Welcome to the Suwannee River Area Council!

Our council’s goal is to provide a quality, dynamic program of learning and adventure that builds well-rounded young people. The Suwannee River Area Council, Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on January 22 1924. Since then it has been our honor to instill in the youth we serve the character, values and traditions that make Boy Scouts of America stand apart in the crowd.

2021 Camp Card Sale

Ends April 30, 2021

As we enter April and the final month of our 2021 Camp Card Sale, we wanted to take a moment to remind our families that this fundraiser is a fantastic way to generate funds in preparation for summer camps. This relieves the pressure on families to pay for summer camp opportunities by allowing each scout to earn their own way to camp! Each version of the card sells for $5.00 and is a great way for folks in our communities to help support Scouting.

This sale is also a fantastic opportunity to train your Scouts in public speaking, sales, and service. As a reminder, ensure your Scouts understand they are selling character, a better community, and the benefits of attending a Scouting Camp – not just selling discount cards. Have them emphasize that each card sold helps them earn their way to camp. The reason our sale will be successful is that people want to support Scouting and will find value in purchasing the cards beyond the financial benefits available on the card offers.

There are no limits to how many cards a Scout can sell! One unit in Tallahassee had a Scout sell 137 cards to their School to be used as gifts for the 5th grade class graduation! Another Scout was able to sell 200 cards to a friend in real estate who would use the cards as thank you gifts to his clients. Last year one of our Scouts actually sold a card to a member of the House of Representatives while ON the floor of the House! While supplies last, your Unit can request more cards from the Council Office (open Monday through Friday from 10-6)!

Use this next 30 days of April to completely fund your Scout’s way to camp!
 
If you have any questions about the sale, please contact our Council Camp Card Chair, Heather Rosenberg at nolegirl74@gmail.com, or the Council Staff Advisor, Terry Whitaker at terry.whitaker@scouting.org.

It’s Pinewood Derby Time!

Governor’s Square Mall / Dillard’s wing
April 24, 2021
 
Are you ready to race?
 

The 2020 Suwannee River Area Council Pinewood Derby will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2021, in the Governor’s Square Mall (Dillard’s wing).

As in past years, this year’s racers will have staggered check-in and start times for each rank/level. The check-in and race times will be as shown on the Race Day Schedule in the Leader’s Guide. Also, continued this year, will be a Champions Race; racers that finish 1st place in their rank are automatically entered to race for the Champion’s Cup.

All races will be conducted appropriately, according to rank/age level, with all awards presented following each race. Our goal is that the longest time any individual Cub Scout will be required to be at the races will be an hour and a half or less, from the beginning of their check-in period until the end of the awards period for that race. The only exception will be the Design/Show car entries, which will be on display for 3 hours. However, unlike the racers, those Cub Scouts entering show cars may enter their cars and return later for the awards ceremony.

For full details, registration and to get a copy of this year’s Leader’s Guide, follow this link.

2021 Spring Creek Canoe Race Camporee

Spring Creek, Brinson, GA
 
Spring is almost upon us! Join us for the Spring Creek Canoe Race Camporee! Troops and Crews will compete in a timed canoe race to see who is the best of them all!
 
The Spring Creek Canoe Race is also known as the Garland Grice Memorial Canoe Race. Garland Grice was a dedicated Scouter, who exemplified the Scout Law and Oath in all aspects of his life. He served as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 711 and was Post Adviser for Explorer Post 711. In 1990, he started Troop 700 and served as Scoutmaster until his passing. He was in charge of this camporee for many years and for that reason we run it in his memory.
 
You can register for the 2021 Spring Creek Canoe Race Camporee here, follow this link.

Are your Cub Scouts ready

for some Weird Science?

Cub Scout Twilight and Day Camps are here!
 
Our weird labs are looking to recruit some weird scientists to explore new experiments filled with fun, adventure and lots and lots of slime!!
 
Have your Cub Scout grab their gear and join us for an awesome adventure!
 
Scouts will participate in many types of activities including swimming, science experiments, field sports, nature, arts and crafts, Scout skills, and all-around FUN!
 
We have two camps this year. The first is a 4 day twilight camp in Bainbridge, Ga from June 1-4. The second camp is a day camp in Tallahassee, FL from June 14 – 18.
 
Sign up for the camp that fits your needs and schedule. For details and to register for each camp, see the following links:
 
Bainbridge Twilight Camp: https://scoutingevent.com/664-CSTC
 
We look to seeing you for some weird fun!

Current COVID-19 Updates

Updated March 16, 2021
 
Annual Health and Medical Record UPDATE: As of March 16, the Council Executive Committee approved a change to no longer require the AMHR for activities of one day or less. The AMHR is still required for events over one day in length and for overnight activities, as normal. For all events, regardless of length, you will still be asked to answer the questions on the “Pre-Event and Arrival Medical Screening Checklist”, which can be found here.
 

Important: Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, although preventive measures are being taken, we cannot guarantee that you or your child(ren) will not come in contact with or become infectied with COVID-19. Therefore, attendance at all of these events will require an adult to read and sign an “Informed Consent Waiver“, acknowledging that you understand the contagious nature of the virus and assume all risk for you and/or your children attending these activities. A copy of the waiver is attached to the online registration for each event and you will be able to sign for acknowledgement electronically during the registration process. You may review a copy of the waver at this link, as well,

The Scout Shop remains open from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Monday through Friday.  No more than five customers will be allowed in the Scout Shop and front counter area at a time, including children.  Face coverings and all other social distancing protocols will remain in place.

What can all Scouting members do to protect themselves and others

  • Scouting members should take the same precautions they would for any common cold or flu.
  • Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. *(Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content can work in a pinch, but they’re generally not as effective as soap and water). 
  • Hands should be washed before eating, after using the bathroom, and when you come inside from outdoor activities that caused hands to get dirty.
  • Avoid touching your mouth, eyes or noses.
  • Cough and/or sneeze into your elbows and not your hands.
  • Distance yourself from anyone coughing or sneezing.
  • Encourage Healthy Habits, like eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
  • If you are sick, stay away from school, work, Scouts and others.
  • If you have any symptoms of the virus, seek medical attention immediately and follow the advice of your medical professional.

Let’s all set the example to be safe during this time.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  Thank you.

Join Cub Scouts!

Need help finding a unit for you?  No problem!
Find My Scouting Unit

So... what's going on around #SRACBSA?

So, you came here looking for information on what’s going on around our council? Wow! That’s great, there are a number of ways to keep up with what’s up around SRAC. Obviously, this website is one of them. There also several other channels available to help you keep up with Scouting stuff.  We’ll list them below with links for accessing each one.

  • For detailed information on what’s coming up on the schedule of events, see our “Events” page
  • Subscribe to our electronic mailing list, so that you can receive our monthly e-newsletter.  You can subscribe by clicking here or you can simply text “SRACBSA” to 22828 and follow the text prompts.
  • Like our Facebook page
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Join our SRAC Volunteers Facebook group , where members can also post announcementsof interest.
  • Attend a monthly roundtable meeting. 
  • Ask your Den Leader, Cubmaster, Crew Advisor or Scoutmaster.

Scouting at Home!

The Suwannee River Area Council is committed to keeping scouting alive and available in our communities.  Through this website along with our facebook page and our council e-mail list, we will offer our Scouting units and families opportunities to participate in Scouting activities from the comfort of their own home! 

Check out the activities on our Scouting at Home page and come back often for updates! 

DON’T JUST SIT THERE … KEEP ON “SCOUTING AT HOME“

National BSA Registration Fee Increase

and new Council Program fee

effective August 1, 2020

 
The Suwannee River Area Council is focused on customer service and transparency to its scouting family. Our volunteers and staff are mission-driven to grow the organization and deliver character education in a quality way. The organization is focused on that daily.  We owe it to our members to provide the highest quality customer service and resources possible.  We have big plans for this Council, all focused on you, our scouting family, and we need your partnership to deliver it!  Although Scouting is a less expensive program than competing activities, we recognize that it still costs money.  And we can all agree that the value is there!
 
  • Beginning August 1, 2020:
    • Registration fees for traditional youth (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing) will be $10 per month, or $120 annually.             
    • Adult leader and Exploring participant registration fees will be $5 per month, or $60 annually. 
    • Each unit (new or returning) will annually pay a $75.00 unit charter fee.
    • BSA has also established a one-time new member joining fee of $25.
    • Boy’s Life Magazine (optional) will remain at $1 per month, or $12 annually.
    • Registration and fees can be completed online. Units will not have to collect national or council fees, as long as, the new youth or adult registers online. 
  • The new fees will be collected for new registrations beginning on August 1, 2020.  Currently registered members will be subject to the new fees at recharter time, as usual. 
Details on the new National BSA fee can be found at this link.
 
Included in the above fees is also a newly established Council Program fee, details of which are found below and a FAQ to help understand the rationale can be found at this link. 
 
The Council Program fee, which is incorporated into the amounts shown above (not in addition to) are as follows:
  • For traditional youth (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing) – $54 annually.             
  • For Adult leader and Exploring participants – $18 annually. 

This fee is being implemented out of necessity to ensure the needed support for Wallwood Scout Reservation, boost unit level support, and focus on quality programs, while being able to provide the required insurance coverage in order to be able to continue to provide a robust Scouting program.

Along with this new fee, in addition to the many services the Council provides, we are happy to extend those services to also include:
  • Beginning in 2021, all registered families of the Suwannee River Area Council will receive:
    • Access to all Council camp properties for tent camping at no charge.
    • Access to University of Scouting, youth and adults, at no charge.
    • A special “thank you” decal to showcase the family as a Scouting family.
    • Excellent unit/customer service and program support through our new specialized model of position specific executives (staff) 
The online system will be updated to reflect the Council Program fee, so that all fees are collected at the same time.
 
Below is a complete breakdown of the new fee structures:
 
Annual Registration – Youth
Annual Registration – Adult
      $66.00 – National BSA registration
      $42.00 – National BSA registration
      $54.00 – SRAC Program fee      $18.00 – SRAC Program fee
   Total – $120.00/$10.00 per month   Total – $60.00/$5.00 per month
      $12.00 – optional Boys’ Life      $12.00 – optional Boys’ Life
     w/ Boys’ Life – $132.00/$11.00 per mo      w/ Boys’ Life – $72.00/$61.00 per mo

 

We encourage you to review the FAQ and to discuss this with your unit’s leadership to understand how this change effects your family.

Thank you for continuing to be a part of our scouting family.

The Suwannee River Area Council, Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on January 22 1924. Since then it has been our honor to instill in the youth we serve the character, values and traditions that make Boy Scouts of America stand apart in the crowd. Thirteen counties throughout south Georgia and north Florida are served by Suwanee River Area Council. If you are not involved in Scouting today please let us know how we can serve you!