On Aug. 22, a group of Scout troops assembled at North Catasauqua William J. Albert Memorial Park, 701 Grove St., for what was billed as the second annual Scouting Fun Day. At least five Scout troops, including a Cub pack, had an afternoon of fun as they learned about Scouting and its benefits.

There were tables set up that offered information on Scouting compass skills, basic first aid, American flag folding and etiquette instruction, knot-tying training and Camp Oh No campsite safety. There were also areas for the pinewood derby racetrack, Raingutter Regatta, animal footprints and tree identification, a GaGa Ball Xtreme blow-up and Stomp Rockets.

Bob Counterman, of Blue Mountain Wildlife Pest Control LLC, was on hand staffing a table that contained information about the Pennsylvania Trappers Association. He had numerous pelts of animals, such as muskrats, foxes, mink and other animals in the fur trade.

Scout leader Sheryl Padgett and Eagle Scout Collin Paone staffed the first-aid table to educate Scouts on administering the aid. Paone is currently pursuing the Venturing Summit Award, the highest rank in the Venturing program of Scouting America.

Zackary Wittig, of Whitehall, learned all about Scouting characteristics, such as courteous, cheerful, clean and thrifty, during a game. Zackary said he is considering joining a Scout troop. Scouting Fun Day is for current Scouts and also for those youngsters, boys or girls, thinking of joining Scouting America.

Travis Necessary, of Catasauqua Scout Troop 94 and a Scout with Tenderfoot rank, was assisting at the Raingutter Regatta setup for new Scouts and those interested in joining. He helped potential Scouts learn about the Regatta events held by Scouts. The Raingutter Regatta is an iconic competitive event for Cub Scouts where participants build small model sailboats and race them down water-filled channels by blowing air onto the sails.

Scout adult leaders Peter Felton and Mike Smith, of Whitehall, staffed the compass basics training table. A basic baseplate orienting compass is the essential tool for Scouts learning land and navigation, map reading and wilderness tracking.

Camp Oh No is a tutorial camping setup where Scouts are asked to find things that do not belong at a campsite. Tiernan Paone, of North Catasauqua, and William Lubenetski, of Lower Macungie and a member of Scout Troop 431 of East Texas, staffed this area.

The second annual Scouting Fun Day was indeed a blend of fun, education and fellowship with a goal of introducing and generating interest in young boys and girls to Scouting America.