Boy Scouts Of America

THE MISSION OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA IS TO PREPARE YOUNG PEOPLE TO MAKE ETHICAL AND MORAL CHOICES OVER THEIR LIFETIME BY INSTILLING IN THEM THE VALUES OF THE SCOUT OATH AND LAW.

1.) IN THE COUNCIL'S SEVEN COUNTY SERVICE AREA, 2,266 YOUTH WERE SERVED BY THE SCOUTING PROGRAM IN 2023. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT TO ADULT VOLUNTEERS, YOUTH LEADERS AND THE SCOUTS THEMSELVES. WORKING IN TANDEM WITH PARTNERS CALLED "CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS, " THE COUNCIL PROVIDES PROGRAMS TO CUB SCOUTS, SCOUTS BSA, VENTURING AND EXPLORING GROUPS. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES SUPPORT IN TRAINING, ADVANCEMENT, ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE FOR ALL MEMBERS AND LEADERS, MARKETING, HIGH ADVENTURE OPPORTUNITIES, DAY CAMPING PROGRAMS AND CAREER/VOCATION TRAINING. EXPENSES ALSO INCLUDE COMMISSIONED YOUTH SERVING EXECUTIVES, PROGRAM MATERIALS, LOCAL SCOUTING EVENTS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC CONTINUE TO IMPACT SCOUTING IN 2023, HOWEVER, A LOT OF PROGRESS WAS MADE IN REORGANIZING AND REBUILDING OUR UNITS WITHIN THE PAST 12 MONTHS AND WE HAVE A FULL SLATE OF OUR TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS SCHEDULED FOR 2024, AS WELL AS A NEW RESIDENT CAMP PROGRAMS THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IN 2023 WE HAD OVER 1,000 YOUTH AND 600 ADULTS PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS PROGRAMS HELD AT CAMP LAST SUMMER. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS YOUTH OF ALL AGES WERE RIDING ZIPLINES, CLIMBING THE TOWER, HIKING AROUND CAMP, LEARNING TO COOK, RACING THROUGH THE NINJA WARRIOR COURSE, FISHING, SHOOTING AND MORE. CAMP WAKONDA BEGAN LAST SUMMER AND WILL BUILD ON THAT SUCCESS BY ADDING MORE YOUTH THIS YEAR. THIS CAMP IS VERY SIMILAR TO OUR TRADITIONAL SCOUT CAMPS, BUT DOES NOT INCLUDE ADVANCEMENT OR MERIT BADGE CLASSES THAT ARE REQUIRED OF OUR SCOUTS, BUT INSTEAD FOCUSES ON THE OTHER ASPECTS OF CAMP, WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVING FUN AT ALL THE EVENTS, BUT WITHIN A MUCH DIFFERENT STRUCTURE. OUR CAMP STAFF IS KNOWN FOR BEING ONE OF THE BEST AROUND, AND THEY ARE EXCITED TO SHARE OUR CAMP AND ALL THAT IT HAS TO OFFER WITH A NEW AUDIENCE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND IN THE PAST. SCOUTS CAN BRING THEIR FRIENDS, COUSINS, NEIGHBORS WHO MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN SCOUTING CURRENTLY, BUT CAN NOW HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES AT CAMP.

THE WAKONDA KIDS PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ALSO SAW OVER 600 YOUTH AGES 5 AND UP VISIT THE PROPERTY AS A FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED TO THEIR SUMMER PROGRAM. THIS ALLOWED MANY NON- SCOUTING YOUTH TO REAP THE BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMP AND OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING WITH ACTIVITIES NOT OFTEN ACCESSIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY INCLUDING CLIMBING, ARCHERY, AND ECOLOGY ACTIVITIES. IN 2024 WE HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND THIS TO INCLUDE PARTNERSHIPS WITH BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE AREA. THE FALL IS OUR BUSIEST SEASON OF THE YEAR, WITH OUR BIG MEMBERSHIP PUSH HAPPENING AT BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS AS THE KIDS HEAD BACK TO SCHOOLS IN AUGUST. OUR GOAL IS TO WELCOME 750+ NEW FAMILIES TO SCOUTING IN THE NEXT YEAR. THE SCOUTING CALENDAR IS FULL WITH COMBINED CAMPOUTS, YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAININGS, AND SERVICE PROJECTS ALL TAKING PLACE. AS AN EXAMPLE, IN 2023 WE HOSTED OVER 600 YOUTH AND ADULTS AT CAMP IN OCTOBER AT OUR CUB SCOUT FAMILY CAMPOREE. THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL NEW AND EXISTING CUBS & THEIR ENTIRE FAMILIES AND IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO SEE FIRSTHAND WHAT SCOUT CAMP IS ALL ABOUT RIGHT AFTER JOINING THE PROGRAM. HAC HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SCOUTING FOR FOOD CAMPAIGN, WHICH IS OUR MAJOR SERVICE PROJECT FOR THE YEAR, AND LAST SPRING COLLECTED 59,395 POUNDS OF FOOD, WHICH PROVIDED OVER 49,496 MEALS TO THOSE IN EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE CORRIDOR. 58 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN EARNED THEIR EAGLE SCOUT AWARD IN 2023, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RANK IN SCOUTING.