SCOUT EXECUTIVE'S MINUTE

Dear Fellow Scouters:

This is the month where summer Scouting programs become finalized. If a Pack, Troop or Crew is well organized they are assembling the final details of exactly which leaders are going to summer camp, which youth members are participating, and which specific advancement work are they planning on accomplishing during that time. Somehow the “Spring Break Week” has become the time when plans are either made or concluded.

Likewise, it is also the month where the “less than fully organized” units become aware of looming deadlines and their summer camp plans. Their process is slightly different in that it is less organized and that initial reservations for camp have either not yet been made at all or just an initial deposit to “hold a site” has been made.

A third group also is out there. This group has no intention of making sure that their youth members have a weeklong summer camp experience. They have pre-determined that they and their fellow leaders are too busy, the programs at camp are not relevant, the camps are too expensive, or they had a bad experience with a meal or a camp staff member a decade or so ago, and so they are not planning on going to camp. These units usually have high dropout rates, have little or no advancement record, have a low number of trained leaders, and generally do not participate in district and/or council functions.

Let’s “throw the skunk on the table.” The facts are that locally about 60% of all of our Boy Scout Troops attend weeklong BSA summer camp of any kind, in-council or out-of-council. Only about 60% of all Boy Scouts as of June 30th each year attend a weeklong BSA summer camp. In Cub Scouting, the picture is far worse. Only about 30% of Cub Scouts attend Cub Scout Day Camp or Resident Camp. Our Boy Scout record as a council is slightly better than the BSA average and our Cub Scout record far worse.

So what’s the answer to this challenge and concern? The Northwest Suburban Council welcomes all three groups: the planners, the late comers, and the non-players to every single one of our camps. It’s not too late for any of these three groups to choose to come to any of the camps THIS SUMMER. No, don’t wait and say that you’ll get around to it next summer. This summer “give us a week” as Council President Rich Politowicz has said for several months. Your youth members will stay in Scouting longer, advance in rank faster, and your parents will be more appreciative as well as cooperative of your efforts as leaders. The quality and stability of the unit increases as well.

What do I do now to make this happen? Call Randy Toland TODAY! As our Council Program Director, he’ll be glad to get your unit scheduled and set you on the “fast track” to summer camp success for you, your youth, and your unit. We’re here to help you.

Best regards,
Stephen J. Taylor, CFRE
Scout Executive
staylor@bsamail.org