Boy Scouts And The NAACP

Boy Scouts And The NAACP

The NAACP said it is concerned that far too many black school-aged boys are spending their days on the streets, and they said that puts them in harm's way, as well as makes them targets for gangs and violence.

The group has turned to the Boys Scouts to try and reach them. At Boy Scouts headquarters, the two groups agreed it's a timely and worthy mission.

"These young people up here cumulatively have provided locally more than 1,000 hours of community service," said Ethan Draddy of the BSA.

"This program is to be a model, and today marks the launching of that flagship, which is committed to drawing our young men away from gangs on the street," said Gerald Stansbury, president of the Maryland chapter of the NAACP.

The project, called the First Class Camp, became official with a memorandum of understanding. Former Boy Scout Rep. Elijah Cummings was one of those who signed it.