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.

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Current COVID-19 Updates

Updated September 15, 2020
 
UPDATE ON COUNCIL PROGRAM EVENTS
 
As September 30 approaches, the Council Executive Committee has been reviewing, current conditions and recommendations, as well as plans for certain events and activities.
 
As always, the safety of our participants and families is key. With update guidance, we’re pleased to share that we will, once again, be scheduling certain events and activities for our scouting families. The Committee is taking a measured approach, but has taken action to begin scheduling activities that cover all aspects of scouting, from Cub Scouts to Venturing!
 
Please watch for updates and notices on these programs, as they are released.   Also check the Council Events page for updates.
 
The suspension of programs through November 30 remains in place, with certain exceptions.  See full notice below.
 

Council Program suspension/cancellation extended through November 30, 2020. As always, the safety of all of our members, volunteers, and employees and their families is the Suwannee River Area Council’s top priority. Since the spread of this pandemic, we have been continually monitoring the situation, and consulting with health experts, government officials and other youth serving organizations.

After careful and thoughtful deliberation and in accordance with current local government guidelines (e.g. Gadsden County Resolution 20-42 limits camping groups to ten (10) people), the Council Executive Board has decided to extend the suspension of Council program activities through November 30, 2020. The board’s vote included a complete cancellation of all programs through September 30, with no exceptions.

However, after September 30, the board also made provisions for the council’s volunteer Executive Committee to either rescind the suspension, if situations allow or to allow exceptions to the suspension, based on the program being provided and it’s ability to ensure the safety of the participants in the program, again so long as it’s in accordance with the then current local government guidelines.

If you have registered for any of these events to date, please see the refund policy at this link.

For the complete notice, please follow this link.

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.

Regular weekly Unit Meetings

  • The Suwannee River Area Council, BSA continues to recommend that in person meetings and activities be suspended until until further notice.
  • The ultimate decision to suspend in person unit meetings is the responsibility of the unit committee and unit leadership in consultation with the unit’s chartered organization.
  • To discover ways to keep your scouts engage from home and how to keep up with unit meetings online, see our new Scouting at Home webpage.

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.

We will issue new guidance as more information becomes available. As always, we hope you and your family will continue Scouting at Home while we physically distance ourselves and we look forward to the day when we can all be together in person with our larger scouting family!

Stay safe and KEEP ON SCOUTING AT HOME!

Every Scout should learn the value of hard work and earning their own way. The popcorn sale is the perfect opportunity to teach this valuable life lesson and fund the most exciting year of Scouting ever. The council does all the pre-work to set up the sale, eliminating the need for units to research opportunities, calculate returns, create sales and promotional materials, manage a relationship with a vendor, etc. The popcorn sale is not just about selling popcorn…It’s also about promoting Scouting!

Thousands of dollars go back to the Scouting program in the Suwanee River Area Council as a result of the annual popcorn sale. 70% of all dollars collected during the sale support local Scouting. The popcorn sale is a way for a Scout to support his or her way through the various activities during the year. There are three options to sell popcorn: traditional take order sales, sell online to friends and family out of town and show-n-sell. For more information, contact your unit popcorn kernel.

This year’s sale runs from July 30, 2020 until November 1, 2020.

For more information, see the SRAC Popcorn Sale webpage!

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.

BSA's Commitment to Act Against Racial Injustice

The Suwannee River Area Council stands behind the BSA’s Commitment to Act Against Racial Injustice. We are committed to taking the necessary steps to advance diversity and inclusion efforts within our Council. As Scouters, we should encourage each other to live by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law and be mindful of our mission and duty to God, country, other people and self.

The health, safety and welfare of our entire Scouting Family is the top priority for the our council. We remain grateful to all volunteers, staff and donors in our local communities for providing the amazing program of Scouting to the youth of our area.

The Boy Scouts of America has released a National Statement on it’s position on racial injustice and a call to action for the members of scouting to “consider our role and our failures and commit to meaningful action“.  In the statement, the BSA makes it clear that “There is no place for racism – not in Scouting and not in our communities. Racism will not be tolerated” and that “This is not a political issue; it is a human rights issue and one we all have a duty to address“.

To read the National Statement in it’s entirety, please follow the link to the BSA’s Commitment to Act Against Racial Injustice.

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“

Boy Scouts of America Bankruptcy: Local Update

As of February 18, 2020

 

TO:                    Local Stakeholders (Council Volunteers, Council Parents, Friends of Scouting)

FROM:              Terry Whitaker, Scout Executive

SUBJECT:        An Important Update from the Suwannee River Area Council

As a valued member of the Scouting family, our goal is to help you understand recent media coverage about National Boy Scouts of America. 

Please know that Scouting is strong in area, with more than 1,700 youth and over 800 volunteer leaders. All local Scouting programs are continuing as usual.  We remain as committed as ever to delivering a safe and impactful Scouting program in north Florida and south Georgia.

Today, the national organization of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to achieve two key objectives: equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue to carry out Scouting’s mission for years to come.

I want to highlight important points that are most relevant to the Suwannee River Area Council:

  • The Suwannee River Area Council has not filed for bankruptcy. Our Council is legally separate, distinct and financially independent from the national organization.
  • Scouting programs will continue. This means that unit meetings and activities, district and council events, other Scouting adventures and countless service projects will take place as usual. In short, we expect no changes to the local Scouting experience in our area.
  • Scouting is safer now than ever before. Over many years, we’ve developed some of the strongest expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization. I can also assure you that our volunteers and employees take youth protection extremely seriously and do their part to help keep kids safe.
  • Restricted donations – past, present or future – can only be used for their designated purpose. In addition, Friends of Scouting (FOS) and other annual donations made to our Council will continue to fund necessary day-to-day expenses that are critical to local Scouting programs.

While we do not anticipate the national organization’s bankruptcy filing will have any direct impact on the local Scouting experience or your involvement with our Council, I understand you may still have questions about these issues and things you will see in the news. To that end, the national organization has established a dedicated restructuring website, www.BSArestructuring.org. 

This site includes a helpful Resources page, where you will find a short video  explaining what Chapter 11 means for Scouting, as well as a FAQ.

The site’s Milestones page will be your best source for the latest updates throughout this process. 

If you have any questions about local Scouting, you can always feel free to reach out directly to me or your usual contact within our Council. 

Through your engagement and dedication to Scouting, the Suwannee River Area Council will continue to bring adventures, values and lifelong benefits to youth and our communities for generations to come. Thank you for your trust and support as we continue this important mission.

Yours in Scouting,

Terry Whitaker

Scout Executive

Join Scouting!

We are excited that you are interested in joining the Boy Scouts of America! Scouting is open to all members of your family.  Both girls and boys can take advantage of all of the adventure and excitement available in the scouting programs!

The BSA’s mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.  By welcoming both girls and boys into the program, even more youth will have access to the character development and values-based leadership that Scouting promises. 

Joining is Easy!

Whether you’re a parent of an elementary, intermediate or high school aged child, there are plenty of ways for you to get involved with the Boy Scouts of America.  Choose the program that is right for your family and explore the links on our Join Scouting page to see the latest resources and updates.  Then click on map to the left to find a unit near you or call us at (850) 576-4146 and we’ll help you find the unit that is right for you!

Scouts BSA is Here!

Offering all of the Iconic Programs of the BSA to both Boys and Girls

Scouts BSA is a year-round program for youth in fifth grade through high school that provides fun, adventure, learning, challenge, and responsibility to help them become the best version of themselves.

In Scouts BSA, young men and women go places, test themselves, and have one-of-a-kind adventures that can’t be found anywhere else.

For the first time in its 100+ year history, the iconic program of the Boy Scouts of America is open to young women as well as young men, all of whom will have the chance to earn Scouting’s highest rank, Eagle Scout.

Learn More

So... what's going on around our #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 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
  • You can join our electronic mailing list, so that you can receive our newsletter.  You can subscribe by clicking here or you can simply text “SRACBSA” to 22828 and follow the text prompts.
  • You can like our Facebook page
  • You can join our Facebook group , where members can also post announcements
  • Attend a monthly roundtable meeting. 
  • Ask your Den Leader, Cubmaster, Crew Advisor or Scoutmaster

Some of the benefits of participating are: low financial risk to your unit (payment is not due until the unit has had an opportunity to sell their product), organizational support from the Council and Trails End, and a financial benefit to your Council Our mission is to give each and every participating unit the opportunity to reach their financial goals, no matter how large or small.

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!