Out of 245 councils nationwide, the Boy Scouts of America LaSalle Council, which includes Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties in northwest Indiana, says it ranked second in percentage growth last year with a 21% growth rate. The district also invested over $1 million in camp properties. For example, at Camp ToPeNeBee just outside Michigan City, the council partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps to establish three new storm shelters and three new pavilions to improve safety for scouts during inclement weather. The new pavilions will also provide space that will be used for activities year-round. The LaSalle Council also includes St. Joseph, Marshall, and Elkhart counties in Indiana and counties in southwestern Michigan. Other points of growth include the addition of a large number of female scouts, increasing by approximately 7%, and new programs for Cub Scout Packs and Boy Scout Troops, increasing by 5%, a news release said. More than 500 new volunteers were recruited, which is about 5% growth, and hundreds more parents throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan have become engaged with scouting.
“The excitement and energy surrounding the recent achievements of the BSA LaSalle Council is like nothing I’ve ever seen before in my career. We’re not just growing – we’re thriving – and this momentum is showing no sign of slowing down,” said John M. Cary, CEO, BSA LaSalle Council. “The factors behind this are crystal clear. We grew because we have great partnerships with our schools, we have great volunteers, and we were able to maximize a Lilly Endowment gift that allowed us to make scouting affordable for kids in economically challenged areas,” Cary added. The Lilly Endowment has funded the LaSalle Council with $1.35 million over three years (2023-2025) to expand programming into diverse communities throughout Indiana counties. Through that gift and through support from the local community, the council says it was able to provide over 600 kids with a scouting program during or after school in 2023. Four weeks of summer STEM Day Camps were also added, of which 500 kids participated. Those partnerships are projected to grow even more in 2024. The council also created the first Latino-based scouting program, which is a fully functional program in Elkhart County that has over 30 kids enrolled. This program is expected to serve as a model for future growth. “Going forward, these recent achievements provide us with a new baseline from which to expand, and even more opportunities for a very bright future for all of our scouts. And we’re ready for it!” Cary said.
