Although the Boy Scouts of America, the national organization headquartered in Texas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, Scouting has continued to build character, confidence, leadership, and hope in families and communities across the country, particularly here in Chester County.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of different units throughout the county organized and conducted food drives to help families in need during these challenging times. They also quickly offered help to the more than 35 families and 100 individuals who were left homeless after a massive fire at an apartment building in North Coventry Township. And dozens of Scouts were trained with leadership skills to bring back to their peers and communities at the Chester County Council’s National Youth Leadership Training course that was conducted at Horseshoe Scout Reservation.

Now more than ever, families are looking for what Scouting offers. Parents overwhelmingly want to give their children a sense of normalcy, as well as something to do as a group, even if socially distant, or something productive to do with peers, even if it’s online.

“Scouting delivers what parents are asking for,” said Jeff Spencer, the Chester County Council’s Scout Executive/CEO. “We need to stand ready to bring Scouting to even more youth and families this year.”

The safety of the children in Scouting programs is top priority. That’s precisely why, over many years, the BSA has developed some of the strongest, expert-informed youth protection policies found in any youth-serving organization.

“At Chester County Council and at all councils across America, adhering to and upholding these policies is a duty we take very seriously,” said Spencer.

Conversations about safety are especially relevant, now that the public is seeing and hearing advertising about the national organization’s bankruptcy. Local councils – which provide programming, financial, facility, and administrative support to Scouting units in their communities – are not part of the bankruptcy filings. Councils are legally separate, distinct, and financially independent from the national organization.

For questions about local Scouting, please contact the Chester County Council at chestercounty@scouting.org.

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