Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl will address the 80th anniversary celebration of Evanston Boy Scout Troop 916 on Tuesday.
“I am so very proud of Troop 916 for their decades of success in helping shape the young men of our community to become good citizens and outstanding leaders,” said Mayor Tisdahl. “80 years of commitment to Evanston is an outstanding accomplishment; Troop 916 is indeed a cornerstone of what makes Evanston a diverse and dynamic place for us all. I applaud all the Troop leaders for their commitment through the years and wish them many more years of scouting prosperity.”
The anniversary celebration will be held at 6 p.m. at the Firehouse Grill at 750 Chicago Ave.
First chartered in 1922 by the Kiwanis Club of Evanston, Troop 916 has met continuously at Oakton School for nearly 80 years, since 1931. School District 65, the Ridgeville Park District and St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church support the troop by providing space for Scout activities, and for storing equipment.
By maintaining a high level of training and community participation, Troop 916 Scouts have a reputation as outstanding boy and adult leaders in the community. Every year on average, one young man earns the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest and most prestigious award in their program.
“Troop 16 holds the collective boyhood memories of friendships, outdoor adventures, and activities,” said Karen Jamison, Scoutmaster for Troop 916. “It has been and continues to be our purpose and honor to bring together boys and families from different backgrounds to help them develop skills they will use for a lifetime.”
One of several Boy Scout Troops serving Evanston, Troop 916 is part of the Potawatomi District, which, in addition to Evanston, includes the communities of Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, and Winnetka. Troop 916 is affiliated with four Cub Scout Packs in the south Evanston community: Pack 916 (Oakton School), Pack 918 (St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church), Pack 927 (Washington School), and Pack 932 (Dawes School). Together with Venture Crew 916 for older boys, the four packs and the troop constitute the Troop 916 family of scouting.
“Currently, Troop 916 has a roster of 20 Boy Scouts,” explained Jamison. “We are committed to ensuring that the Evanston community and larger communities of our world continue to benefit from the contributions that our Scouts make and the men that our Scouts become.”
To RSVP for the event, contact Suzanne at 847-475-5258 or at smlefevre@sbcglobal.net.