New Birth of Freedom Council > Scout Executive's Blog

Category: Scout Executive’s Blog

A Simpler Membership Renewal Process Is On the Way

If it seems as though membership renewal has changed several times over the past few years, you’re not imagining it.I’ve heard from unit leaders who are frustrated by trying to keep track of renewal dates throughout the year. Instead of…
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Ron Gardner Retiring As Scout Executive & CEO

Ronald M. Gardner, Jr., Scout Executive & CEO of the New Birth of Freedom Council, will retire on December 31, 2026, concluding nearly three decades of service as a Scout Executive & CEO in south-central Pennsylvania.Gardner announced his retirement during…
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Another Power Outage at Tuckahoe

Another fallen tree has blocked Tuckahoe Road and knocked out power to our service center. We’ve had to close the service center again. That’s inconvenient for people planning to visit, although our employees can work productively remotely. What concerns me…
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Protecting the Land and Preserving the Experience

From left: Ron Gardner, Scout Executive & CEO; Jean Foschi, Vice Chair of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners; Stephanie Williams, Senior Planning Manager with the Cumberland County Planning Department; and Ashley Shultz, Land Conservation Planner in the Forest Resource…
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Cub Scout Retention Is No Accident

Every fall, hundreds of families join Cub Scouting. They come looking for adventure, friendships, and opportunities that help their children grow into capable, confident young people.Most begin with excitement and high expectations.Yet every year, some quietly disappear.It’s easy to assume…
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Beneath the Surface: The Story Behind Camp Tuckahoe’s Pool

Months of planning, structural repairs, and skilled craftsmanship culminated in a beautifully restored pool—ready to create memories for the next generation of Scouts. Most people see a beautiful swimming pool. I see 23 years of memories—and one renovation I’ll never…
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Summer Camp 2027: Built on Your Feedback

Earlier in my Scouting career, I spent 16 summers serving on camp staff. Those experiences gave me a firsthand appreciation for the impact summer camp can have on young people. Years later, I watched my own sons experience many of…
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Pitch In, Give Back, and Help Get Tuckahoe Ready for Summer Camp

Scout camps, like Camp Tuckahoe, are a little different than most places families go for fun and adventure. When you visit an amusement park, you buy your ticket, enjoy the day, and head home. Nobody asks you to help paint…
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Big Improvements at Tuckahoe Ahead of Summer Camp Season

As the 2026 summer camp season approaches, Camp Tuckahoe is a very busy place these days.We are making significant improvements across the camp as part of our council’s ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving the facilities that support Scouting in…
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Department of War Memorandum – What’s Not Changing and What’s New

To New Birth of Freedom Council Leaders, Families and Friends:In recent days, you may have seen communications from Scouting America, along with social and mainstream media coverage, regarding the memorandum of understanding with the Department of War and several program…
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