How does the council provide program support year round?

Council programs such as Summer camp, Merit Badge University, the programs at New England Base Camp and other activities like the Scout Strong hike, SOAR or Pumpkinfest all provide support.

To provide this level of support that's convenient for leaders, and available all year round we establish program areas through local towns and independent scout facilities throughout our 76 communities. This will enable den leaders and scout troops, crews to provide top rate program every weekend.

What is a ‘program area’?

A program area is a summer camp term used to describe a geographic location with resources and staff who deliver similar activities.

For example:

• Aquatics is a program area that provides swimming, canoeing, row boating, sailing, life saving and other activities centered around the pool or lake.
• The activities are a series of short typically fun activities (a canoe slalom the teaches the J Stroke, or swamping the canoe and learning a T rescue)  
• The activities often teach requirements and add up to full merit badges or Cub Scout Adventures.
• Others are: Native American, Archery, Rock climbing, Oceanography, Camping and Pioneering skills, Outdoor Cooking

How are our programs implemented?

Our Scouts want to learn and do Scout Skills. The skills are found in the Scout handbooks and delivered through the parents who volunteer as leaders. The Scout council encourages parents to take leadership and skill training to help them deliver the program.  

What are these skills specifically?

Everything from archery to fire by friction, aquatic activities like canoeing or lifesaving, pioneering and ecology, new programs like STEM activities, or old school wilderness survival skills. It also includes high adventure activities like rock climbing, ice climbing, using a ropes course, mountain biking, etc. All these skills are required for basic advancement, yet only a small percentage of troops and packs can easily deliver these programs.

What tools do leaders use to implement programs?

ScoutBook  the online app for Scout advancement. Scoutbook aligns all unit advancement chairs with the council and simplify all record keeping. Scoutbook shifts the council's role from simply administration to empowerment. Not only are we able to provide program delivery, but also primary program support - making the council a true partner for every unit.