MELBOURNE, Fla. — Kids from around the Space Coast have a chance to learn what scouting is all about on Saturday.

"Just a fun way to introduce what scouting and scouting values have to offer," says Chris Cleasby, Riverside District, CFL Council Scouts BSA.

One veteran scout can't wait to share what she's learned at ScoutFest.

What You Need To Know

  • Autumn Aldridge and her fellow scouts are getting the chance to share their skills with potential scouts, at Scoutfest

  • The event is designed to encourage and recruit others into scouting and show them life lessons, earn academic skills, self confidence, ethics and leadership that will influence them into adulthood

  • ScoutFest is happening Saturday, September 10th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Space Force Base Malabar Transmitter Annex 

Autumn Aldridge said her younger brother's boy scouting adventures got her interested in signing up, but at the time, girls weren't allowed. 

Then things changed in 2018.

"They said 'hey, girls can join now,' so I immediately joined and became an AOL (Arrow of Light) in the same pack he was in," Autumn said.

Autumn has learned all kinds of skills in scouting, much of it is surviving in the outdoors.

Her specialty is the dutch oven, and has created all kinds of delicious dishes on the outdoor fire.

"It's fun to cook with the dutch oven, plus it makes the best food," she said.

Autumn and her fellow scouts are getting the chance to share their skills with potential scouts, ages 5-17, at Scoutfest.

Along with her favorite, the dutch oven, kids can learn archery, BB gun shooting, rope bridge, building water bottle rockets and pinewood derby racing.

It mirrors scouting's purpose for more than a century. Kids learn academic skills, self confidence, ethics and leadership that will influence them into adulthood.

Autumn says leadership training made a big difference for her.

"I use most of the things I learned in my leadership course on a day to day basis," she said.

Her goal is to make connections and recruit others into scouting and show them the life lessons she's learned through her passion.

"It's so much fun to teach others new things," said Autumn. "It's an amazing feeling to know people are doing scouting activities like you are, all throughout our nation and world."

And you might call her a "recruiting chef."

"Perfect recipe to get new scouts to join," she said, showing off her dutch oven pizza.

ScoutFest is happening Saturday, September 10th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Space Force Base Malabar Transmitter Annex.