ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 1997 TAG: 9702250082
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE
SOURCE: PATRICK HICKERSON THE DAILY PROGRESS
Visions of summer camp, canoeing and other pastoral delights lured about a dozen city boys to join Charlottesville's newest Boy Scout troop.
About 32 adults and children recently crammed into a humid Boy & Girls Club meeting room to hear about Troop 187, a unit pitched toward urban youth.
``Sometimes, there's a lack of positive role models for young men in the inner cities,'' said City Council member Maurice Cox, who promoted the get-together at a council meeting.
Troop 187 is the first Boy Scouts of America troop to form in the Charlottesville area since last spring.
Robert Painter, 13, who attends Buford Middle School, said he joined for ``camping, outdoor activities ... and it sounds fun.''
Cox said scouting fills special needs in Charlottesville's poor neighborhoods. Scouting is ``about being outside,'' he said.
``It's about being athletic and taking them out of the environment they're used to and putting them in nature.''
Olumide Gilbert heralded the troop's start by beating a replica of a 13th Century Mali empire drum.
Scoutmaster Stephan Earl, 50, posed a question to start the meeting.
``When does a boy become a man?'' Earl said. ``In the African tradition, from childhood to adulthood, he was taught through rituals and traditions.''
Earl said African boys were taught the responsibilities of being a young man including social values, duty to the community and personal development.
``Your elders are proud you have come here,'' Earl said, his voice booming. ``You are just the young men we want to join our gang.''
About 12 boys gathered around a table, on top a log spiked with unlighted candles.
Miller read aloud the scout oath and the 12 points of the scout law while Earl lit the candles as he went along.
When all the candles were lighted, Miller told the boys that they are ``the candles that light our society.''
LENGTH: Short : 45 linesby CNB