2024 -- S 3078

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LC004700

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

WELCOMING THE NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, TO THE

RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE AND JOYFULLY CELEBRATING SCOUTING MONTH

IN FEBRUARY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Acosta, E Morgan, Gu, Felag, LaMountain, Lauria, Gallo,
Mack, Ujifusa, and Britto

     Date Introduced: May 16, 2024

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council BSA, like the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), was

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founded in 1910, is one of the largest scouting and youth development organizations in the

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region, with thousands of youth participants. Since the BSA’s beginning, approximately 130

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million Americans have participated in its programs nationwide, to the great benefit of our nation.

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Through the years, countless youngsters have developed leadership skills and character, learned

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how to be self-sufficient, as well as life-saving and career enhancing skills and have selflessly

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served their local communities and made positive differences in the lives of countless people. In

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celebration of Scouting month, a group of Narragansett Council Scouts and leaders are visiting

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the Rhode Island State House today; and

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     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council serves the entire State of Rhode Island along with

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cities and towns in neighboring states, and tirelessly endeavors to be accessible to all Rhode

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Islanders, regardless of their income or social status. In particular, they work to include

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disadvantaged families within our State’s urban communities. In 2023, 1,398 new Scouts and

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their families joined programs offered by the Narragansett Council; and

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     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council makes a positive impact in the lives of countless

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people within every single Rhode Island community. In 2023, 5,355 Scouts and their leaders

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donated 25,197 community service hours, and 150,652 pounds of food were collected through

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"Scouting For Food" and given to local food pantries; and

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     WHEREAS, Camping and environmental education have always been vital and integral

 

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parts of the scouting experience. In 2023, at the nationally renowned Camp Yawgoog, run by the

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Narragansett Council, there were 4,565 campers, with 133,072 meals served and 15,443 merit

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badges earned. There were 239 boy troops and 54 girl troops attending Camp Yawgoog last year;

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and

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     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council also operates the highly successful Adventure

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Base Camp at Camp Champlin in Cranston; and

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     WHEREAS, Camp Champlin’s year-round “Adventure Base Camp” delivers the youth

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development, life skills, and leadership development programs of Scouting not just to thousands

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of Scouts every year, but to all Rhode Island youth and families, focusing on unique outdoor

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adventure program experiences; and

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     WHEREAS The Scouts are proposing a new, state-of-the-art “Leadership and Program

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Center” at Camp Champlin that will serve youth and families statewide, positioning the Scouts to

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augment the existing outdoor programs with an additional programs and training facility to

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expand offerings year-round, especially during inclement weather; and

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     WHEREAS, The new, modern facility will feature large meeting space for up to 250

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people, a “Wet Lab” for STEM and environmental science programming, a video & tech lab as

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well as the new headquarters for Narragansett Council for which the Scouts are seeking federal

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funding to make improvements to water, sewer, and roads; and

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     WHEREAS, Throughout the year, the Narragansett Council offers many enriching,

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rewarding and educational programs including Fire Explorer’s Academy, Law Enforcement

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Explorer Academy, and Police Explorer Stations Day. All of these programs offer young people

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the opportunity to participate in practical hands-on activities that explore possible career choices;

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and

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     WHEREAS, Each year, the Narragansett Council also offers training classes on a variety

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of important topics including Youth Protection Training, Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics

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Classes, National Youth Leadership Training, and Introduction to Leadership Skills; and

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     WHEREAS, Since girls were officially welcomed into the Boy Scouts of America in

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2019, the Narragansett Council has enrolled 799 girls in Scouting as of December of 2023; and

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     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council's more than 5,300 youth, and their families,

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highly value the positive experiences and enriching educational opportunities the Narragansett

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Council provides for them as they help to prepare their children to lead successful and rewarding

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lives and to make a positive impact within their communities; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby welcomes the

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Narragansett Council, Scouts BSA to the Rhode Island State House, joyfully celebrates Scouting

 

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month during the month of February and thanks the Scouts and their adult volunteer leaders for

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all the good they do on a daily basis in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Tim McCandless, Scout Executive and

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CEO of the Narragansett Council BSA.

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