2026 -- H 8344

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LC003511

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

WELCOMING THE NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL, SCOUTING AMERICA, TO THE

RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE ON MARCH 24TH OF 2026, AND JOYFULLY

CELEBRATING SCOUTING MONTH IN FEBRUARY

     Introduced By: Representatives Shekarchi, Blazejewski, McNamara, Casey, Edwards,
Paplauskas, Felix, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: March 24, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council, Scouting America, previously the Boy Scouts of

America, was founded in 1910, and is one of the largest Scouting and youth development

organizations in the region, with thousands of youth participants. Since Scouting America's

beginning, more than 130 million Americans have participated in its programs nationwide, to the

great benefit of our nation. Through the years, countless youngsters have developed leadership

skills and character, learned how to be self-sufficient, as well as life-saving and career enhancing

skills and have selflessly served their local communities and made positive differences in the

lives of countless people. In celebration of Scouting month, a group of Narragansett Council

Scouts and leaders are visiting the Rhode Island State House on February 24th; and

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

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

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

disadvantaged families within our State's urban communities. In 2025, 1,558 new Scouts and

their families joined programs offered by the Narragansett Council; and

     WHEREAS, When thousands of Rhode Islanders suddenly lost access to their

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) benefits during the federal government

shutdown in November 2025, Scouts stepped up to support their communities. Scouts collected

292,038 pounds of food through "Scouting for Food" and delivered that to local food pantries in

every community in Rhode Island. Scouts and their leaders also completed 40,451 community

service hours in 2025 and donated 254 pints of blood; and

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

parts of the Scouting experience. In 2025, at the nationally renowned Camp Yawgoog, run by the

Narragansett Council, there were 4,553 campers, over 120,000 meals served, and 16,039 merit

badges earned. There were 262 boy troops and 59 girl troops attending Camp Yawgoog last year;

and

     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council also operates the highly successful Adventure

Base Camp at Camp Champlin in Cranston; and

     WHEREAS, Camp Champlin's year-round "Adventure Base Camp" delivers the youth

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

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

adventure program experiences; and

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

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

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

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

and

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

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

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

     WHEREAS, Since girls were officially welcomed into Scouting in 2019, the

Narragansett Council enrolled its largest share of girl scouts in 2025, accounting for 19 percent of

all Scouts in the Council; and

     WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council's more than 6,800 youth, and their families,

highly value the positive experiences and enriching educational opportunities the Narragansett

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

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

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

welcomes the Narragansett Council, Scouting America to the Rhode Island State House on March

24, 2026, joyfully celebrates Scouting month during the month of February, and thanks the

Scouts and their adult volunteer leaders for all the good they do on a daily basis in the State of

Rhode Island; and be it further

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

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

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CEO of the Narragansett Council, Scouting America.

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