Chinatown, New York – The Museum of Chinese in the Americas’ (MoCA) opens its latest photographic exhibition, "Be Prepared": Scouting in New York Chinatown, which contains some of the earliest available images of the neighborhood’s Boy, Girl and Cub Scouts. In conjunction with the exhibit, MoCA is calling for contributions that will assist in documenting the origins of the troops in the area.

Borrowing its name from the Boy Scout motto, "Be Prepared," the collection of photos dates from 1918 through the 1940s and contains a mixture of group portraits and candid shots of Scouts in full uniform. They are seen practicing outdoor skills such as orienteering, signaling, and knots; participating in parades throughout Chinatown and other parts of the city with their very own drum and bugle corps; and, in a display of the patriotism of the period of World War II, encouraging the sale of war bonds. The Chinatown Scouts reflected the amazing diversity of the area. Their working immigrant parents of Irish, Jewish, Italian and Chinese heritage were supportive of these programs as they provided their children not only supervision but also a venue to learn more about western culture.

As a former Troop 150 Scout during the 1940s, Ernest Mar remembers it as a group that anyone could join. "It got all of us out of the neighborhood to experience the outdoors. It occupied our time, and we had so much fun learning these activities and doing them together."

Troop 150 is Chinatown’s oldest Boy Scout Troop and will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year. There have been many other troops that have provided the Scouting program to the local community, including Cub Scout Pack 150 for the past 40 years and Girl Scout Troop 3174 for over 30 years. MoCA asks former Scout members to contribute photos, memorabilia and stories to its collections. Interested donors should contact the Museum staff at (212)619-4785 or arhives@moca-nyc.org. "Be Prepared": Scouting in New York Chinatown runs through May 2004.

Museum of Chinese in the Americas (MoCA) is the first full-time, professionally staffed museum dedicated to reclaiming, preserving, and interpreting the history and culture of Chinese and their descendants in the Western Hemisphere. The Museum provides historical and visual arts exhibitions, walking tours, school and public programs, a museum shop and extensive archives in the fields of Chinese American and Asian American studies.

HOURS: (Beginning March 2, 2004): Tuesday-Sunday: 12 pm – 6 pm; Friday: 12 pm – 7 pm.

REGULAR ADMISSION: $3 adults, $1 seniors/students, free for children under 12 and MoCA members; Free on Fridays.

DIRECTIONS: Unless otherwise noted, programs take place at 70 Mulberry St., 2nd Floor (corner of Mulberry and Bayard Streets). Public transportation routes include the N, R, Q, W, J, M, Z, or #6 train to Canal Street station or M103 and M15 buses to Chinatown.

See us online at www.moca-nyc.org

Support for "Be Prepared": Scouting in New York Chinatown is provided by JSW Consulting and David Chin General Insurance Brokerage Inc.

MoCA is chartered by the New York State Department of Education and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Major support for the Museum of Chinese in the Americas’ year-round activities is provided by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency; and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. General support is also provided by the Asian American Arts Alliance, JPMorgan Chase, J.T. Tai & Co. Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Tribune New York Foundation and Members of MoCA.