A crackling campfire lifts ash high into a dark treeline as smiling faces glow orange by the fire’s light. Laughter reigns throughout the New River Gorge area as thousands of campers share stories and jokes beneath a canopy locals call home.

Well, they’re not here yet, but their presence is already felt by some local businesses.

Business owners throughout Fayette and Raleigh counties are invited to participate in a contest titled “Operation Welcome Scouts,” which kicks off today, to show their excitement for the Boy Scouts of America’s high-adventure base in Fayette County.

Participants are asked to decorate a store-front window, themed, “This Is Scouting Country.”

Maura Kistler, co-owner of Water Stone Outdoors in Fayetteville, who sparked the contest, said she’s going to win.

In November, Kistler decorated a window on the front of Water Stone because key players for the project were touring Fayette County and Fayetteville and she wanted to show that the community was behind it.

So, to celebrate the Boy Scouts’ 100th anniversary, Janet Proctor, the district chair for the Seneca District serving Raleigh, Fayette, Summers and Wyoming counties, thought there was no better way to show the community support than by having a window contest.

Kistler said she wanted to participate in the contest because “it’s such great news for Fayette County.”

She continued, “It reflects the growing presence in the county and it’s great for the kids.”

Water Stone Outdoors already distributes to the Boy Scouts, but it’s installing a larger section dedicated to their needs, she said.

Another Fayetteville business owner, Adam Stephens of Marathon Bicycle Co., said he participated in the contest to show his gratitude for the Boy Scouts choosing the area.

“I just want to show the Boy Scouts of America that we’re excited they chose Fayette County,” he said. “We know they had a lot of other places to choose from.”

Stephens had returned from vacation and was immediately approached by friends and business owners to join in the contest. He said he had no idea about it or what he’d do.

He said he was interested because he wanted to “support the community and show the Boy Scouts that they’re a part of it.”

Cindy Dragan, assistant director for the New River Convention and Visitors Bureau in Oak Hill, said she’s decorating the CVB because she wants to help welcome scouts not only to Fayette County, but to southern West Virginia and the rest of the state.

“The whole scouting project will be huge for the whole area,” she said. “It’s a new chance to market new demographic groups to vacation and know about the area.”

Crossroads Mall is dedicating an empty store to the contest and a “huge” banner welcoming the scouts, said Kathy Housh, the mall’s general manager.

She said she was participating because it’s a perfect match.

“I cannot think of a better neighbor or industry in the world that’s more compatible with our geography,” she said. “Their creed is so compatible with West Virginia and they’re a very welcome industry to have beside you.”

Beckley Chik-fil-A owner and operator Richard Jarrell chose to participate in the contest because he wants to help in any way.

“We want to show that the community wants to support what they’re doing,” he said.

The decorations will be up from Monday, the 100th anniversary of Boys Scouts in America, through next Saturday, and the public is encouraged to visit and cast a vote on your favorite.

Votes cost $1 and voters’ names will be placed in a drawing for prizes. Money raised through votes will be donated to the Seneca District.

Other businesses participating:

- Oak Hill: Bev’s Collectibles, City Hall, Fayette County National Bank, Lively Insurance and the Red Cross.

- Fayetteville: Fayette County National Bank, Fayette County Courthouse, Fayetteville CVB, Lively Insurance, Swirl and The Vandalian.

— E-mail: cjackson@register-herald.com