New York Scouts take the Ice Bucket Challenge — is your unit next?

They filled a bucket with ice water, dumped the bucket over their heads and challenged someone else to do the same.

Yes, the Boy Scouts have officially joined the Ice Bucket Challenge craze.

Unlike the Harlem Shake, planking, Gangnam Style or other flash-in-the-pan memes, the Ice Bucket Challenge actually serves a larger purpose.

By dumping ice water over themselves, people like the Scouts of Bronx, N.Y., Troop 102 are raising awareness about ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Justin Timberlake, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Ethel Kennedy are among the big names who have doused themselves with frigid water so far.

It seems to be working. Between July 29 and Aug. 12, the ALS Association and its 38 chapters have received $4 million in donations. That’s almost four times the $1.12 million in donations received during the same period last year.

Early on the morning of Aug. 1, the Scouts and leaders of Troop 102 joined the fun at Camp Aquehonga, part of the Greater New York Councils’ Ten Mile River Scout Camps.

They participated in the challenge before jumping in the pool for the morning’s Polar Bear Swim.

Each Scout and leader challenged a friend or family member to take the challenge before doing so themselves.

Go here to see the video on the Troop 102 Facebook page.

Take the Ice Bucket Challenge

Has your pack, troop, team, post, ship or crew taken the Ice Bucket Challenge?

Learn more on the ALS site, and share the link to your video in the comments below this post.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.