Scouting program is 'alive and well'

The local Scouting program is alive and well, despite COVID-19. Marc Kogan, Scout executive for Boy Scouts of America Black Swamp Area Council, said more than 20 Scouts have earned their Eagle Scout Award and hundreds of other advancement awards were completed during the stay at home order. Meanwhile, fundraising continues for a new welcome center at Camp Berry. "Scouting is still happening," he said. Computer technology has been used to conduct meetings and even a virtual summer camp. Kogan said a Google Suite license and meeting accounts were established for each of the units, making it possible for them to run their own meetings. The council has also been busy making videos, especially targeting the younger Scouts, on how to complete the rank advancements, he said. "We've had 28 Scouts who were already on the trail to Eagle Scout that had their Eagle Scout board of review since March, so things still kept on moving," Kogan said. "The board of review, instead of being in person, they moved to a virtual format." The camping program also looked very different this summer. Kogan said close to 200 Scouts participated in a virtual summer camp via Zoom called Cyber Swamp. "In the morning, the kids would all log on and they would have an opening, what we would normally do in front of the flagpole," he said. "Give our camp staff kudos. They were all in their uniforms coming from home or we had a couple of people out here, obviously socially distancing, and they did the normal morning banter." Later the Scouts went to their respective classes, collectively working on nearly 800 merit badges. Mini sessions were held at Camp Berry. Kogan said about 100 Scouts — working in groups of 10 — were able to meet this summer. "We're now encouraging units to have den and patrol meetings outside. Troops can also go camping again in groups of 10," he said. With so much happening using technology, an online safety program was offered that allowed Scouts to earn a special cyber CHIP. The program is age specific with options for both youth in grades one through five and older Scouts through high school seniors, said Kogan. "I liken it back to 1912. To first become an Eagle Scout you had to wrangle a horse. They don't have to do that anymore, but they didn't have this technology so we've continued to evolve. But we still have the camping, we still have the cooking, we still have the backpacking, we still have the knot tying. Those are all still important things," he said. The program, offered in partnership with NetSmartz Workshop, is open to all Hancock County youth through a grant from the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation. The council continues to raise funds for a new Yammine Lodge that will be built at Camp Berry to serve as a welcome facility/training center/health center. Kogan said about $400,000 has already been raised, and another $100,000 is needed. The new 4,525-square-foot structure will replace both the existing camp office that dates back to the 1950s and the health lodge that was built in 1948. "Camp has changed over the years," said Kogan. "Moms are looking for a little bit different experience than they were 60 years ago when they dropped their child off. We wanted to really repurpose our welcome center, and we saw this as a great opportunity to have another indoor teaching space as well for year round programming." Kogan said the lodge will be named for the Yammine Family, who have been involved in Scouting for three generations and more than 40 years. A special part of the lodge will be the James Lorenz porch. Kogan said Lorenz was the founder of Troop 321 and a Scoutmaster for 12 years. Under his leadership, the troop produced over 100 Eagle Scouts — including 29 Eagles at one Court of Honor. Members also set national records in hiking miles, camping nights and community service hours. Alumni of the troop are raising funds to support the naming honor for the porch. The council is also in the midst of its recruiting season. "In talking to several of our health departments as we tried to get camp open this summer, the comment that was made to me was that we need Scouting now more than ever," Kogan said. "It teaches kids to be prepared. It teaches those strong values, to be helpful, courtesy, kind and obedient. Ingraining those values are now even more important with everything going on." To find out more about the online safety courses or to join the Scouting program, go to BlackSwampBSA.org or call the council service center at 419-422-4356. Scouting is open to youth in kindergarten through age 21. Wolf: 419-427-8419 jeanniewolf@thecourier.com