Boy Scouts of America Coastal Empire Council - Savannah, Georgia
A Foundation of Character
As one of the premier youth service agencies in southern Georgia, the Coastal Empire Council needed to expand and improve Camp Blue Heron and attract new scouts from a diverse urban area. The excellence of the camp's program opportunities draws an increasing number of campers from throughout the Southeast, as well as serving the Council's 11-county area. Due to the continued capacity use of camp buildings, Camp Blue Heron found itself needing new shelters, resident cabins, a dining hall, and fitness training trails. Without these improvements and a small endowment to maintain new facilities, the tradition of camping that plays such a vital role in accomplishing the Boy Scout mission would be diminished.
The new renovation and program enhancement of Camp Blue Heron has provided a place for scouts to further enrich their lives. A $1 million campaign provided the funds necessary to enhance and expand the camp program through new facilities and the establishment of an endowment to underwrite both camp maintenance and a new Urban Emphasis program. Camp Blue Heron today offers a wide range of experiences to its campers. With the campaign's success, Camp Blue Heron has also become a premier conference and retreat center of the region. Families throughout the community now have a place to go to enjoy each other and partake in family adventures. More importantly, the traditional values of the Boy Scouts of America have been kept alive for future generations of youngsters.
What Made It Happen?
The executive Board of the Council determined that to continue to serve a diverse and growing number of youth whose lives were being enriched by the Scouting movement, it was imperative that the Council expand its programs and update its camp facilities. The Scout Council asked Skystone Ryan to help them develop a detailed fundraising plan to accomplish their $1 million goal. By conducting a pre-campaign feasibility study, Skystone Ryan discovered great community enthusiasm for the proposed projects. Leadership, however, was lacking. Skystone Ryan helped recruit two well-respected and influential men who worked in tandem to give visibility to the campaign. With the co-chairmen in place, grassroots volunteers were enlisted and trained, and the campaign moved ahead with great momentum. The campaign, resoundingly successful, attracted new volunteer leadership and provided the facilities and programs for urban, suburban and rural Scouts to succeed.
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