Third Saturday program focuses on Youth Groups that built character

Building Character, Girl Scouts, 4-H and Boy Scouts, is the focus of the Feb. 20 “Third Saturday” program at the Sheboygan County Historical Museum at 3110 Erie Ave. in Sheboygan.

The event will celebrate each of these organizations. Each will have displays and activities reflecting their long histories as well as highlight their current programs. Great big pictures, hands-on activities and displays, along with many of the organizations’ staff members, volunteers and alumni, will all be part of the day.T

he Girl Scouts of the USA is the largest organization for girls in the world. Their mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place. Girl Scouts was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Ga., on March 12, 1912. Today there are 3.4 million Girl Scouts. Through membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries.

The Manitou Council, headquartered in Sheboygan, serves 7,500 girls and adults and serves all or parts of Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Ozaukee, Sheboygan and Washington Counties. Amy Odekirk, Marge Horneck, Jackie Blindauer and many others will be on hand to share the history and celebrate how the Girl Scout organization has served area communities.

4-H is a community of young people across America, learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. Support for 4-H programs is a joint effort of local government, the University of Wisconsin and the United States Department of Agriculture. 4-H began around 1900 as a means of reaching parents with improved farm and home practices. American farmers had experienced poor economic times for 30 years. In 1902, a few Midwestern school teachers developed some crop demonstrations with their students who in turn shared their successes with their parents. The school projects developed into small groups. By 1909 some of these groups were called 3-H clubs and in 1911 the name of 4-H was adopted.

Corn clubs were in Wisconsin as early as 1904. The first Wisconsin State 4-H leader was hired in 1914 and county agents were hired about 1915. Reports have it that Martin Hoppert established the first county Calf Club between 1918 and 1920 and Sheboygan County 4-H was born. The newest program, started in 2009, is the “4-H Afterschool Program.” Nationally six million youth participate in 4-H. In Wisconsin, 4-H serves all 72 counties involving 155,000 youth and 25,000 adult volunteers. Sarah Tarjeson, Bill Jens, Frank Steiner will be joined by others to share the history and celebrate how 4-H has served area communities.

Boy Scouts of America is celebrating its 100th anniversary. It was founded Feb. 8, 1910. The Sheboygan County Council of Boy Scouts was established prior to 1919 and reestablished in 1921. Boy Scout Camp Rokilio was established on Cedar Lake in 1924 and has hosted many thousands of boys over the decades. The Kettle Moraine Council was formed in 1938 and the Bay Lakes Council was formed in 1974.

In the 1940s, with the declaration of war, the government requested Boy Scout service for the distribution of defense bonds and stamp posters, collection of aluminum and wastepaper, defense housing surveys, victory gardens and distribution of air-raid posters.

Local Boy Scout historian, Dale Opgenorth, will have an extensive display of Boy Scout materials in the exhibit. There will be uniforms from 1911 and 1913 as well as many other Boy Scout and Cub Scout uniforms from other decades. Flags, banners, books, patches, hundreds of pictures, a camp set-up and the opportunity to make a rope will all be part of the exhibit. Dale, Seth and Tyler Opgenorth, Jeff, Anthony and James See along with others will be on hand to share the history and celebrate how Boy Scouts has served area communities.

Collections, displays, demonstration, historic videos, hands-on activities for people of all ages and great big pictures will all be part of the day. Local history handouts will include “time line,” “learn the lingo,” “a day in the life of,” “best resources” and much more.

“Third Saturdays” start at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Guests are welcome any time throughout the day. Lunch is available. Children ages 6 and under are free. Members and their guests are free. The event is sponsored in part by H. C. Denison, Kohler Foundation Inc, Sargento Foods Inc, Windsor Family Foundation, Sheboygan Press, Alliant Energy Foundation, Great Lakes Blue Printers and 1420 AM The Breeze. “Third Saturday” programs extend from January through October.