Scouts Host Second Annual Touch-a-Truck Event

A Cub Scout checks out a unique fire engine during last year's Touch-a-Truck event.

As of Friday, September 7, 2012

Rev up your curiosity and put your imagination in gear for the second annual Touch-a-Truck fundraiser for local Boy Scouts.

More than 60 vehicles, among them police, fire, emergency, military and construction vehicles, as well as a video game truck, an antique fire engine, a sod truck, a racing vehicle, a trash truck and a medical helicopter, are scheduled to be at the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pinecrest High School parking lot. Children are invited to touch, climb on and ask questions about their favorite vehicles.

Courtesy/Jim Saunders

Children at last year's Touch-a-Truck event to support local Boy Scouts

“You don’t have to do much special,” said Jim Saunders, chairman of the Moore District Boy Scouts. “The vehicles are the real attraction. For example, last year, the (helicopter) pilot let kids sit inside and push buttons. … That’s a memorable moment.”

There will also be games, and concessions. The first 100 children who attend will receiver a free hard hat.

The event, which drew 600 people and featured about 25 vehicles a year ago, serves as a fundraiser and a membership event for the Boy Scouts. A $5 donation is suggested with a maximum of $20 per family. All donations benefit Moore District Boy Scouts.

Saunders said Touch-a-Truck is an “all inclusive event with stuff that anyone of any age will enjoy,” and one that raises money that will directly benefit Moore County children.

Funds raised will go to providing uniforms, scholarship funds for summer camp, jamborees, offsetting expenses for Camp Durant and Camp Reeves, and funding paid professional staff.

Touch-a-Truck events are done across the United States, and Saunders said he got the idea from a Scout troop in Cary. He said the event is a necessity because of the increased popularity of Scouting in Moore County, Last year there was a 14 percent increase in the numbers of boys involved in Scouting and based on growth the area ranked at or near the top in the Southeast Region and in the top 10 nationally.

This event is a more novel way to raise money and awareness, Saunders said.

“We are looking for a way to put our name out there in a way that kids can identify the Scouting program with fun events.”

After last year’s event, the Moore Council added 22 Scouts. Twelve of those resulted directly from applications filled out at the event, Saunders said.

Several of last year’s more popular vehicles will be back again this year, including a municipal trash truck, a surprise favorite, according to Saunders.

“I was blown away by how much the kids enjoyed watching the trash truck crunch garbage,” he said. “They really ate that up.”

Robert Tighe of R and T Racing is back for a second year. Last year he brought a drag racer. This time around he plans to bring a stock car racer.

He said participating in the event again was a “no-brainer.”

“This is one of my more pleasant experiences with all the shows we do,” Tighe said. “They (kids) were very eager to ask questions. They want to know everything.”

Tighe said one of the more interesting reactions he got during last year’s event was one of shock from parents when their children were allowed to sit in the car.

“I think it strikes them odd when we tell them you can put them in the car,” Tighe said. “Most places you can’t do that.”

This year, with multiple vehicles appearing for the first time, Saunders said he is looking forward to seeing how the children will react.

Dana Gainer with Rolling Video Games, the company that is bringing the video game truck, is eager to participate.

She said the video game truck will feature various video game consoles, approximately 30 games and room for 16 game players at a time.

“We will rotate them through every 20 minutes and while they are in there, they can dance, they can race. We’ll even let them touch the game theater on the inside of the truck.”

Contact Tom Embrey at (910) 693-2484 or tembrey @thepilot.com.

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ConcernMooreCitizen 8 months, 2 weeks ago

You know it is a shame, that the Chairman of the Moore County Scouts has to lie in order to promote an event.

"All donations benefit Moore District Boy Scouts. Saunders said Touch-a-Truck is an “all inclusive event with stuff that anyone of any age will enjoy,” and one that raises money that will directly benefit Moore County children."

With my past expirence as a Boy Scout leader, it general knowledge that an individual District is unable to have a banking account or hold funds. Please tell me how these donations will directly benefit the Moore County Boy Scouts. These funds cannot, they are part of a campaign called "Friends of Scouting" and the money is used for the Scouting Movement as the Council sees fit to include supplementing the local Professional District Executive's salary. Therefore the funds cannot directly benefit our local Scouts. I think it is time to replace these leaders and get the ethics back in to this program.

KimWilliams 8 months, 2 weeks ago

My son has been involved with Scouting here in Moore County for several years and I can agree that there has been many changes that has not been very positive. Several years ago there was ago there was a young man I think his name was Andrew. When the new leadership took over, they pushed him away from all of his senior positions due to politics and accusations, now this county has reverted back to the good old boy system once again. At the same time they were forcing him out, the senior leadership in Raleigh sent us a new professional employee that is very fake and judgmental. Where is our old friend Mr. Henry????? For whatever reason, the little Cubbies lost out this year on day camp, which has alway been a great program, to having this camp to be held at night by people who had never run camp before. They went from 100+ happy, energetic boys in previous years to just 30. What is wrong with that picture? The past several camporees have been lacking planning and structure, what happened to events like that scottish theme 2 years ago, bring those leaders back. Is this what really happens? As for this Touch-A-Truck event, leave it to a real estate agent to spread dishonesty. They mislead in their day job, why not mislead the public in extra curricular activites as well. I am urging Moore County residents to address these false statements and call on the BSA to prove to all of us that Moore County Scouting is directly benefiting our young men and ONLY our young men. Stop the bureaucracy and bring Henry, Andrew, Carl, the Kennedy's back and let's get back on the right path.

ConcernMooreCitizen 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Here is an snip clip from the Moore County District website: What is Friends of Scouting? Friends of Scouting is the annual campaign where the Occoneechee Council asks Scouting families, businesses and civic-minded citizens to support our mission of providing the Scouting program to tens of thousands of young people in our Council. Why should I give to Friends of Scouting? Friends of Scouting provides roughly one third of the money needed to operate the Occoneechee Council's Scouting camps, programs and facilities for a calendar year. These camping and training facilities are the "outdoor classrooms" in which Scouts have fun, learn leadership skills and develop into better young men and women. The Council spends approximately $120 per Scout each year to deliver these benefits and much more. Interested in donating to the Friends of Scouting Campaign please contact Nicholas Long for additional information.

Henry got a promotion and he is the full time camp director in Raleigh. Andrew was Moore County's District Commissioner and when Mr. Saunders and Mr. Long came into leadership in the county, they outed Andrew from his position as District Commissioner and moved him to the District Committee in charge of the camporees. Andrew was the one that lead the scottish camporee that you were referring to. After that camporee was over they removed him from that position as well. All of this becuase of unfounded accusations from a non scout related occurence, so let's all forget about the fact your are innoccent until proven guilty. Last I had heard, Andrew had opened his own Scout unit somewhere in rural Moore County, like Carthage or Whispering Pines. About Carl Berk, he served his term as the Chairman for his two year span and stepped aside at the completion to spend more time with his own Scout unit. Let's just hope Mr. Saunders serves the rest of his term and leaves but i highly doubt that, in that he gave up his leader position with the troop that he was with. About the day camp directors, the Kennedys, I have heard various rumors about their leaving but I will say that this year's day camp was a joke! The man and woman who ran it was not even real camp directors, they never even went to a training session on being a camp director.

KimWilliams 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Why would they oust Andrew he was one of the most energetic and dedicated people I have ever met? He went camping with our group once before even though his son was not a member in our group. He just did it to prove he cared. Congrats to Mr. Henry on his promotion, but I will say I will miss him. Are you serious about Mr. Saunders resigning his position, did he really give up on the young men that look to him for leadership for his own self-gain?

ConcernMooreCitizen 8 months, 2 weeks ago

I would have to assume that they felt threatened by Andrew and his service to our County's program. I have sat through several monthly leader's meetings where it was hinted around that fact. To make matters worse, I have heard that the Raleigh office sent Mr. Long to an outstate camp in Arizona during the summer as a bonus for reaching the montary goal for Friends of Scouting. So tell me how that money is being used for the kids? ITS NOT! A trip to that camp costs several hundred dollars not to mention travel costs. Yet, when I have to attend training courses as a VOLUNTEER, I have to pay for all of the costs to attend. I was even looking at taking Woodbadge this past year until I found out it was a couple hundred dollars worth of training.