“What’s In It For Us?”
It’s usually the first question that comes up when a change, like the one we’re making with the council program fee, is on the table. And it’s an honest one.
But Scouting in the New Birth of Freedom Council depends on looking beyond just our own piece and focusing on what strengthens the whole, supports every Scout, and puts our council on a solid financial footing for the future.
After 43 years of service to Scouting, this will be my final year as a Scout Executive. That perspective brings clarity and a deep sense of responsibility. At this stage, my only motivation is to be candid — to share exactly where things stand, why certain decisions are necessary, and what it will take to keep Scouting strong and financially sustainable in our council. I know this is longer than usual, but at this point in my tenure, I feel a responsibility to explain this fully. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read it through.
This is not about avoiding tough truths. It’s about honoring the trust that generations of families, volunteers, and community partners have placed in Scouting. By being open about our challenges, we also open the door to shared commitment, renewed purpose, and the collective effort it will take to ensure Scouting continues to change lives in our communities for years to come.
In 2025, our council closed the year with a modest operating surplus of just over $10,000, after accumulating operating losses totaling $759,000 between 2022 and 2024. This pattern of losses is unsustainable.
Is changing how we collect program funds going to single-handedly correct this situation? In a word – no. It will help, but the overriding concern was that the credit-based approach was no longer workable. After the staff reductions we’ve made, we don’t have the capacity to manage it. More importantly, it regularly created confusion and conflict — from registered Scout counts to disputes over how gifts were credited.
If you have a few minutes, I’d strongly recommend visiting the article announcing the new program and watching the video, where Council Commissioner Tom Steckbeck does a great job explaining the rationale for the decision and our new approach.
Recovering from the Bankruptcy
As you may recall, our council made a $2.7 million required contribution a few years ago to help resolve the Boy Scouts of America’s bankruptcy. That was a breathtaking amount for a council of our size. Since then, our volunteer Executive Board has made a series of difficult — and sometimes unpopular — decisions to stabilize our finances and position Scouting in south-central Pennsylvania for the future.
We’ve eliminated several staff positions, including two senior management roles, while continuing to employ professionals in all five of our districts. Those positions strengthened our ability to serve you. If our financial reality supported it, I would restore them without hesitation. We also sold our two former service centers and consolidated our headquarters in the historic dining hall building at Tuckahoe (saving that building from the landfill in the process). We secured $1.55 million in state grants for the new service center and $225,000 for shower renovations at Tuckahoe, which will be ready for the start of summer camp in June.
Selling land was never my objective. But when conservation opportunities arose at Tuckahoe and Hidden Valley, I recognized how fortunate we were. We did not sell program areas; instead, we permanently protected the buffer acreage surrounding them from future development. These agreements safeguard the camps’ character while unlocking meaningful financial value to secure Scouting’s future locally. Knowing the land around our camps will remain unchanged makes this outcome especially meaningful to me.
The most difficult decision was discontinuing summer camp at Hidden Valley. Declining youth membership significantly reduced camp attendance and accounted for nearly all our operating losses. I understand the emotional connection people have to our camps. I hear about this decision regularly. But we simply could not afford to continue at that level of loss.
Why Did Our Board Do All of This?
In as few words as possible: to remain an independent council.
Because decisions about local Scouting programs, priorities, and camps should be made locally.
Our council is not just another vendor for your unit – it is the shared infrastructure that allows units to exist, operate safely, and grow.
From insurance coverage, to owning and operating our camps, to background checks and required trainings, advancement processing, professional staff support, new youth recruiting efforts, and direct service in underserved areas like the City of York – every unit relies on this shared infrastructure.
Councils were formed, and continue to exist today, to provide the infrastructure, systems, protections, and long-term stability that no single unit can provide on its own – even if you don’t directly use every service every year. Every unit depends on the council’s shared infrastructure to operate safely, legally, and sustainably.
Local councils, including ours, are operating under increased oversight from National related to financial sustainability, property operations, and membership trends. These expectations are not optional.
Strong, sustainable councils mean:
- Local control of camps and properties
- Local decisions made by local volunteers
- Programs tailored to local needs
- Continued access to facilities like Hidden Valley and Tuckahoe
Across the country, councils that cannot demonstrate financial and membership sustainability face mounting pressure. Mergers and consolidations have already occurred or will occur, including among our neighbors. Local control now depends on performance.
How Scouting is funded is very different today from what it was a decade ago. United Way support today is a tiny fraction of what it once was, reflecting broader shifts in community giving priorities. We remain grateful for the continued support from the many partners who invest in our mission. At the same time, post-COVID membership declines (from 8,970 youth members in December 2019 to 4,687 youth in December 2025) have reduced summer camp attendance and traditional unit-centric fundraising efforts.
So, What’s in It for You?
The New Birth of Freedom Council stands a better chance of remaining independent.
In a perfect world, there would be no need for a program fee. Robust participation in Friends of Scouting, product sales, and our summer camp programs would help close the gap. Increased engagement across all revenue sources remains essential to long-term strength.
In the months I have left before retirement, there is still much to accomplish — capital improvements at our camps, launching and supporting a capital campaign to strengthen our long-term sustainability, securing grant reimbursements, and finalizing the Hidden Valley conservation sale scheduled for December. There is no coasting into retirement.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I hope this explanation is helpful, and I hope we can count on your understanding and support.
Ron Gardner
Scout Executive & CEO
