Camp Cachalot Update

On Thursday, October 12th, 2017 council leaders held a Fireside Chat in Tiverton to discuss changes in programming at Camp Cachalot in 2018.  A link to the PowerPoint presentation that was presented is included at the bottom of this page.

The Narragansett Council is committed to running the most outstanding summer camp programs possible for your son.  To achieve this goal, we periodically assess whether changes need to be made in order to guarantee the most rewarding experience possible with the limited resources available. For instance, last fall we decided to suspend overnight Cub Scout resident camp at Cub World in Pascoag, RI, and consolidate this program at Camp Norse in Kingston, MA.  This initiative proved to be a success.

Similarly, after a careful review by the council's properties task force and the council's executive committee, the Council's executive committee has decided not to run an overnight summer camp program at Camp Cachalot in 2018.  That said, we want to be very clear that Camp Cachalot is not being sold. Rather, we will continue to use the camp for weekend camping and special Scouting programs including camporees, Klondike Derbies, National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), Order of the Arrow programs and more.  We will keep our options open for new or renewed programs at Cachalot in years to come as our program needs merit it.

Two key factors have led us to this decision.  First, Camp Cachalot has run at a deficit every year since 2002 (a $1.1 million cumulative deficit), a situation that creates a significant financial strain on our programs.    Second, while our council saw significant improvement in recruitment last year and again this year and Cub Scout membership is growing for the first time in many years, the past decade has seen an overall decline in the number of Boy Scouts in the Northeast (due to population decline and other factors).  Taken together, these two facts make this action necessary in order for our council to maintain a sustainable program.

Camp Cachlot is a great camp!  However, Boy Scout membership in our council and surrounding councils has decreased.  There has been a loss of 25,000 Boy Scouts and 1,600 Boy Scout troops in the last 15 years in the Northeast Region.  The good news is that Cub Scout membership began to grow last year and is doing so again this year.  This will eventually work into Boy Scouts. The bottom line is this: the change is a result of declines in Boy Scout membership in our council, across the Northeast Region, and across the country over a period of 40 years.  See more details in the presentation link below.  

For those troops that choose to attend Camp Yawgoog, we have made a tentative campsite reservation for all of those Troops afffected. Financial aid is available.

 

Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Presentation on the need to suspend summer camp at Cachalot  See information on membership trends and camp attendance trends.

Presentation slides for follow-up meeting on 10/25/17

 

 

NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

223 Scituate Avenue
Cranston, RI 02921

Phone/Fax:401.351.8700
info@narragansettbsa.org
 

 

CAMP YAWGOOG 

 

61 Camp Yawgoog Rd
Rockville, RI 02873

 

campyawgoog@scouting.org