On
the ground floor
Last fall we embarked on a “quiet
capital effort.” The intent was to support our strategic and transformative initiative
that would enable Scouts and their families from every walk of life to enjoy
The Scouting Outdoor Experience. Camp Sayre, with the Egan Center would provide
a high quality Outdoor Scout program every weekend!
In many ways we are developing a
brand new take on how to serve Scouts and their families while we continue to
provide the classic Scouting structure. The project is designed to grow and
build simultaneously.
As we outlined the process we
decided to just approach our board members and “close family members” for our
initial contributions. We set our sites on high impact projects that would
provide immediate quality program. Over the past nine months the weekend
attendance at camp has sky rocketed and the results at the end of the first
quarter 2014 are 900 times greater than the first quarter 2013. The programs
for this spring have already created a waiting list. It’s clear now that we
will need to re-establish some old campsites, increase parking, renovate EVERY
cabin and so much more.
In many ways we feel like 104
year “Start Up Organization.” Each month we need are marketing something new,
refining an administrative procedure, developing additional lesson plans,
training new volunteers and staff members, all while we continue to “run an old
school Boy Scout Council.”
Yesterday our board capital pledges
reached $523,350.
At this point we have only asked
27 board members and friends and we equally proud of our 100% participation
rate.
A
Long Way to Go!
While $523,350 is a LOT of money
it is also spread out over 5 years and we need to develop the program,
inventory, procedures, marketing, staff (volunteer and paid) at the same time.
Not to mention the camp improvement projects NOT covered by $523,350 and the
other camps and the standard operations. Whew!
The
Overriding Message
It’s really not the amount
raised, or even the program waiting lists or the exciting new COPE course or
any of those details it’s really observation that we are all on the same page
and working together.
The overriding message is how the
puzzle pieces fit together –
- It’s the economy of scale that allows us to provide these programs for our ScoutReach youth
- It’s how the location and program together provide natural parent engagement opportunities
- It’s how older scouts volunteer on weekends and strengthen their skills – in turn strengthening their troops
- It’s providing high quality outdoor experiences for Cub Families immediately
- It’s challenging unique outdoor programs for older scouts like Ice Climbing and building a snow shelter, or rock climbing or the Ropes Course
- It’s the dedication of our board, the combined vision that developed the strategic plan!
Thank you!
More to come…..
