THE BIGGEST YET
LAKE SWIM XII BREAKS ALL RECORDS

Under the leadership of Bob Patterson and an elite crew of 20-somethings, Lake Swim XII broke all expectations and records. Twenty-nine Swimmers accompanied by twenty-nine spotters in kayaks, crossed the three-mile distance of Northwood Lake to remember a friend and Brother. The lake was choppy, but the Andrew Curry Green Lake Swim XII ran smoothly with over 300 people participating. It was the largest number of swimmers that ever participated.
 
And thanks to a well-organized social media campaign devised by Bob and his team over $21,000 was raised that July morning. On average every swim team raised seven times the amount from previous Lake Swims. The funding of which will be used for Key Foundation Scholarships as well as further contribution to the Spirit Of Adventure Council for the development of the Northern NeXus of Adventure.
 
The swimmers represented the entire TKF network. They came from all our camps and programs, from Cub Day Camp to TL Storer, from Base Camp to Lone Tree; all came home to Wah-Tut-Ca to keep the spirit alive. We are grateful to all our donors, swimmers, spotters and coaches that made Lake Swim XII one for the history books.



 

EVERYONE IS INVITED  TO SHOW YOUR
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE!
Want to see how well our new Council is getting on? Well this is your chance to see it all with over 10,000 of your closest friends. Get ready for two full that will celebrate the tradition and future of Scouting like never before.
 
Prepare for the greatest event of its kind in Scouting's history.  You can purchase day passes for you and your family. There are literally hundreds of age appropriate activities to choose from.
 
Included in this is the chance to see and step aboard the Craig Ryder unmoored from its home port in Northwood NH and sets out to the Charles River. In the evening is a spectacular show and fireworks display.
 
Don't delay- sign up today!


 

BREAKING NEW GROUND- & WATER

Contributions to capital campaigns to improve the outdoor programs of the Boy Scouts of America is an area of emphasis of the Key Foundation Inc. Through the contributions from members of our network, TKF will give over $30,000 this year to a variety of camps and programs.
 
Our capital campaign with the Spirit Of Adventure Council helped expand the waterfront at WTCSR. Many of our members had the opportunity to see these improvements first hand as they gave time last summer to support the expanded waterfront as part time staff members. Dozens of members spent a part of their summer as a member of the TKF naval reserves.
 
Our Vervaert grants went to dozens of camps in the Northeast. We provided the opportunity to enhance new programs such as Mountain Boarding at Wah-Tut-Ca and Basecamp and create a new chalk ball program at TL Storer. With TKF funding the Cub  Day Camps purchased a "portable water park" that was a popular feature at West Wind Day Camp.
 
Members of the TKF network are proud to once again make a solid commitment to BSA Camping.


TKF Unlocking The Past
TKF is working with Fonthill Media to produce a book on the history of Scout Camps in the Spirit Of Adventure Council. This book traces the beginning of Boy Scouts Camping in the Blue Hills in 1910 through the opening of the Northern NeXus of Adventure in 2016.
 
Over two-dozen authors, photographers and researchers are activity engaged in this project. The book will be published in the fall of 2018. As part of Fonthill Media's America Through Time Series the book has a then and now theme. The group has spent the summer going through newspaper archives and interviewing several people to get to the story.
 
Some of what has been discovered gives insight to how we got to where we are today. We have uncovered and documented key milestones such as the closing of Boston Council's Loon Pond, Lakeville MA in 1957 and the opening of Adams Pond on June 28,1958 with land donated by Theodore L. Storer.  Adams Pond was officially dedicated on July 18, 1958 at 3:00PM when Council President Elliott Henderson presented the "Keys" to the camp to Scout Executive Rex I Gary and Adams Pond's first camp director Lee R. Beliveau.
 
Over 30 camps will be documented in this new book. Sadly the rich history of our camping legacy had been locked in time. Camp sales and mergers disconnected many from the history of our past. TKF is unlocking that history with the purpose to tell the story.

ARE YOU A BUNGANUT?
Camp Norshoco was once one of the major camps of the Boy Scouts of America particularly for Scouts living in the North Shore. Located on Lake Bunganut in Lyman Maine. It was closed and sold in the 1970s. Yet if you ask someone who went there, "Are you a Bunganut?" the response provokes a response of extreme pride and a tearful eye.
 
TKF is actively asking people in the community to share their stories and photographs about all the camps that once existed in the Spirit of Adventure's predecessor councils. If you or someone you know would like to participate in this project please contact us at info@keyfoundation.org.

FStar Productions Records The Summer Of 2016
Two Terabytes Plus of Photos & Video Collected
Adams Pond From a Drones Eye View
Last fall TKF/FStar Productions began its Spirit Of Adventure Council 360 project. The purpose of this project was to digitally photograph and catalog the programs of the Spirit Of Adventure Council.
 
Using cameras, drones, and HD Video the foundation has captured over three-terabytes of digital images. These images will be used to produce a wide range of promotional and informational programs about our council and its mission.
 
Click on the images below to view two of the latest FStar Productions using this new catalog of outstanding imagery.




TKF 2016-17 CALENDAR
  
October 17. 2016, 7:30 PM
TKF BOARD MEETING
EDCO Bedford MA
December 5, 2016, 7:30 PM
TKF BOARD MEETING
EDCO Bedford MA
December 10, 2016
The Flying Juhola Bros. Concert
Lafayette Club, Lowell MA
February 6, 2017. 7:30 PM
TKF BOARD MEETING
EDCO Bedford MA
March 4, 2017, 6:00  PM
TKF Annual Meeting and Art Auction
UMass Lowell, Lowell MA
May 8, 2017, 7:30 PM
TKF BOARD MEETING
EDCO Bedford MA
July 29, 2017, 7:30 PM LAKE SWIM XIII
Northwood Lake/WTCSR
 
Key Foundation meetings and events are open to all interested parties.
 
About Us

The Key Foundation Inc. is a network of individuals dedicated to providing support to outdoor programs for children and young adults. The Keynote is published by The Key Foundation Inc. The views, opinions, content and editorial control are solely that that of the Key Foundation Inc., its members and supporters.  

 

The Key Foundation is a private not for profit organization incorporated in Lowell MA. Today our membership lives all over the world. Together we work as a network of friends and brothers to inspire, encourage and empower Scouts and adult Scout Leaders in the promotion of outdoor youth experiences.

 

The Key Foundation
262 Middlesex St
Lowell, Massachusetts 01852