If you are interested in applying to go as an adult leader, bringing our contingent troops on this once-in-a-lifetime trip, please contact Mark Hallerman, Mount Baker Council Jambo Chair at [email protected] for information and application. Adult applications are due March 16, 2022 (via email [email protected]) or to the Scout Office care of Professional Dan’l Adams.
Dear Mount Baker Council Members,
As a valued member of our Scouting community we are reaching out to provide you with an update on the BSA’s financial restructuring, and to explain how the Mount Baker Council is participating in the effort to equitably compensate survivors of past abuse and to ensure the future of Scouting’s vital mission.
Our Council’s Contribution:
As part of the Boy Scouts of America’s financial restructuring, the national BSA and its local councils have agreed to contribute specified amounts to a trust (the “Trust”) set up for the benefit of survivors. The amount each local council was asked to contribute was determined using a combination of information obtained through the claims process and an assessment of each local council’s ability to sustain Scouting in their area after the contribution. We expect that, in the coming weeks, the specific contribution of each local council will be filed with the Court, but we know now that the total value of the Mount Baker’s Council’s contribution will be $2,127,213.
We have determined to satisfy the Council’s contribution obligation in full by contributing the Everett Service Center to the Trust, which has an appraised value approximating the required contribution amount. This approach provides a way for the Council to satisfy its obligations without drawing upon donor funds, impacting operating budgets, or compromising the Council’s ability to fully serve its Scouting community. It also provides an opportunity for us to consolidate our two service centers into one location and to rethink how we can best deliver services to units and scouts.
The Mount Baker Council is legally separate and distinct from the national organization. Our camps, properties, and local donations are controlled by our Council. We share in the BSA’s commitment to equitably compensate survivors of past abuse. We believe that we can fund our contribution to the Trust while ensuring that Scouting can continue to serve youth, families, and communities in Northwest Washington for generations to come.
It is important to note that restricted donations can only be used for their designated purposes and are legally protected so that they are used as the donor specified. Local donations through programs such as FMSC Club, Popcorn sales, and the Council Auction’s Raise the Paddle go straight to supporting Scouting in our communities today; these donations are used in real time and are critical to maintaining local operations.
The BSA’s Path Forward:
There is still much to be done to obtain approval from the Court to solicit survivors to vote for the BSA’s amended Plan of Reorganization. However, the BSA is wholeheartedly committed to working toward a global resolution. The BSA intends to seek confirmation of the Plan this fall and conclude its financial restructuring around the end of this year.
While this is an important step forward in the national organization’s financial restructuring, we also want to take a moment to recognize the exciting things happening in our Council. There has never been a better time to be a part of Scouting. This fall, we look forward to welcoming new members to our ranks as we anticipate these new members along with our current Scouts to “Escape the Indoors” and enjoy the outdoor experiences at Fire Mountain Scout Camp, including the Cub Scout Adventure Day, Webelos-ree and Haunted Camp. These are the experiences that make Scouting so valuable.
Thank you for your continued support of Scouting. If you have any other questions about the national organization’s financial restructuring, please visit www.bsarestructuring.org.
Yours in Scouting,
Mount Baker Council Key 4
On August 4th the Council Key 4 – the Council President, Council Commissioner, Council Scout Executive, and incoming Council President – held a Town Hall discussing some of the options the Council is looking at to better serve our members.
The Town Hall was recorded for those who could not attend. We encourage you to watch the Town Hall and then respond to the survey below.
As we close down the school year and head straight into summer, I’m always reminded of my many campaign experiences in Scouts.
In Cub Scouting, we had fun! We made an oven out of a cardboard box; ate ice cream we just made by rolling around cream and sugar in an old coffee container; dropped eggs wrapped in various layers of protection to see who could keep their egg from cracking; and launched rockets to new heights.
When I was old enough to attend BSA camp at Fire Mountain, adventures in my first few years were all about my first week away from home without family, fishing, figuring out how to get around camp, hunkering around a campfire until the wee hours of the night, and swimming. Climbing, Wilderness Survival, and Shooting Sports all came much later (I never was able to complete my Rifle Shooting merit badge). Every year was different, but all equally amazing.
As someone who has grown up in the program, I can’t recommend taking advantage of these camps and programs enough. Aside from the traditional Cub and Scouts BSA camps ran by the Mount Baker Council, we’re also holding another “Family Camp” offered on Labor Day. I’ve outlined a few Mount Baker Council offerings below – check them out and if you haven’t already, please be sure to sign up today.
Regardless of what program you select and where you go camping, be sure to take time this summer to get outdoors and find your next adventure!
Steven Davis
Council President
Life is still busy, even during the pandemic. And a packed and busy schedule often means that certain activities — usually those that don’t directly affect our quality of life — must take a spot on the back burner. Unfortunately, community service is one of those types of activities for many. 
It seems ironic that we’re writing to explain the benefits of community service, a key value with the Boy Scouts of America. It is, after all, supposed to be a selfless act, and should be appealing simply based off the inherent instinct to do the right thing. Many Scouts, however, are still in the process of developing such instincts, and the activities they participate in during childhood and their Scouting experience can greatly affect their development. Community service comes in many forms, but no matter the application, it teaches our Scouts the value of service to others. If that’s not quite enough information to convince you, here are some other reasons why volunteering is important as a child:
Kids’ world views are limited, especially if they grow up seeing only a single way of life. Whether it’s the less fortunate or other volunteers, community service grants the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life and humanizes individuals who kids otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to know.
A lot of times, these skills are almost impossible to teach on a moment-to-moment basis and must be learned through hands-on experience with others.
If you want to teach your kids something, teach by example. Especially for younger children who still need support in new environments, it’s important for kids to see that their parents not only approve of what they’re doing, but are doing it themselves, too. Plus, family time is always beneficial to children — studies show that kids that value time spent with their family are the happiest.
Another study, conducted by DoSomething.org, revealed that the main determining factor in youth volunteer work was if they had friends who also volunteer. Turns out, it’s crucial to establish a community of friends and family who all share an interest in volunteering – hence the Scout’s own den, patrol, crew or ship members.
Community service can often produce visible results: a smile on a stranger’s face, a food basket out for delivery, or even a purring shelter kitty can register with children as positive outcomes of a job well done. Not only that, but because most volunteers in the world are adults, community service gives kids the chance to work with people older than them, legitimizing their voice as individuals.
According to research done at Tufts University, kids who volunteer are more successful in school and more likely to graduate from both high school and college. Kids often learn to plan and manage their own time while volunteering and become accustomed to interacting with those from different backgrounds — soft skills that play a crucial role in not just higher education, but life in general.
How to Get Your Scout Involved in the Mount Baker Council’s Summer of Service Project Good Turn.
Being a member of the Boy Scouts of America and the Mount Baker Council is one of the best ways to ensure your Scout is consistently encouraged to give back. It allows them to volunteer with fellow Scouts regularly, but also encourages parents and community members to volunteer alongside them as Scout Leaders. Scouting teaches the community that giving back is more than just an obligation — it’s an activity in which the benefits work both ways.
This summer, the Mount Baker Council will be coordinating a council-wide Project Good Turn called the Summer of Service. In this issue of the Echo and also on our website, your Scout and your unit can learn how they can be part of our effort to give back to our communities through service. Just say yes to service and Scout On!
Kevin Nichols, Scout Executive
It’s important to make sure we offer Scoutng to EVERY family. Often time this means being in the schools or community to recruit new familes to our Scouting programs. But in the last year with COVID-19 shutting down schools and keeping us from meeting in person many of our Cub Scout Packs and Scouts BSA Troops have seen more than normal numbers of familes chosing to not recharter. For many familes this may not be because they dont WANT Scouting they just weren’t intrested in the viruatl meetings. Now that we have more opportunities to get back together as well as summer time Camp programs lets make sure we invite them ALL back!
SUMMARY
Do you have a troop equipment trailer? If you do, be sure you pay careful attention to the task of properly securing
your trailer when not in use to prevent theft. In addition to the cost of the trailer itself, the replacement of troop
equipment and sometimes personal items may be several thousand dollars, as well as a major inconvenience if
you were about to use the trailer on an outing.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Good preventive measures should be employed to discourage theft, but keep in mind that no system can guarantee total protection. Given enough time, resources, and desire, a determined thief can overcome any measures you employ. The goal is to make stealing hard enough that they will go elsewhere!
RESOURCES
• National Association of Trailer Manufacturers—www.natm.com/trailer-safety.html
Trailer Theft | Boy Scouts of America (scouting.org)
Chair – Chris Vazquez 360-393-7272 [email protected]
Commissioner – Jim Rhodes 360-340-8417 [email protected]
Director – Sven Gilkey 360-632-6999 [email protected]
April 2021
2 Good Friday (Office’s closed)
9-10 IOLS and BALOO @ FM
15 Commissioner Staff Meeting
22 District Committee Meeting
28 Baden Powell Dinners
May 2021
20 Commissioner Staff Meeting
22 Council Court of Honor
27 District Committee Meeting
28-31 Family Camp @ FM
The North Cascades District is excited to announce that Chris Vazquez of Bellingham has excepted the role of District Chair. Chris has most recently been serving as Scoutmaster of Troop 4019 and is a former Whatcom District Camporee Chair. Chris and his wife are long time believers in the Scouting mission with two of their boys being Eagle Scouts. With his youngest son heading off to college this fall Chris answered the call to lead Scouting here in North Cascades District and we are excited to support him in that endeavor.
Be sure to save the date of the evening of June 17th to be at Fire Mountain. North Cascades is hosting it’s annual Court of Honor for recognizing the amazing efforts of our unit and district leadership over the last year. This years Court of Honor will be a little less formal but still A LOT of fun, with a BBQ Picnic at Fire Mountain. More info coming soon with cost and start time but for now just mark your calendars for a fun evening out at Camp with your fellow Scouters!
With the ever-changing nature of the world around us the North Cascades leadership team wants to keep you up to date with the latest info! In that effort we have a weekly newsletter blast going out to the unit leaders and committee chairs as well members of the district committee and commissioner corp. Subscribe below to get this and more info right to your inbox.
By: Denise Lesniak, Vice President of Membership
MBC Membership Committee
(Virtual) New Member Coordinators
New Member Coordinators (NMC) have an important role in all of our units. NMC’s assist with recruiting new scouts; and also help new families as they join your unit. This may be taking place in person (following social distancing guidelines) or virtually. The connection between a scout/family to the unit is very important (year round), it is especially important as Cub Scouts transition to Scouts, BSA and into troops. Having your NMC at meetings allow parents to easily identify who they may go to for questions; or help with introductions to leaders and meet other parents. Your unit’s leadership and NMC should host a virtual meeting with new scouts and their families. This will allow scouts/families to put faces to names or emails. The NMC is there to welcome everyone and keep the parents (and scouts) engaged in what the troop is doing. Experienced parents may understand how packs and troops are run; but it may be a little confusing or intimidating for those that are new to our programs. This is two-fold with units that are meeting virtually at this time.
You will find more information on the New Member Coordinator position, at www.scouting.org/nmc, as well as exceptional online training. There is even a Facebook group specific for NMC’s – check it out!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BSANewMemberCoordinator/
Here is what the New Member Coordinator (NMC) position has been designed to:
By: Kevin Nichols, Scout Executive
I want to thank all of our Scouters for all the good they do for our youth, especially during these uncertain times in the past year. Our youth look to you as positive role models and representatives of a caring, giving community, especially as you have set the bar for our members during the pandemic. My additional thanks to all of our underwriting sponsors and donors for making this youth program a success this past year and into the future. Your investment into our youth and our programs has helped Scouting in our Council weather the challenges of the past year and allowed us to focus on the future growth of Scouting. I also want to thank the members of our Executive Board who have each put in tremendous effort to lead our Council. Most of all, I want to thank all of you for your ongoing support of a program that is dear to my heart and dear to our country, to our communities, and to our youth: That organization, as you all know, is the Boy Scouts of America.
You know, the Boy Scouts’ purpose is simple: It’s to build the character and integrity of America’s youth and prepare them to become responsible adults—adults who become our leaders and adults who participate in society strengthened by our Scout Oath and Law. That Oath and that Law are founded on trustworthiness, loyalty, and bravery, and on values that put community and family first.
I say with great pride that we are the Boy Scouts of America, and we are committed to giving young people of our communities the tools and experiences, and the knowledge and faith to make the world a better place. Our mission may be lofty, but with your help, it is attainable.
Thank you for all that you have done for the youth of our communities in the past, thank you for all that you are doing now for today’s youth, but most of all, thank you for what you will be doing in the future to help tomorrow’s leaders prepare to lead.
