AUBURN - Since it was founded in the early 1900s, the Boy Scouts have played a role in shaping the lives of millions of boys across the country.

The organization was founded and remains true to today on the ideals of helping children get involved with healthy activities to build character and become good citizens.

Saturday afternoon at the Ward W. O'Hara Agriculture Museum, scouts were welcomed in to gather and celebrate that proud tradition with the museum's first ever Boy Scout Day.

“Tim Quill the museum director has been involved with scouts for many years,” Mike Walsh, a museum assistant, said. “And he wanted to put something together to get the scouts up here and spend a day here at the museum.”

Christina Sears, cubmaster of Pack 40 from Genesee Elementary School, said that this was made possible through a joint effort with the museum and the Scouts.

“The Cayuga County Council wanted to do something with the museum,” Sears said. “And also do something here up at the lake and give the scouts an appreciation for everything that we have here.”

Sears brought four of her young Scouts with her.

The day began with a round of disc golf on the Emerson park course adjacent to the museum.

Aside from just being fun, the day on the course had an added bonus for Sears' scouts.

“This is helping them towards their athletic belt loops (similar to a merit badge),” Sears said. #“We thought this is something the kids would enjoy and at the same time it is helping them work towards something.”

Sears' son Sam, 8, was among the Scouts that hit the links.

Sam said that he has played a little bit of disc golf before, but Saturday was especially fun.

“It is pretty good,” Sam said. “It is nice to be able to go out and play and learn a little bit more about how to play and to get our athletic loops too.”

After playing, the scouts were welcomed to a tour of the museum by Walsh.

Walsh hoped to give the young scouts a little insight not only into the history of agriculture, but also a little more insight into the history of Auburn.

“There was a lot of industry right here,” Walsh said.

“We want them to see that and have a better understanding and appreciation for how people used to do things.”

Sears said that the museum tour tied in perfectly with the objectives of the scouts.

“I think this is a great opportunity,” Sears said.

“This gives them the chance to see what things use to be like. We just take it for granted there is running water, I think this is good to take the time to look back and see how things used to be done and what it was like when you had to go out and dig the well yourself to get your water and carry it back in buckets and to look back and see how things were made and how they were done back then.”

David Wood, 8, said that he had never been to the museum before, but was excited by what it had to offer.

“I've never been here before but I like it and I really like the tractors.”