May 12, 2020
To the Families of the Greater St. Louis Area Council,
Thank you for your cooperation and positive attitudes in following the restrictions placed on Scouting meetings and activities over the past 8 weeks.
During this time, we have been exploring our options related to running our summer resident and day camps. We’ve conducted focus groups with leaders, parents, staff and physicians. We’ve waited for and followed local, state and federal guidelines and restrictions with the hope we could run our camps this summer. The situation surrounding COVID-19, the Coronavirus, has been constantly changing and even growing in many parts of our Council geography. In the last few days, there has even been a growing concern about evidence of serious effects on children.
All along, our first priority has been the health and safety of our Scouts, their parents, our leaders, staff and all their extended families and communities. Due to the ever-changing situation surrounding COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our traditional camp operations this summer.
(Please see the footnote below regarding refunds.)
Instead, we will open many of our summer camp facilities to individual families to enjoy the great outdoors safely with self-guided family camping and day trip activities. Reservations will be limited to support proper social distancing and available on a first-come, first-served basis. We will continue to collaborate with state and local health officials to determine the most appropriate facilities and related procedures to be followed.
More details will be coming soon
. Be sure to check the
Council website
and follow the
Council Facebook page
for announcements and sign-up procedures.
We will also continue our many virtual and home-based Scouting programs, activities and training courses during the rest of May, June, July and August in order to keep our Scouts and leaders active and engaged.
Council Service Centers and Scout Shops are tentatively scheduled to re-open June 1
st
as allowed by local and state restrictions. Visitors will probably be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing in those facilities.
We will also be communicating, hopefully by the end of the week, related to the potential resumption of unit activities and meetings and criteria to be followed.
We appreciate your continued understanding, patience and support as we navigate this situation with health and safety as our primary objective. Courteous and kind are two points of the Scout Law and our families have exemplified both in true Scout fashion. Thank you for your commitment to a safe and quality Scouting program for the youth of our Council.
Yours in Scouting,
Ronald S. Green
Scout Executive/CEO
Refund Statement
: Details regarding transferring camp fees to 2021 and obtaining refunds will be released on Friday, May 15, 2020. Any person or unit will have the opportunity to move any currently paid funds to a summer camp experience in 2021, at the 2020 fee. (2020 rates will be honored in 2021 for those currently signed up and paid for 2020 only) Scouts BSA troops will be offered the same site and week they have currently reserved for the 2021 season. For anyone who would prefer a refund due to COVID-19 concerns, please be assured a 100% refund will be provided.
