Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Aug. 19, 2025 – Scouts from across Northeast Arkansas will be joining forces to boost scout numbers during the Crowley’s Ridge District of Scouting America’s first Scout Expo later this month.
Natasha Broadwater, Crowley’s Ridge District Membership Chair and Pack 115 Cub Master in Bono, said the expo is a big deal for the district. The Crowley’s Ridge District covers 11 counties: Craighead, Randolph, Clay, Lawrence, Greene, Poinsett, Mississippi, Woodruff, Cross, Crittenden, and St. Francis.
According to Broadwater, since many local packs and troops dissolved during the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding numbers is crucial. Packs and troops from Jonesboro, Bono and Paragould will be present at the expo.
“We started our pack in Bono back up three years ago and we’ve grown exponentially, but we’re trying to grow our whole district and get new packs and troops formed in the areas that don’t have them already,” she said.
The expo will showcase different aspects of scouting. Each unit pack/troop crew present will have a booth showcasing something it thinks is a fun part of scouting.
For example, Broadwater’s Pack 115 will have a camping booth set up, where it will go over camping essentials, hand out goodies and provide knot-tying demonstrations.
Broadwater said there will be a station for kids to make thank you cards for local police officers, firefighters and other first responders, which the troops will deliver after the expo. A Pinewood Derby booth will also be at the expo.
“We’re just trying to get back into the community as much as we can and hopefully, we see the membership growth and some support in return,” she said. “We’re just trying to get out there and really show our support to the community, and then hopefully we’ll get that same response from the community because honestly, we couldn’t do it without the community’s help too.”
The free event, which is hosted by the Crowley’s Ridge District of the Natural State Council for Scouting America, will be Aug. 30 from noon to 4 p.m. at the St. Bernards Auditorium, located at 505 E. Washington Ave.
Registration is not required, and entire families are welcome.
