of Eagle Scout Alumni to help with improvements to the facilities that were requested by government agencies overseeing the American Eagle Foundation's facility. A signup is available for Eagle Scout Alumni on the Great Smoky Mountain Council's website.
Williams also explained that for parents who may be questioning if they should sign up their children for scouting, it's much more than a camping club.
'Scouting at its core is a leadership program,' Williams said. 'We use camping and the outdoors and STEM to kind of hook the kids and say 'Hey, come have all this fun' and we work on in the background throughout their time in scouting— citizenship, personal fitness, reverence, leadership skills. So you come out at the end of it ready to be this great leader for our community throughout your lifetime.'
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He added that getting to watch scouts grow up and go from someone who wouldn't talk to you at first to someone speaking in front of a room full of people and become an iconic leader is an incredible gift.
To learn more about how to get involved with scouting in East Tennessee, visit
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