For many years, we have been subjected to the argument that the development of our youth in America has been on a steady decline. Supporting factors for those opinions have ranged from technological advancements threatening to impact interpersonal and problem-solving skills to societal influences that have drawn children away from wholesome activities.
However, the demand from families throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan for programming with the Boy Scouts of America LaSalle Council is flipping that script, and we are seeing that proof year after year.
Sustained Growth is Evident
The thought of the COVID-19 pandemic that started five years ago doesn’t immediately conjure up reactions of positivity; however, one advantage I have noticed that came from that tumultuous time was that families began to reevaluate what was important to them. Forced to take a step back from the hectic rigors of day-to-day life, parents began to yearn to get their kids back to basics. When the social distancing eased, the numbers in our membership started to rise.
Since that time, the LaSalle Council has seen consistent membership growth. In fact, in 2023, our organization had a record-breaking year in terms of membership. Out of 245 Boy Scouts of American (BSA) councils nationwide, we ranked second in percentage growth. Our member numbers spiked 21% across all of our programming that year. It was the biggest jump that we had ever seen. We kept that momentum going in 2024 with another 5%, bringing us to a total of 30% growth in the last three years.
There has been a real desire to take advantage of programming that supports character development, fosters outdoor activities, encourages interactive learning, and strengthens a love of community and country. And we are so here for it.
When a Community Rallies
As a national organization that has been in operation since the early 1900s, BSA, like many other organizations, has had some negative times. It has never been something I sweep under the rug. Our job as leaders is to address the issue and move forward for the betterment of our youth. As we did that, our community moved ahead with us.
Donations from the LaSalle Council partnerships have continued to be strong and grow every year. It is a testament that people continue to see scouting as a valuable organization to help kids grow and thrive. Our fundraisers have been incredibly successful over the last few years, and because of that, we have been able to subsidize the cost of joining scouts for our members.
This has always been a priority for our council as about 70% of our membership comes from economically challenged areas. Between our fundraising efforts and the community’s financial support, we have been able to take the annual cost of scouting, which is about $95 a year per scout, and cut that cost in half for new scouting families.
This has been an extremely important goal for us so that we could make scouting affordable at a time when things in our country are just not affordable.
Inclusive Expansion
In 2023, the Lilly Endowment gifted our council $1.35 million to help the LaSalle Council further recruitment efforts into diverse communities throughout Indiana. This three-year initiative has made it possible for us to reach minority families who were eager to be part of the program. The funding allowed us to bring our programming to them, with activities set in their local parks that we treat as outdoor classrooms. Our minority members now represent about 28% of our membership and that number continues to grow 2-3% each year.
Through the gift, we have been able to place a special focus on our Latino families who expressed a strong interest in becoming involved with scouting. Our Latino-based scouting program in Elkhart County began in 2023 with 30 youths enrolled and expanded in 2024. As our membership increases, so does the number of volunteers, which currently stands at 1,500, many of whom as bilingual to better assist Spanish-speaking families.
As we look forward to 2025 with the remaining funding of the three-year gift from the Lilly Endowment, we are confident that we will continue to grow programming for our members in diverse communities and continue that momentum for many, many years to come.
Welcomed Demands
As more young people are looking to the LaSalle Council for programming, we have an opportunity to develop in innovative and exciting ways. Our summer camp is more robust, with a full staff of professionals bringing their industry knowledge and programming that accommodates both male and female troops.
With the use of some of the Lilly Endowment funding, in 2024 we implemented our first STEM day camp and built a solar-powered pavilion, that also feeds power to our offices. This has been a great way to not only do our part in contributing to a greener, healthier environment but also allow us to provide another learning opportunity for our members.
The success of the LaSalle Council is a powerful combination of selfless support from the community, unwavering dedication from our staff and volunteers, and the longing from families to be part of something wonderful.
Because of that, we are seeing a different side to the rhetoric about today’s youth. What we know is that families and community members view scouting as relevant and as something still very much wanted. That speaks volumes, and frankly, our numbers speak for themselves.
