Are the Boy Scouts
still relevant in a world where the average kid
a day staring at a screen?
Northern Star Council BSA 2013 Annual Report
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Technology has achieved some incredible things in recent times. An entire online virtual world has been created right in front of our eyes. But as impressive as this is, it can’t and shouldn’t ever take the place of real childhood experiences. Experiences that mold true social skills and a real sense of adventure. Experiences that instill respect, leadership, and the strong moral compass that a kid will carry long into adulthood. These are the experiences that the Scouts have been providing our youth for the last century. And why in this day and age, they’re now more important than ever.
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There is no
But, there is a
PATCH. 62499-14_001-036.indd 3
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Social media brought the entire world closer than ever before. But there’s still nothing quite like just sitting around a campfire together. The true and real friendships formed in the Scouts – whether it’s at a weeklong excursion to Many Point Scout Camp, or just a Tuesday den meeting – are often relationships that last a lifetime. And belonging to a troop instills teamwork and interpersonal skills that even a network of 1 billion people can’t replicate.
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We believe that
are not learned on
SOCIAL MEDIA.
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PREPARING tomorrow’s LEADERS is one of the most important things we can do for our future. So that job shouldn’t be left to an algorithm. For over 100 years, Scouting leaders have helped build character and conviction in our youth one experience at a time. One challenge at a time. One badge at a time. One future leader at a time. And the 1,863 Webelos who earned the coveted Arrow of Light award this year are 1,863 shining examples.
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Leadership isn’t defined by having the
on Twitter.
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Overcoming challenges starts with getting out of your comfort zone. Especially if that comfort zone is the couch. While most kids fight their battles online, the Scouts are pushed into truly new territories every day – building confidence and courage in a way that prepares them for the real real world. Just ask the 5,000 brave souls who ventured up our high ropes course at Base Camp this year. It’s a badge of honor that mashing buttons on a controller will simply never bring you.
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You may have faced plenty of
but walking on a rope 60 feet up
TAKES COURAGE.
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Dear Friend of Scouting, We are proud to deliver this stakeholder report, and appreciate your support for our mission to ensure children are prepared for life. “Doing” has always been more powerful than “observing,” and educators from all circles are increasingly valuing the experiential learning model that the Boy Scouts of America has delivered for 104 years. Nowhere is experiential learning more effective than in the arena of leadership development. Learning by doing, advancing, and leading with the benefit of practical experience is part of our Scouting DNA. In the course of following the Scouting trail, a young man or young woman realizes the value of a team, and they become a leader for life. We intend to give leadership expertise a powerful boost in the years ahead with the creation of a Leadership Center at Fort Snelling/Margaret Cargill Park. This facility and the expanded curriculum we will offer there will complement the team building activities at the Davis Base Camp, and will serve thousands of youth; Scouts and non-Scouts, and adult volunteers in Scouting and beyond. Our board’s vision since Northern Star Council was formed nine years ago is to have a positive impact on 100 percent of children in the communities we serve. A demonstration of this aspiration is that 84 percent of the more than 100,000 participants at the Davis Base Camp (in our first three years of operation there) were non-Scouts. Nearly twenty percent of the boys and girls ages 6-21 in our communities are Scouts — but we don’t stop there! Enjoy the insights into the power of “doing” as shared in this report — you helped make them possible. Yours in Scouting,
Greg Page, Council President
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Brian Bullock, Commissioner
John Andrews, Scout Executive
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Mission To prepare young people to be leaders and individuals of strong character by helping them discover the principles of Scouting.
Vision Northern Star Council is a positive influence in the lives of 100 percent of the youth in the communities we serve.
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“Be Prepared” — Prepared. For Life. In Scouting, preparedness is more than a motto. It’s a way of life. That’s the idea behind the “Prepared. For Life.” theme rolled out nationwide by the BSA and adopted by all councils, including Northern Star. It provides a succinct way for stating what Scouting is all about. To further explain Scouting’s role in helping young people on their journey to adulthood, the campaign emphasizes four distinct areas of preparation: Prepared for Adventure. Scouting encourages youth to pursue an active, healthy lifestyle and to enjoy the great outdoors. Prepared for Leadership. Scouting gives young people the skills to take responsibility and to lead by example. Prepared for Learning. Scouting teaches youth to set goals and work to achieve them one step at a time. Prepared for Service. Scouting motivates young people to build their communities by serving others. Through Scouting, young people are prepared for life — making families, communities, our Nation and the world a better place for all of us.
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2013 Membership Northern Star Council membership showed growth in all programs except Cub Scouting, reaching nearly one in five eligible young people. Combined with Exploring and Learning for Life membership, 69,774 boys and girls ages 5 to 21 were served by Northern Star programs — 19.1% of eligible young people, all supported by 19,731 adult volunteers. The council provides volunteers with a wide range of training opportunities, including online courses, videos, and district and council events. Membership includes youth and adults from all racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, physical and mental abilities and educational experiences. In the 25-county council area, more than 1,100 educational, community, religious, civic and labor groups partnered with us by chartering 1,296 Scouting units: 483 Cub Scout Packs, 441 Boy Scout Troops, 16 Varsity Teams, 221 Venture Crews, 2 Ships, 131 Explorer Posts and 2 Learning for Life Groups.
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2013 Membership — Total Youth Served Lions, Tigers, Cub Scouts & Webelos
38,086
Boy Scouts & Varsity
18,544
6,556 Venturers 5,397 Explorers 1,191 Learning for Life Total
69,774
This represents a year-long market share (density) of 19.1% of eligible youth.
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Programs Scouting prepares young people for life — helping them to become healthy, contributing citizens in communities, families and the world. A range of age-specific programs for boys ages 5 to 21, and girls from 13 to 21, feature a learning-by-doing approach. Members build leadership, teamwork, physical/mental fitness and a spirit of service, helping them grow into caring adults built of good character. Members start at any level, with no prior experience required. Traditional Cub Scouts — Boys grades K through 5: Members experience a wide range of social activities and award requirements that develop their self-responsibility, confidence and spirit of service. Neighborhood-based and family-centered, Cub Scouts meet weekly or biweekly in small groups (dens) in homes or other community locations led by volunteer den leaders, and monthly in pack meetings with families and all other dens. They work on award requirements (advancements) at meetings and with their families, as well as take part in pack/den field trips and special Cub Camps. Boys in kindergarten and first grade join with an adult partner. Boy Scouts — Boys ages 10 to 18: Increased responsibility, leadership experiences, camping, outdoor activities, service projects and a challenging advancement program mentored by adult volunteers are all key elements of the Boy Scout program. Weekly meetings are led and run by the Scouts with adult guidance. Members are introduced to over 130 hobby and career choices through merit badges and goal setting/achievement with an awards program that culminates in the rank of Eagle Scout. Venturing — Young men and women ages 14 to 21: Over 120 activities, ranging from rock climbing to scuba diving — as well as high-tech programs like GPS orienteering — provide young adults with opportunities to experience personal growth. Venture crew members share a sense of belonging in a group where they explore interests and learn more about teamwork, leadership, respect and responsibility through bi-monthly meetings and high-adventure activities. Crews specialize in a variety of avocational or hobby interests.
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Specialty Learning for Life — Boys and girls grades K through 12: Learning for Life is an in-school educational program that wraps values into weekly curricula used by teachers. Learning for Life helps young people develop respect for differences and learn positive decision-making skills. It also teaches character and improves classroom behavior. Exploring — Young men and women ages 13 to 21: A Learning for Life hands-on program that takes them out of the classroom and into the business and vocational world. Young people form clubs (posts) and learn directly from business people about what it takes to become a productive member of today’s workforce. Posts are youth-led, supported by adult advisors, and meet several times a month to strengthen members’ organizational and leadership skills, plus offer opportunities for service, social interaction, team building and career guidance. Special Needs Scouting — Boys, girls, men and women of all ages and abilities: Serving both physically and developmentally challenged individuals, the Polaris District provides Scouting education and experiential learning programs to give participants lifetime skills. Membership can be based on cognitive age, rather than just chronological age. Training, guidance and support are provided to leaders to better serve the special needs of individual members of local Scouting units, as well as self-contained special needs Scouting groups. Scoutreach — Boys grades K through age 21 and girls ages 13 to 21: Ensures all young people have an opportunity to gain the benefits of Scouting. Part-time council employees serve as leaders of packs, troops, crews and posts to reach disadvantaged or underserved youth populations, in inner-city neighborhoods of St. Paul and Minneapolis, as well as in Kandiyohi and Rice counties. Through these efforts and the emphasis provided by the volunteers and staff of culturally-based districts, significant progress is being made in serving Hmong, Latino, African American, Asian and recent immigrant populations. Scoutreach offers a great way to break down barriers and share cultural differences while expanding inclusion of all communities.
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Scouting after School Program (Huron District) — Primarily serves youth from Kindergarten to 5th grade as well as middle school (6, 7, 8th graders) in the metro area at schools and community education sites with a 30 week after-school Scouting program module modified to fit the needs of youth in low income and disadvantaged communities. This program is led weekly by part-time program assistants and is supported by the community education department with transportation and facilities. Juvenile Diversion — Boys and girls ages 10 to 17: This innovative program gives first-time juvenile offenders a positive alternative to the court system. Teens are referred by local law enforcement to a three-month course that teaches proper decision-making skills, communication techniques and community service. Those who successfully complete the program and do not re-offend maintain a clean record. For offenders ages 10 to 13, a separate program is offered that requires parent participation with a strong element of community service. Juvenile Diversion gives young people a second chance, as it teaches them to take responsibility for their actions while giving back to the community they have harmed or offended. 1,012 youth were referred to Juvenile Diversion by its program partners (16 police departments). More than 586 young people participated in groups — with 92% completing the program. 80% of those who complete the program do not commit another offense for at least two years after the program. This year Juvenile Diversion also started a new program with Brooklyn Center High School, which works with youth who are to be suspended.
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Board of Directors - Officers Gregory R. Page, President Alan Bernick, President-Elect Brian Bullock, Commissioner William E. Brown, Jr., Treasurer Heidi Conrad, Assistant Treasurer Richard P. Neuner, Immediate Past President John R. Andrews, Scout Executive/Executive Secretary Vice Presidents John G. Patterson, Camping/Properties Lynn Swon, Community Engagement Skip Krawczyk, Development Steve Wilcox, District Operations Nancy Dana, Innovation Roger Green, Exploring & Special Programs Kari Bjorhus, Marketing John Guthmann, Membership Martha Weaver, Program Raymond A. Wood, Scoutreach Hong Huie, Technology
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Board of Directors Alt, Thomas H., MD (DIR), Retired Physician Andrews, John R. (SEC), Scout Executive/CEO, Northern Star Council, BSA Bernick, Alan (President-Elect), SVP & Chief Legal Officer, Andersen Corporation Bjorhus, Kari (VP), Vice President, Ecolab Bradshaw, James H. (DIR), Pres/CEO, Bradshaw Funeral & Cremation Services Brody, Bill (DIR), Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron Brown, Bill (TRES), Group Vice President, The Toro Company Bullock, Brian (COMM), President & CEO, Burchfield Group, Inc. Capristo, Aldo (DIR), Vice President, Operations Support, Xcel Energy Coleman, Jeff (DIR), Attorney, Coleman Law Firm LLC Conrad, Heidi (AT), Vice President & CFO, Regions Hospital Corrigan, Fritz (DIR), Ret. The Mosaic Company Dana, Nancy Randall (VP), Executive Director, St. Paul City School Devine, Thomas W., (DIR), Executive Vice President, The David Agency Dimond, Robert (DIR), Exec. VP/CFO, Nash Finch Fredericks, Kay L. (DIR), CEO, TREND enterprises, Inc. Garfield, David (DIR), Deputy General Counsel, Wells Fargo & Co. Garry, Daniel, MD, PhD (DIR), Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Green, Roger (VP), Retired Vice President, HealthEast Greiner, Jeffrey P. (DIR), Managing Partner, Northern Pacific Group Guthmann, John H. (VP), District Court Judge Hackworthy, C.R. (DIR), President, Anchor Real Estate Group Halverson, Richard P. (DIR), Ret. Partner, Great Northern Capital Huie, Hong, (VP), CTO, Adv. Technologies Integration, Inc. Johnson, Phil (DIR), COO, Colle + McVoy Kamrath, Keith, (DIR), Chiropractor, Kamrath Chiropractic Kane, Thomas P. (DIR), Senior Counsel, Cozen O’Connor Knudson, Scott (DIR), Attorney, Briggs & Morgan Knuth, Daniel J. (DIR), Government Affairs Knuth, Joann C. (DIR), Retired Exec. Dir., MN Assoc. of Secondary School Principals Krawczyk, Skip (VP), President, Transport Distribution Services Kuhn, Kevin (DIR), Vice President IT, United Health Group Lancaster, Richard R. (DIR), Vice President, Great River Energy
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Laseski, Wesley (DIR), Retired CEO, Value Merchandise Lee, James A. (DIR), Ret. Pres. Canadian Pacific (U.S.) Finance March, John (DIR), Retired Vice President, Cargill Maves, Brandon (DIR), Partner, McGladrey Mezile, Harold (DIR), Retired President & CEO, Metropolitan Mpls. YMCA Moore, Cornell (DIR), Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP Myers, Jack (DIR), Partner, KPMG LLP Nelson, Nancy F. (DIR), Vice President, Blue Cross Blue Shield Neuner, Richard P. (IPP), Retired Sr. VP, Blue Cross Blue Shield Olson, David C. (DIR), President, MN Chamber of Commerce Ortega, Rafael (DIR), Ramsey County Commissioner Page, Gregory R. (PRES), Executive Chairman, Cargill, Inc. Patterson, John G. (VP), Partner, Fredrickson & Byron P.A. Pattison, Jeff (DIR), CEO, West Central Steel & Central MN Fabricating Pederson, Jon (DIR), Ruffridge-Johnson Equipment Company Inc Quintela, Alberto Jr., Esq. (DIR), Attorney Ricker, Mary Cathryn (DIR), President, St. Paul Fed. Of Teachers Riley, W. Patrick (DIR), Ret. VP, Andersen Corporation Rosene, Robert W. (DIR), Ret. VP, Bonestroo, Rosene Anderlik & Assoc. Scarborough, James (DIR), Partner, Ernst & Young, LLP Schnell, Robert C. (DIR), President, Center Insurance Agency Schweizer, Elizabeth (Betty) (DIR), Executive Director, TIES Segersin, Dan (DIR), Sr. Vice Pres., Wells Fargo Funding Shaeffer, Rick (DIR), Financial Advisor, Edward Jones Investments Strom, Bob (DIR), President, Olsen Tool & Plastics, Inc. Swon, Lynn (VP), Retired, Vice President, Dain Rauscher Theobald, Jon A. (DIR), President & CEO, Mairs & Power, Inc. Weaver, Martha (VP), Public Information Manager, Anoka County Weekes, Steven (DIR), CEO, Weekes Forest Products, Inc. Wettergren, David L. (DIR), Retired School Superintendent Wilcox, Steven J. (VP), President, Resultants for Business, Inc. Wood, Raymond (VP), District Court Judge Woolery, Scott (DIR), Director Of Operations, Wayzata Community Church Zappa, James M. (DIR), Assoc. General Counsel Int’l, 3M
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Territory Served Through 25 districts and divisions, Northern Star Council serves 25 counties: four western Wisconsin counties (Pierce, St. Croix, Polk and Burnett) and 21 counties across central Minnesota (Anoka, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, McLeod, Meeker, Ramsey, Renville, Rice, Scott, Washington, Wright, Yellow Medicine and portions of Stearns and Swift).
Legend Camps Cities (for reference) District number 1— Trailblazer 2 — Crow River 3 — Northern Lights 4 — Lake Minnetonka 5 — Dan Patch 6 — Mustang 7 — Great Rivers 8 — Eagle River 10 — Northwest
11 — Three Rivers 12 — Many Waters 13 — Kaposia 14 — Prairie Lakes 15 — Rolling Hills 16 — Chief Black Dog 19 — Metro Lakes 20 — North Star
There are also five non-geographic districts of the Northern Star Council: Silver Maple, El Sol, Zulu, Huron and Polaris.
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Camps (shown on map) One of Scouting’s primary tools for fostering healthy youth development continues to be the outdoors. In 2013, Northern Star Council youth members and community partners had access to more than seven thousand acres and 40 miles of shoreline at eight outstanding camps: Davis Base Camp at Margaret A. Cargill Park (BC) — Fort Snelling Fred C. Andersen (FCA) — Houlton, WI Kiwanis Scout Camp (KSC) — Marine-on-St. Croix, MN Many Point Scout Camp (MPSC) — Park Rapids, MN Phillippo Scout Reservation (PSR) — Cannon Falls, MN Rum River Scout Camp (RRSC) — Anoka, MN Stearns Scout Camp (SSC) — South Haven, MN Tomahawk Scout Reservation (TSR) — Birchwood, WI
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2013 Highlights Camping There were more than 110,000 youth and adult camper days in events or overnights at one of our council camps.
9,047 Boy Scouts attended week-long summer camping programs at Many Point Scout Camp, Tomahawk Scout Reservation and other sites.
3,696 Cubs and Webelos attended summer camps for at least two nights at Akela, Kiwanis, Stearns and Navajo camps.
415 Scouts participated in week-long high adventure programs that included whitewater kayaking, rock climbing, ATVs, jet skis, COPE and SCUBA activities at Many Point Scout Camp and Tomahawk Scout Reservation.
1,509 Scouts successfully spent a winter night outside in negative or near zero degree conditions (and enjoyed it!) due to the expert training and equipment at our Snow Base and North Wind camps. Polar Cubs Day Camp had an attendance of 4,874 youth and 4,251 adults. The Margaret A. Cargill Camping Initiative, a program designed to create camping opportunities for urban youth, provided 790 individual experiences to youth with barriers to outdoor programming. Scoutreach Akela Camp was attended by 161 disadvantaged youth members and parents, which provided them with a positive introduction to Cub Scout camping. Northern Star Council sent 270 youth and 30 adults in 7.5 contingent troops and crews to the 2013 National Jamboree at the brand new permanent site in West Virginia. All Scouts participated in a “Day of Service� providing just over 2,400 hours in volunteer service to local communities. In addition to the contingent, 73 adult Scouters from Northern Star Council served on Jamboree staff.
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In October, Base Camp celebrated its 100,000th participant in only its third full year of operation. During 2013 these participants included more than 4,600 BSA Scouting youth members, more than 900 Girl Scouts and almost 9,700 students from 184 school programs. In all there were a total of 37,933 participants, including full program, special events and meeting attendees. Base Camp partnered with La Semana: a week-long culture day camp for children adopted from Latin America in elementary through high school and their family members. Many Point Scout Camp finished construction of a new Nature Lodge at Buckskin camp. The project was a testament to the power of volunteers who contributed more than 1,500 hours of labor to bring the structure to completion for only $115,000 in materials. The Sam Foust Pavilion was dedicated at Stearns Scout Camp, which provided a wonderful dining and program space for the Cub resident camp participants. Northern Star Council employed more than 500 seasonal camp staff to facilitate a great camping experience. All summer and winter camping operations received A+ ratings by the National Camping visitation teams. $392,000 was invested in camp maintenance, including facility improvements, utility repairs and equipment replacement at our eight properties. More than $133,000 in camp scholarships were granted to more than 800 youth so that financial hardship was not a barrier to a quality camping experience.
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Training Youth-facing leaders who were trained increased 6% over last year, with a 12% increase in top leaders trained. Universities of Scouting (Spring and Fall) delivered training to 1,650 attendees — a new record. More than 300 youth, both Boy Scouts and Venturers, male and female, participated in Grey Wolf (National Youth Leader Training) — one of the largest programs of its kind in the country.
111 adult Scouting leaders took part in Wood Badge, the highest training level offered for adults. Advancement/Awards
738 Boy Scouts achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, 12 Venturers earned the Silver Award, and 1,863 Webelos earned Arrow of Light — each the highest rank in the respective programs. Northern Star Council Boy Scouts earned an astounding total of 31,076 merit badges. The most-earned merit badges were: Environmental Science, First Aid, Leatherwork, Emergency Preparedness and Camping/Swimming (tied for 5th place). These 6 merit badges — the top 6 of 134 possibilities — account for more than 6,000 of the total badges earned — more than 19%. Scoutreach Division showed a 20% increase in advancements with over 275 Merit Badges earned. The Council presented 10 of the rare National BSA Lifesaving or Meritorious Action Awards, including 3 Certificates of Merit, 5 Medals of Merit and 2 Honor Medals.
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Communications There were 352,880 visits to our main council website (northernstarbsa.org) and 864,182 page views. We demonstrated the fun and adventure of Scouting to those attending the Minnesota State Fair with a new $65,000 climbing/ropes course — the adventure summit — reaching nearly 5,000 participants, generating media coverage on WCCO television and inviting young people to join Scouting via the event and follow-up email. We also increased Scouting visibility through an electronic billboard campaign, as a digital sponsor of KARE 11, and on Clear Channel Radio in support of fall youth recruitment — with over 17.2 million impressions. Program Excellence 7 districts or divisions earned Gold, 8 earned Silver and 8 earned Bronze in the National BSA Journey to Excellence, a continuous improvement quality assessment of performance measures. Northern Star qualified as a Silver Council. 25% of available youth in our service area were registered in Cub Scouting or Boy Scouting. The Council achieved a 73% retention rate (youth members renewing their annual memberships), an increase of 2.1%. Retention in the Scoutreach Division was up by 20%, boosting advancement rates, and saw a 30% increase in members attending long-term camp. We awarded $104,888 in academic scholarships, including 31 $1,000 Eagle Scout Scholarships, as well as $133,690 in camperships to youth.
534 of our units (packs, troops, teams, crews and posts) logged more than 160,836 Community Service hours into the online tracking database. Projects were carried out by 25,870 youth and adults with an average of more than 6 hours of service performed by each member.
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Exploring set new records in the number of participants for the August Annual Governor’s Fire Prevention Day at the MN State Fair, with 350 young people. Development The Friends of Scouting campaign remained the most significant source of annual support. Community members and Scouting families raised a record-setting $2,906,000 in support of Scouting youth and programs. For the third year in a row, Northern Star reached our goal of raising $1,000,000 through our Million Dollar Day for Scouting efforts. Two December breakfasts within a 25-hour period kicked off the 2014 Friends of Scouting Campaign. However, this is the first year we reached this goal the day of our second event, making it a true Million Dollar Day for Scouting. The Community Builder Celebration raised nearly $55,000 in support of the Exploring program, while recognizing five community leaders as role models for youth. Patrick Seeb, Joan Gardner, Joe Dixon III and Dawanna Witt received the Spurgeon Award, and Dick and Nancy Nicholson were bestowed with the Community Builder Award. The Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner honored Mary Brainerd, President and CEO of HealthPartners, and raised $165,000 to support Scouting’s urban outreach programs. The event was chaired by Lynn Casey, Chair and CEO of PadillaCRT. Northern Star Council Scouts sold a record $3.34 million dollars of popcorn during the 2013 fall sale. More than 14,000 Scouts participated, with more than $2.3 million going directly back to Scouting. These funds are used to help Scouts go to camp, fund unit programs and support Council facilities and programs. A record 83 youth sold over $2,500, earning them all a college scholarship from the Trails End Company. The highest seller was a scout named Zach from Blaine, who sold more than $7,500.
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120 runners participated in the first “Good Turn 5 & 10K” race, despite cold and rainy conditions. Starting at Historic Fort Snelling, the course went through Fort Snelling State Park and the Coldwater Spring National Park restoration project, culminating with spectators cheering the runners on as they finished by running a half kilometer up a 60-degree hill. The race raised more than $1,000 for local Scouting programs. North Oaks Country Club was the site of the 31st annual Bill Hickey Jr. Tournament, which benefits Scouting programs. Golfers from all over the area teamed up to raise more than $74,000 for Northern Star Council. The 43rd annual Golf Classic was held on August 15 at Dellwood Hills Country Club. 108 golfers joined in, raising a total of $44,120. Reinhart Food Service was our Title Sponsor, donating $10,000. RBC Wealth Management returned as a Troop Sponsor with $5,000, while API Group, Ames Construction, Canterbury Park, Fritz Corrigan and US Bank PCR sponsored at the Patrol level with $2,500 donations. The inaugural year of the Camp Card sale was very successful, selling more than 30,000 Camp Cards with 253 units participating. Cards sold for $5 each with a 50% commission for the units selling — raising more than $122,000 for local Scouting. Community members accepted the challenge of the “Double Dog Dare” to rappel 23 stories down from the top of the Ecolab Building in St. Paul, and raised nearly $75,000 for Scouting! Participants raised at least $1,000 in pledges to take part, and ranged in age from a 13 year old Scout to one individual over the age of 70. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, U of MN Athletic Director Norwood Teague and Commissioner of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Joe Nayquonabe also participated. Like Scouting, the Double Dog Dare introduced fun and adventure as it gave people a life-enhancing experience and the chance to grow and challenge themselves. The $15 million “Leaders. For Life.” capital campaign was announced in May and is well on its way, having reached 52% of goal by the end of the year.
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Financials Condensed Combined Statements of Unrestricted Activities Year Ended December 31, 2013 Support and Revenue:
Operating
Capital
Endowment
Total
Direct Support: Friends of Scouting *
(net of uncollectible provision)
$ 1,642,757
$
-
$
-
$ 1,642,757
Special Events
396,126
396,126
Foundations and Trusts
777,850
777,850
(net of direct costs)
Other Direct Support
48,068
66,560
98,705
213,333
Indirect Support: United Way Allocations and Donor Designations
1,016,124
1,016,124
216,450
216,450
1,317,564
1,317,564
158,206
158,206
Revenue: Sale of Supplies
(net of cost of goods sold)
Product Sales
(net of product cost and unit commission)
National Scout Shop Fee Net Investment Income (Loss) Investment Income from Beneficial Interests in Assets Held by Others
-
179,966
179,966
20,986
23,844
44,830
Camping Revenue
4,639,470
4,639,470
Activity Revenue
1,156,780
1,156,780
Other Revenue Net Assets Released from Restrictions * Distributions from Endowment Fund
87,771
505,075
592,846
1,551,412
374,604
1,926,016
914,263
Recovery of (Increase in) Endowment Deficiency Total Support and Revenue
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$13,943,827
$946,239
(24,425)
889,838
344,903
344,903
$622,993
$15,513,059
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Financials
Expenses:
Endowment
Total
Operating
Capital
11,896,375
1,197,174
13,093,549
Management and General
816,342
25,784
842,126
Fund Raising
877,374
52,433
929,807
Program
Charter and National Service Fee Total Expenses Changes in Unrestricted Net Assets Before Transfers
71,665
71,665
$
13,661,756
1,275,391
282,071
$ (329,152)
-
$
622,993
14,937,147
$
575,912
Condensed Combined Statement of Changes in Net Assets Year Ended December 31, 2013 Beginning Net Assets
$ 2,540,820
$ 23,890,182
$ 26,062,675
$ 52,493,677
282,071
(329,152)
622,993
575,912
Transfers Between Operating, Capital and Endowment
(254,571)
(1,000,875)
1,255,446
-
Change in Unrestricted Net Assets
27,500 4,059,791
2,877,777
7,146,202
57,778
57,778
$30,876,669
$60,273,569
Changes in Unrestricted Net Assets Before Transfers
Change in Temporarily Restricted Net Assets
208,634
Change in Permanently Restricted Net Assets Ending Net Assets
$ 2,776,954
$ 26,619,946
*$1,103,758 of FOS 2013 raised in late 2012 is counted in Operating Net Assets Released from Restrictions.
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Research Shows Positive Outcomes of Scouting Participation Through online surveys of leaders and phone interviews with youth members and their parents, a 2013 local study conducted by Wilder Research found strong positive benefits of Scouting. In the study, an average of 74% of Scouts and 69% of parents reported that Scouting members improved or maintained positive behaviors and social skills within the program.
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Youth
Parents
Gets along with parents, Scout leader & other adults
79%
76%
Solves problems on his/her own
79%
68%
Carries out responsibilities
71%
62%
Makes good decisions
74%
63%
Works well as a team member
77%
77%
Willing to help others
77%
76%
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The Northern Star Council would like to recognize the many Friends of Scouting who helped make this annual report possible. Special thanks to Clarity Coverdale Fury for donating the time and resources for this report’s conception, development and pre-press work. Thanks to Jostens for the binding, paper and printing. These contributions reflect the generosity and support that has kept Scouting a positive community influence for more than a century. Their pro-bono services have eliminated nearly all the costs for the production of this report.
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www.NorthernStarBSA.org www.ScoutingPreparedForLife.org Central Switchboard: 763-231-7201 Voice / 763-231-7202 Fax East Office: 393 Marshall Avenue / Saint Paul, MN 55102 West Office: 5300 Glenwood Avenue / Golden Valley, MN 55422 A UNITED WAY MEMBER AGENCY ©2014 NORTHERN STAR COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO PORTION OF THIS BOOK MAY BE REPRODUCED, STORED IN A RETRIEVAL SYSTEM OR TRANSMITTED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS MECHANICAL, ELECTRONIC, PHOTOCOPYING, RECORDING OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE NORTHERN STAR COUNCIL.
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