Outdoor Programs 2025 Strategic Initiative
Get Involved!
To provide your ideas and insight to the Outdoor Programs 2025 Initiative, email OutdoorPrograms@ncacbsa.org
The Purpose of the Initiative
The Council hears from our Scouting Community that our outdoor programs and facilities are not designed and consistently maintained in the way Scouts and families prefer to experience the outdoors now and for the future. We want to gather input and feedback from our membership so we can adjust our outdoor programs and facilities to meet our Scouting Community’s expectations.
What We Hope to Achieve
Define a compelling, dynamic and sustainable NCAC Outdoor Program and associated facilities that:
- Delivers the Scouting mission in a forward-thinking manner through at least 2050;
- Understands and expresses our Scouting Communities’ evolving expectations in a transparent way;
- Attracts and retains Scouts and families of all abilities and means with age-appropriate experiences;
- Is a model that other councils emulate.
Timeline – 18 months
Deliverable
An action plan to adjust our council outdoor programs and facilities to meet the needs of our Scouting Community for the next 25 years
Ways to Obtain Feedback and Data
- Town Hall Meetings
- Surveys
- Face-to-face in Focus Groups
Focus Group Areas
- Cub Scouts
- Scouts BSA
- Older Youth Programs
- Alternative Youth Programs
- High Adventure
- Order of the Arrow
- Training (NYLT, BALOO, Wood Badge, etc)
- Districts
- Outside Users
Outdoor Programs 2025 Journey
Kick Off - April 2024
The Outdoor Program 2025 Kickoff was held on April 16, 2024.
Review the PowerPoint Presentation at this link.
Watch the video and learn about the process:
Post-Camp Feedback - Summer 2024
Phase II Survey: Post-Camp Feedback
As summer camp operations wrapped up, we were grateful for a safe and successful camp season. As discussed during our weekly leader’s meetings, a link to provide additional feedback was provided as we work to optimize our properties and programs to best serve the Scouting community. The survey took 10-20 minutes to complete based on the amount of detail shared. The link was encouraged to be shared with other leaders who participated in camp throughout the summer.
Together, we can chart a course forward through the Outdoor Programs 2025 initiative to “be prepared” to deliver the best experiences possible for youth and families. Thank you for your continued engagement with this project!
Town Halls - Fall 2024 / Virtual Town Hall - December 2024
Outdoor Programs 2025 is an initiative by Scouting America National Capital Area Council to gather input and feedback from our membership to adjust our outdoor programs and facilities to meet our Scouting Community’s expectations.
Following the close of Phase II of Outdoor Programs 2025, NCAC hosted a series of Town Halls, where key themes and action items from surveys completed by members of the Scouting community were reviewed. Everyone was encouraged to attend and share feedback on our findings.
Together, we can chart a course forward through the Outdoor Programs 2025 initiative to “be prepared” to deliver the best experiences possible for youth and families. Thank you for your continued engagement with this project!
Executive Summary - January 2025
Summary Themes and Recommendations by Action POCs and Volunteer Contributors
Additional Overview Information and FAQs about the Initiative
