TAMPA — Quick. Name three types of people who like to explore and wear distinctive clothing.
Boy Scouts, Star Trek fans and astronauts.
The three come together Saturday for Scout Con 2008 at the Tampa Convention Center.
The Gulf Ridge Council of Boy Scouts of America, which includes Hillsborough and other west-central Florida counties, organized the first-time event to raise money for its Learning for Life program. The program, which teaches about character, motivation and self-esteem and serves 26,000 area children, faces steep state budget cuts.
Organizers rounded up astronauts from Cape Canaveral and about 25 sci-fi celebrities, including Grace Lee Whitney from Star Trek and Gil Gerard from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
"Some of them were in Scouts,'' said Ted Johnson, program director for the Gulf Ridge Council, which serves 46,000 Boy Scouts. "Grace Lee Whitney was a den mom.''
Officials chose the sci-fi/space theme because of its broad appeal and connection to Boy Scouts. Nearly every astronaut, at some point, wore a Boy Scout badge, Johnson said.
The convention includes autograph sessions, memorabilia auctions and a dinner with the stars. Look for Darth Vader and Storm Troopers mingling with Michael Winslow (Police Academy) and B-movie star Joel Wynkoop, who lives in Tampa.
>>If you go
Scout Con 2008
Runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St. Admission is $25 at the door or $10 for Boy Scouts in uniform with paid adult. Get details at scoutcon2008.com or call (813) 872-2691.
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