The Moraine Trails Council branch of Boy Scouts of America announced its recruiting turnaround while being recognized as a Gold Journey to Excellence Council this past week in Atlantic City, N.J., as part of a regional growth planning conference.

The council recruited 9 percent more Scouts this year, reversing a five-year trend of lower recruitment numbers. The council ranked first in Western Pennsylvania and third in the North East Region.

Anita Orozco, the council’s membership chairman, said she credits the council’s success to a new, national recruitment program called Build an Adventure — Rocket into Scouting.

“It combined an activity that kids love with an experience of adventure that only scouting can provide,” she said.

Ray Tennent, the council’s Scout executive, said great volunteers and staff were essential.

“What it comes down to is having the right people in the right place at the right time,” he said.

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The Moraine Trails Council Cub Scouts attended the area’s first STEM Academy, hosted by the Seneca Valley High School Science Honor Society.

The program investigated the impact technology can have on nature, such as the effects of air on different objects and building self-powered planes, boats and cars. Scouts also learned about simple electrical circuits, exploding craft sticks and safe chemical reactions,

Irvin Gable, the council’s district director, said technology can have a role in improving a Scout’s perspective and teaching them things they’ll use later in life.

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The council plans to host its annual Technology Academy for Boy Scouts April 2 at the Butler County Community College. Scouts from ages 11 to 18 will learn about nuclear science and robotics, among other subjects.