Friends of Scouting

What is Friends of Scouting?

Friends of Scouting is an annual campaign where the Bay Area Council asks Scouting families, businesses and civic-minded citizens to support our mission of providing the Scouting program to thousands of young people in Southeastern Texas. 100% of the funds generated stays local to support the youth in our area.

Why should I give to Friends of Scouting?

Friends of Scouting provides roughly one-quarter of the money needed to operate the Bay Area Council's Scouting camps, programs and facilities for a calendar year. These camping and training facilities are the "outdoor classrooms" in which Scouts have fun, learn leadership skills and develop into better young men and women. The Bay Area Council spends approximately $200+ per Scout each year to deliver these benefits and much more.

I already paid my child's registration and his unit collects annual dues. Haven't I already supported Scouting?

Your child's registration BSA fee of $15 annually goes directly to the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America. If your child's Scout unit collects dues, that money stays with the unit and is essentially a pre-pay average for your child's awards, unit shirt and supplies dependent on the unit. None of that money helps the Bay Area Council pay for the Scouting program and support locally.

  • Maintaining and staffing the council's camping properties and service center.
  • Building new projects and updating Camp property.
  • Electricity, water, and phone service for camping properties and service center.
  • Insurance on thousands of youth and adults, that includes medical and liability property insurance.
  • Training thousands of adult volunteer leaders in youth protection, leadership specific and Wood Badge training.
  • Purchasing and maintaining Equipment for program use, both consumable and reusable.
  • Providing programs like Cub Scout Day Camp, Cub Scout Adventure Days, Cub-O-Ree Campouts, Webelos Resident Camp, Native American Weekend, Boy Scout Summer Camp, Boy Scout Fall Camp, Boy Scout Winter Camp, Camp-O-Rees, Order of the Arrow events, National Youth Leadership Training, Venturing Activities, Sea Scout Programs, Scout Day Events and individual unit camping on facilities. 
  • Providing a Scout Assistance for youth in need, community outreach character education programs, handbooks and camperships.

Friends of Scouting is Tax-deductable 

Your donation to Bay Area Council Friends of Scouting is 100% Tax deductable.  Bay Area is a 501c3 Non-profit organization. For companies, a W-9 acknowledgement can be sent with your tax donation receipt. Your Friends of Scouting donation will also qualify for Company Donation Matching Programs, so your gift could be worth twice as much.(Any donation given directly to an individual unit is not tax-deductable and cannot qualify for Matching programs because a unit does not fall under the Council's 501c3 due to chartering.)

We need your support

Please consider a donation to the Friends of Scouting campaign. There would not be the Scouting program for the youth in this area without the Council. For more information about Friends of Scouting please contact the Council Service Center at 409-744-5206. To mail in a donation or to set up a billing option please use the attached brochure. Click  HERE to view our 2012 FRIENDS OF SCOUTING BROCHURE.

Checks payable to: Bay Area Council, BSA   memo line: Friends of Scouting 2012

Mail to: Bay Area Council - 3020 53rd Street - Galveston - Texas - 77551

TO DONATE ON-LINE FOR FRIENDS OF SCOUTING IS JUST A CLICK AWAY

Bolivar - Galveston - Texas City - Hitchcock - Santa Fe - Dickinson - Baycliff - League City - Kemah - Clear Creek Area COASTAL DISTRICT DONATION

Lake Jackson - Freeport - Brazos - Sweeny - Clute - West Columbia Area  CRADLE OF TEXAS DISTRICT DONATION

Friendswood - Pearland Area  NORTHERN STAR DISTRICT DONATION 

Alvin - Angelton - Manvel - Danberry Area  THUNDERBIRD DISTRICT DONATION