NORWICH – Along with numerous other organizations during these difficult financial times, the Boy Scouts of America has seen a substantial drop in membership over the past three years, said District Commissioner George Blood.

However, according to Blood, the Chenango County district leaders are making a number of pushes to draw more applicants.

Since its founding in 1910, the BSA has grown to more than 4.5 million members, making it one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. Scouting’s primary goals are to “build character, train them in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and developing personal fitness.”

Scouting isn’t only an asset to the individual scouts, said Blood, but also to the community at large.