West Chester Assistant Scoutmaster Lee McIlvaine will walk in the centuries-old footsteps of his ancestors when he tours the undeveloped site of the future Program, Activity & Resource Campus for the Chester County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Fellow Scout leaders will soon provide public walking tours of a small portion of the landscape settled in 1683 by the patriarch of a branch of the McIlvaine family, Richard Thomas.

“Its 28 acres of expansive green space provides a wealth of opportunities for environmental education, outdoor living skills development, team-building and leadership enhancement as well as recreational and fitness programs, including fishing, hiking, team sports and outdoor games,” PARC information states.

The walking tours will take place on Sept. 10 and Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

At the center of the proposed $5.2 million development, of which $2.7 million has been raised to date, is the 15,000-square-foot center where Scouts will launch into merit badges, STEM and career education, bike rides, camping trips, observation stakeouts at the wetlands and streams, bouldering and Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (C.O.P.E.) courses, a zip line, a climbing wall and a fitness obstacle course.

“Hear how 28 acres of woods, streams, wetlands and wide-open fields will engage, challenge, motivate, train and inspire our young people.”

Reserve a tour here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage when Scouts hit the halfway milestone for the project here.