Camping Guidelines Update

Scouters,

Below you will find bullet point updates on covid protocols for our properties that begin June 2, 2021. Linked below you will find a more in-depth, detailed narrative version. If you have questions based on the bullet points below the narrative version might help clarify. If you still have questions after reading both, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at philip.williams@scouting.org.

General Guidelines

Hand-Washing/Sanitization

  • Scouters and Scouts should wash and sanitize hands frequently.

  • Hand Sanitizer will be provided throughout our properties including at the front desk, at each campsite, in each porta-potty, at each program area, and at the dining tent.

Vaccinations

  • We recommend that every camper, leader, and Scout, get the COVID-19 vaccination if eligible. Please indicate your vaccination status on your Camp Health Medical Form.

Masking

  • While it is no longer mandated in the State of Ohio to wear face coverings, we recommend that visitors continue to wear masks when they are near each other indoors including in cases where there are people who have not been vaccinated.

  • All Scouts and leaders should bring facial coverings to our properties.

Group Size

  • There are no longer any restrictions on the size of groups at meetings or activities.

Distancing

  • Strict social distancing is no longer required by the State of Ohio health orders.

  • We recommend that Scouts and leaders continue to give those around them space.

Surface/Equipment Cleaning

  • Although most of the research now shows that COVID-19 does not usually spread through contaminated surfaces, many communicable diseases do.

  • The staff will continue to disinfect high frequent areas and shared program equipment.

  • Each campsite/lodge will be provided with disinfectant spray for shared surfaces.

  • We recommend that troops plan a duty roster to include frequent disinfecting throughout the week at camp.

Camp Specific Guidelines

Arrival Screening

  • 14-day temperature logs are no longer required for weekend unit camping. Events lasting longer than 24-hours will still require screening upon arrival. Screening will include questions about vaccination status, symptom checking, and general wellness. Pre-event communications will include information about this check-in screening.

    Cohorts

  • The program schedule this year allows for the integration of youth from different troops as it has been prior to last year's modified schedule.

  • With increased interaction, troops, youth, and adults are encouraged to remain vigilant regarding handwashing and sanitizing to prevent the spread of disease.

Symptom Checking

  • Troops should conduct daily symptom checks with their Scouts and leaders while at camp.

Tenting/Lodging

  • Scouts are allowed to share tents with a buddy or multiple buddies. Tenting guidelines can be found in the BSA Youth Protection Barriers to Abuse.

  • Lodges will accommodate up to the number of beds in the Lodge.

Beaumont Dining Tent

  • Beaumont's open-air tent with airflow allows for dinner to resume in the tent. Troops will be seated together and meals will be family-style. There will be no salad bar offered this summer.

Family Night

  • We will not be conducting family night at camp this summer.

Response Planning

  • Our response to suspected COVID-19 will remain the same as last year where we will require campers or staff to return a negative test before returning to camp.

COVID-19 was a new situation to deal with last year, we have always been prepared for dealing with communicable diseases at camp. We plan to continue to be vigilant in the safety of our Scouting family. We will see you at camp!

Yours in Scouting,

Phil Williams

Director of Experiences

Lake Erie Council, Boy Scouts of America

LEC 3 Minute Update – May 26, 2021

Good morning Scouts and Scouters! I’m Jake Brown, filling in permanently for Kevin Wassie. It was explained to me through our office water cooler news cycle that we lost Kevin after he moved to Texas to be with exes, or something to that effect. Mary Joan, you and Dave are in our prayers, and we are sorry he is gone.

Oh, wait, my producer is telling me Kevin is not gone forever, he just moved. Wow! What a relief!! Gee, I guess I shouldn’t believe everything I hear, then. Thanks, Anthony!

Ok, back to the news of Scouting!

On behalf of the Lake Erie Council, we’d like to thank everyone who attended or staffed the Trailblazer, Tough Cubber, and Clue Camporees! They were fun, successful events, and reviews are great! 

If you’re still looking for opportunities to get out as aa family or as a den/patrol/Pack/Troop, please check out the Following:

-The Swings’N’Things Overnighter on June 5

-The Family Camping Weekends at Beaumont and Firelands

-The Cub Shooting Sports Day at Firelands on June 5

-The Beaumont 75th Camporall, September 17-19, open to EVERYONE!

 Our events are scheduled through the end of 2021: please check out the Council calendar for the latest information!

Speaking of attending camp, you may be thinking, “Golly, Jake, I wish there was a way to easily fund our trips to camp!” Well, we’re glad you asked! Ya know, Father’s Day is around the corner, and Kallee Kissling will hook you up with ALL the syrup you need for a great Father’s Day Syrup Sale blitz! Shoot her a call or an email: her info is in the script. I can confirm, we just got in more pallets of the stuff, so there’s no reason any Scout shouldn’t be able to come to camp with the help of Scout’s Own.

And that’s a Scout’s Own Covered Breakfast Wrap to the day! Thanks for tuning in, and Kevin, if you can hear me, we miss you! I miss you! This update can be yours again, I promise!

LEC 3 Minute Update – May 20, 2021

Hello, Lake Erie Council. My name is Kevin Wassie, and this is your 3-minute update for the third week of May 2021. We had a busy few days over the past week, so I will be starting out with several Thank Yous, followed by a heart-felt goodbye, and then we will end with the Lake Erie Council Lightning Round Summer Edition. 

Last weekend the LEC hosted Clue the Camporee, Cub Scout Trailblazer Weekend, and our Morgana Run Trail Clean-up. Each of these events were huge successes. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped bring these activities to our Scouts and families. As a council, we are always looking for new adult leaders who are interested in providing exciting programs at our camps. Whether you are an experienced leader, a Scouting parent, or a former Scouter, we want you to be a part of our Outdoor Adventures. Contact Phil Williams to learn how you can get involved in planning, hosting, or volunteering at one of our camp events. 

Yesterday we also hosted our annual Great Scout Luncheon. The event can be viewed online by visiting our Facebook page or GreatScoutLuncheon.org. We greatly appreciate everyone who tuned in and thank you to all the individuals and companies who made a life-changing donation through the Great Scout Luncheon.

Now for some bittersweet news. I am formally announcing today that I have accepted a new Scouting role with the Longhorn Council in Texas. Today will be my final time hosting the 3-minute update. I want to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers, parents, and Scouts who have made my four years with the Lake Erie Council unforgettable. We have created a lot of amazing memories and you have all sat through way too many obnoxious Kevin Wassie videos. A special thank you to my parents who like and share all our ridiculous videos. From my days as a Cub Scout to today, they have always been my biggest Scouting supporters. Although this stage of my career with the Lake Erie Council is ending, I will continue to support scouting in Northeast Ohio as a Keeper of the Flame. In lieu of flowers, please honor my memory by joining me as a Keeper of the Flame. Your monthly donation will support the local Scouting Movement. 

Now it’s time for your Lightning Round summer reminders. There is still time to register for Summer Program at our camp properties. We are offering Scouts BSA Resident Camp, Family Camping Weekends, Cub Scout Day Camp, and Weekend camping opportunities. Check out our calendar for more details. Summer is also the time to start planning your 2021-2022 unit calendars. A Scout is always prepared, and successful Scouting units always have a plan. Focus on planning your big activities, filling leadership vacancies, building a membership plan, and preparing for this fall’s popcorn sale. Need help with this process? Contact LEC Member Care. They are here to help. The Lake Erie Council is also fully embracing the BSA’s Summer of Service, so make sure your Scouting unit is visible in the community and giving back regularly through planned service projects. Now get out there and have an adventure! 

That’s all for this week’s 3-mintue update. Please like and share this video with your Scouting Family and thank you for keeping the Scouting Flame burning bright.

LEC 3 Minute Update – May 12, 2021

Hello, Lake Erie Council. My name is Kevin Wassie, and this is your 3-minute update for the second week of May 2021. Today, I will be sharing details about the exciting programs being offered this weekend, I will be inviting you to be a part of next week’s Virtual Great Scout Luncheon, and finally I will be providing you with a bunch of information in our new segment: Lightning Round Reminders 

This weekend there are a lot of amazing Scouting opportunities happening in our council. Firelands Scout Reservation is hosting Clue the Camporee for Scouts BSA members and Beaumont Scout Reservation is having Trailblazer Weekend for Cub Scouts and their families. If you are not attending one of these two events, I would love for you to join me at our Morgana Run Trail Cleaning Project from 9AM to Noon on Saturday, May 15th. We will be meeting at Mound Elementary School: 5935 Ackley Road in Cleveland. I’m going to be really honest with you, I am desperate to get a few more volunteers to help with this service project. It should be a beautiful day, so this is a great opportunity to bring the family downtown, provide much-needed service, and then enjoy some quality time in our beautiful city. For more information on this project and all our events, visit the council calendar at LECBSA.org or check out our Facebook page. I can’t wait to see you out on the trail, and by “trail”, I do mean the Morgana Run Trail this Saturday from 9AM to Noon. 

Also, make sure you set a reminder to join the Lake Erie Council on May 19th for the 2021 Great Scout Luncheon. The event will start at 4:30PM and it can be viewed online at GreatScoutLuncheon.org. The program will include guest speaker Jay Hennessey who is Vice President of Learning and Development for the Cleveland Indians and a former commander of the Naval Special Warfare Center. Join Jay and many other special guests for this exciting celebration of Scouting next Wednesday. Also, because of this event, we will be publishing next week’s 3-minute update on Thursday instead of our usual Wednesday. 

Now for our new segment: Lighting Round Reminders! Ok, here we go. Our downtown and Firelands Scout Shops are open for business. Stop in to get all the gear and supplies you need for you summer Scouting Adventures. Speaking of Summer Scouting Adventures, this summer we are celebrating Beaumont’s 75th anniversary. Resident Campspaces are still available. Can’t come out for summer camp? Join us for family camp weekends at both properties. While you’re out having fun, make sure you are sharing pictures and stories within your communities on a public-facing Facebook page for your Scouting unit. This will help with your recruitment efforts. Remember, successful units are constantly recruiting new Scouts. The future of your Pack, Troop, Crew, or Ship depends on it. Finally, if you are a Scouting leader, make sure you are taking the time over the next two months to meet and create an annual plan for your unit. If you need help with this process, contact the LEC Service Team for help at LECMemberCare@Scouting.org or by phone at 216.861.6060.

That’s all for this week’s 3-mintue update. Thank you for keeping the Scouting Flame burning bright and for joining me this Saturday morning at the Morgana Run Trail!

LEC 3 Minute Update – May 5, 2021

Hello, friends. My name is Kevin Wassie, and this is your Lake Erie Council 3-ish-minute update for the first week of May 2021. Today, I will be giving an update on last week’s Scout’s Trash the Trash Day, inviting you to participate in our Morgana Run Trail Clean-up, sharing information on the Great Scout Luncheon, and finally I will give you some great Mother’s Day gift advice.  

Last weekend was Scout’s Trash the Trash day. Scouter’s from across the Lake Erie Council came together to make a positive difference in their communities. Your Lake Erie Council service team worked with the Pack 3071’s Tiger Den to pick up 11 large bags of trash in Painesville. This is just one of the many examples of service that was provided. Producer Anthony, can we run a quick photo montage of some of our participating units? Remember, this was our reconnect with Communities event as part of the LEC Unplug and Reconnect Spring Membership Campaign. We are asking every Scouting unit to bring in 3 brand new Scouts to our programs this spring. If you need help engaging new families, contact your Lake Erie Council Member Care Team, LECMemberCare@Scouting.org or 440.861.6060 option “0”. 

Our next service opportunity is on Saturday, May 15th. We will gather to provide trail maintenance on the Morgana Run Trail in the historic Slavic Village. The project will run from 9AM-Noon. Our team will be meeting at Mound Elementary School, 5935 Ackley Rd in Cleveland.  We will be trimming overgrown trees and shrubs, removing trash and trail debris, and making general improvements to the trail. All are welcome to join. The Clean & Green Cleveland Equipment Trailer will be on site, so the only thing you need to bring is the cheerful service, we will provide all the tools and equipment.  

Please join us on May 19th for the 2021 Great Scout Luncheon. This year’s guest speaker is Jay Hennessey who is the Cleveland Indian’s Vice President of Learning and Development and a veteran of the United States Navy where he served as the Commander of the Navy Special Warfare Center. Join Jay and several other guests as we share the positive message of Scouting in Northeast Ohio. For more information or to donate to the Scouting program, contact Pete Biltz at 216.458.8934 or at the e-mail address below. 

Finally, if Mary Joan Wassie is watching this please stop the video now because I don’t want to ruin your Mother’s Day surprise. If your mom is anything like mine, she puts up with a lot of nonsense and she deserves an amazing gift on Mother’s Day. This year treat your mom to breakfast in bed with our Scout’s Own Mother’s Day Special Offer. For $25 you will receive a bottle of Scout’s Own Special Reserve Syrup and a bag of our delicious pancake mix. Order today at ilove.scoutsown.org or contact our Syrup expert, Kallee Kissling

Alright folks, I’m going to go eat some pancakes so I can build up my energy and strength for the Morgana Run Trail cleaning on the morning of May 15th. I hope to see you out on the trail with us, and as always, thank you for keeping the Scouting flame burning bright. 

Congratulating Jarrod on His New Adventures!

Good Luck Jarrod

It is with mixed emotions (happy for him, sad for us) that I announce that Jarrod Blundy will be departing his role with Lake Erie Council, and he and his wife will, in their own words, “be following their dream of living and seeking adventure out west among the mountains.”

Jarrod has a background in Outdoor and Environmental Education, and a passion for using adventure to help people to discover and be the best version of themselves. He is excited to try outdoor education in a new setting, as well as pursue other personal goals and interests.

Jarrod has been a member of the Lake Erie Council for four years, and is grateful for the many opportunities that he has had to develop and execute exciting programs for our Scouts, and for all the wonderful colleagues, camp staff and volunteers he has had the pleasure work alongside.

"It has been the honor of my life to be part of Lake Erie Council family, and to have fulfilled many life goals here. Serving as a Camp Director at Firelands has been the highlight of my career, and taught me more than I ever thought possible. For that, I owe everlasting thanks to everyone at LEC who have left me with such a meaningful and positive impact."

While Jarrod will no longer serve Scouting full-time, he plans to remain active and engaged with the movement, as he has ever since joining the BSA as Tiger Scout.

Jarrod’s last day will be May 8 at the Firelands Beaver Day.

LEC 3 Minute Update – April 28, 2021

Hello, friends. My name is Kevin Wassie, and I’m coming to you from beautiful Beaumont Scout Reservation for your Lake Erie Council 3-minute update for the final week of April. Today I will be starting with a big thank you, then sharing a reminder about Spring Recruitment, and finally I will provide you with some updates on our Lake Erie Council Member Care Structure.

A huge Scout-out to all the volunteers, Scouts, and family members who helped to deliver some amazing programs this past weekend. We hosted our Pioneer Forward Spring Camporee at Beaumont Scout Reservation. Our Cub Scout Safari Fun Day at Firelands Scout Reservation, and many units hosted hikes in their local communities as part of our Unplug and Reconnect Spring Recruitment Campaign. And of course, I can’t forget about all our Merit Badge programs that have taken place over the past few days. Scouting is thriving in Northeast Ohio, and it wouldn’t be possible with out committed people like you who deliver the promise of Scouting. Visit LECBSA.org to see all our upcoming events and activities.  

With so many amazing opportunities for young people, we want to make sure every family has access to the Scouting program. That's where our Unplug and Reconnect Spring Recruitment Campaign comes into play. This might sound shocking to some of you, but new Scouts won’t join your Pack, Troop, Crew, or Ship unless you invite them. Saturday, March 1st is the international Scouts Trash the Trash Day. I will personally be at Adventure Subaru in Painesville Ohio from 10AM-1PM working with a crew of Scouts to clean the wooded area behind their dealership. Feel free to join me or find a Scouting unit in your community that is participating. There is still plenty of time to plan a service project for this weekend.  I can’t wait to see all of you Reconnect with you Communities this weekend.  However, service doesn’t just happen one weekend a year. On May 15th, we are looking for as many volunteers as possible to join us for a trail cleaning day at the Morgana Run Trail in the historic Slavic Village. Mark your calendars, more details will be coming soon to our Facebook page. 

Just a friendly reminder, that the Great Scout Luncheon is just 3 weeks away. Be on a look out for an email with updated information about this years virtual program. Visit greatscoutluncheon.org for more information, and we look forward to sharing the program with you on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. 

Finally, if you have called the Lake Erie Council Unit Service Center lately you may have noticed that our options have recently changed. In an effort to better serve our volunteers and families, we have departmentalized our staff in a way that will help get you the assistance you needed as quickly as possible. When you call the Service Center, if you aren’t sure of this specific person you need, start by selecting “0” to connect with our Member Care Team at the front desk. They will be able to answer your question or connect you to the person who can. As I always say, our job is to make your job easier. 

That’s all for this week’s update. Please like and share this video with your Scouting family. As always, thank you for keeping the Scouting flame burning bright. 

LEC 3 Minute Update – April 21, 2021

Hello, Lake Erie Council Family. My name is Kevin Wassie, and this is your LEC 3-minute update for the 4 week of April. Today we’re talking about Volunteer Appreciation Week, this weekend’s Reconnect with Nature Recruitment Event, and finally the Beaumont 75th Anniversary celebration.

 The Scouting program would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our amazing volunteers. On behalf of the Lake Erie Council, I want to thank every volunteer for improving the lives of young people across Northeast Ohio. You provide countless opportunities for our Scouts, and your positive influence will have lasting effects on a world that needs Scouting now more than ever. In recognition of your service, please check out the LEC Facebook page throughout the week for a variety of Volunteer Appreciation posts and giveaways. We are also hosting a volunteer appreciation Virtual Campfire on Facebook Live this Saturday at 7PM.

 Make sure you get plenty of rest after that virtual campfire, because this weekend Scouting units across the Lake Erie Council will be hosting their Reconnect with Nature events. These in-person, socially distant hikes are designed to get your current Scouts active while also inviting new families to join the Scouting family. It isn’t too late to advertise or even to plan your event. Let’s get out there and remind the world that Scouting is here, and you are invited to be a part of the Scouting Movement.

If you need further proof that the Scouting Movement is alive and well, look no further than our very own Beaumont Scout Reservation. This summer, we are celebrating 75 years of life-changing adventures as BSR. You can be a part of this celebration by attending one of our many program events held at the property in the coming months. We will be offering Resident Camp for Troops and Crews, Adventure Day Camp for Cub Scouts, and Family Camp weekends for everyone. Check out our calendar at LECBSA.org for all the dates and details. We can’t wait to see you on the trail!

 That’s all for this week’s update. Please like and share this video with your Scouting family. As always, thank you for keeping the Scouting flame burning bright. 

LEC 3 Minute Update – April 14, 2021

Hello, Lake Erie Council Family. I’m Kevin Wassie after a week of many zebra cakes, and this is your LEC 3-minute update for the 3rd week of April. Today’s update includes information about our upcoming Reconnect with Scoutmasters Zoom Call, a reminder about at our Unplug and Reconnect Spring Membership Campaign, and this week’s two fun facts!

Fun fact number one: I’m not actually Kevin Wassie: he has much better hair than I do! I’m Jake Brown, his colleague.

Last month, LEC volunteers and staff reconnected with our Cub Scout leaders through a series of Zoom calls that provided resources, best practices, and an opportunity for unit leaders to share what they need to be successful. This month, we are offering a similar opportunity to Scoutmasters. Please join us on Wednesday, April 21st at 7PM via Zoom. The link can be found in our 3-minute update script, on the council calendar, or on the Lake Erie Council Facebook page.

Speaking of reconnecting, the weekend of April 24th and 25th is the start of our Unplug and Reconnect Spring Membership Campaign. A successful campaign uses the Power of 3: Hold 3 events in your local community, encourage every family in your Scouting unit to invite 3 other families to join your events, and register at least 3 new Scouts in your Pack, Troop, Crew, or Ship. Now is the time to make a Facebook event for your hike at a local park, and share the event throughout your community before reconnecting with nature! If you have questions or need help, please contact LEC Member Care at LECMemberCare@Scouting.org or by phone at 216.861.6060.

And this leads me to the second of this week’s fun facts: you can invite prospective Scouting families to join you at LEC events, such as Cub Scout Trailblazers weekends, or Spring Camporees! Select Sibling or Scout at the time of registration to do so. Everyone attending events must bring the required health forms and other paperwork to participate. Please email me at Jacob.brown@scouting.org or Noah Boksansky at noah.boksansky@scouting.org with questions.

Lake Erie Council is hosting a variety of programs at our camp properties over the coming weeks and months. Our Council calendar is now fully updated with SBSA and Cub events through the end of 2021! We highly encourage you to make a plan to join us at camp with your returning and prospective Scouts today!

Also, in case you missed it, we recently shared new Camping Guidelines based on information from the Governor’s Office in conjunction with the Ohio State Department of Health. There is no longer a state restriction for camping only at residential camps. This means you can start camping at other properties, and we are one step back to normal! Please read the full announcement on our website: LECBSA.org.

That’s the info to keep you in the know. Thank you for joining me for today’s Three Minute Update. I’m Jake Brown, and I look forward to seeing you at camp soon!

Welcome Chris Fortunato

We are excited to announce the newest addition to the Lake Erie Council Team, Chris Fortunato. Chris joins the Experiences team as a Beaumont Scout Reservation Ranger and will partner with Bear Roloff as we prepare for our 75th anniversary summer camp and the 75th anniversary Camporall. There is a lot to accomplish to make sure camp is ready for our campers and their leaders.

Chris is no stranger to Beaumont. He began his Beaumont career in 2008 as a CIT and never looked back. He then joined camp staff and served in multiple roles including lake front staff, pool staff, and ranger staff. Chris earned his Eagle Scout in October 2011 and currently serves as an assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 105 North Jackson, OH. You may not know Chris by his "real" name as he is fondly referred to as “Nacho.” Chris was recently awarded the Division Award of Merit for his service to camp and in particular the move of equipment, program materials, and buildings from Camp Stigwandish. Before coming to Lake Erie Council, Chris served as building and grounds maintenance for Moms Meals in Youngstown. Chris will begin at Lake Erie Council on April 12, 2021. Please join me in welcoming Chris Fortunato.