STEUBENVILLE — More than 100 Scouts from several counties will be competing in a series of races Saturday when the Pinewood Derby returns to the Fort Steuben Mall.

The races will start at 9 a.m. and involve Scouts from throughout the Ohio Valley River Council of Mountaineer Area Council of Scouting America.

Scouting America is the new name of Boy Scouts of America, adopted last year to reflect its inclusion of female members in Cub Scouts since 2017 and Boy Scouts since 2018.

And many female Cub Scouts have participated in the local Pinewood Derby in recent years.

According to leaders of the organization, it has more than 1 million members, guided by more than 400,000 adult volunteers, in the U.S.

Joe Kovaleski, chairman of the local Pinewood Derby, said he expects racers from 22 Cub Scout Packs from the Upper Northern Panhandle and Jefferson and Belmont counties.

Kovaleski said the event encourages good sportsmanship, fair play, ingenuity and teamwork.

He said Cub Scouts are provided kits with a plain block of wood, wheels and axles from which to assemble a small race car.

He said to ensure conformity among the entered racers, they must use the wheels and axles provided to them but may obtain another wood block for the car’s body provided it meets standards for length, width and weight and other conditions set by Scouting America officials.

Kovaleski noted all of the entries are evaluated for compliance prior to the event.

He said many of the Scouts enjoy painting the cars in various colors and with faces or symbols inspired by movies, television and other media or their own imagination.

A Best Show Car trophy will go to the entry found to have the best appearance.

Kovaleski said in addition to sparking creativity, the activity fosters basic building skills and teamwork because the youth often work with parents or other family members though some are fiercely independent, and that is not discouraged for those with experience in woodworking.

He said the children’s involvement is most important because it should be a learning experience for them.

“It’s supposed to be a project for a little boy or girl,” said Kovaleski

Many families can be found rooting for the young racers in the Pinewood Derby.

And family members also often are involved in a kickoff event, set for 6 p.m. today at the mall, involving past participants and family members.

Kovaleski expressed thanks for the support of the owners and management of the Fort Steuben Mall and to the following businesses that have provided prizes, trophies or donations to defray costs for the event: Auto Zone, Bath and Body Works, Buckeye Mechanical Contracting, Buena Vista Honey Farms, Eat’n Park, Great American Cookies, the Holistic Cloud, NAPA Auto Parts, R. Davis and Sons Heating and Cooling, 7 Ranges Entertainment, A Touch of Elegance Bakery, the Ville and the Wintersville Trophy Shop.