Scouts Announce Camping Changes for 2018
The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America recently announced changes to their camping program for Summer, 2018.?? The Council serves 13,000 youth in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Southeastern Massachusetts.
???The Narragansett Council is committed to running the most outstanding summer camp programs possible for our Scouts,??? said Tim McCandless, Scout Executive and CEO of the Narragansett Council. ???To achieve this goal, we periodically assess whether changes need to be made in order to guarantee the most rewarding experience possible for the boys with the limited resources available.???
McCandless cited the decision last fall to suspend overnight Cub Scout resident camp at Cub World in Pascoag, RI, and consolidate the program at Camp Norse in Kingston, MA as an example of the Scouts??? review process.?? ???This initiative proved to be a success for our Cub Scouts and their families,??? he said.
Based on a similar review, the Narragansett Council has decided to suspend the overnight summer camp program at Camp Cachalot in 2018.?? Attendance at Cachalot has declined in recent years, and the camp has consistently operated at a financial loss.?? 404 Scouts attended the South Carver, MA camp in 2017.
???I want to be very clear that Camp Cachalot is not being sold,??? McCandless said.?? ???Instead, we will continue to use the camp for weekend camping and special Scouting programs including camporees, Klondike Derbies, National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), Order of the Arrow programs and more.???
Construction of a new pavilion at Camp Cachalot will be completed soon and other improvements are in the planning stages.
The Council has made reservations for Scout troops who previously stayed at Camp Cachalot at Camp Yawgoog, the Council???s 101-year old, 1,800 acre camp in Rockville, RI.??
McCandless also announced that Camp Yawgoog is preparing for $7.7 million in capital improvements, thanks to a generous donor. ???Campers can expect new waterfront programs, a revamped Challenge Course, new shower houses, new tents, new bunks, a new STEM program center and a new dining hall along with other improvements over the next few years,??? he added.
Overall, the local Scouts have seen an increase in membership recently, McCandless said.?? ???The Narragansett Council is seeing a four percent increase year-over-year in membership, and Cub Scouts is growing at a rate of 12 percent,??? he said.
About the Narragansett Council: The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America???s mission is to serve others by instilling the values of the Scout Oath and Law in young people and, in other ways, prepare them to achieve their full potential.?? The Council offers a program for boys and young men ages 6 to 21 and young women ages 14 to 21, serving over 13,000 in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. For more information, please log on to www.narragansettbsa.org.