Building a Stronger Council

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…..