Dear Scouting Leaders:

Thank you to all of you who were able to make the Townhall webinar this past Tuesday evening and hear about our Council’s COVID-19 re-opening plans. It has been a challenge to plan a re-opening of our facilities and programs/events, given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis and the myriad layers of regulatory direction.

The Greater Los Angeles Area Council (“GLAAC”) leadership team wants you to know that many of our volunteers and staff have been working tirelessly to bring programs and events to our Council youth who recently have had limited options to engage in Scouting or other activities. While it has taken time to understand the issues and implications, our sole intention was to bring our members a safe program as expeditiously as possible.

In our Townhall conversation, we shared our research about the regulatory framework as it impacts our Council as well as our planning and timelines for re-opening various aspects of the Council. These documents have been updated and posted on our Council website www.glaacbsa.org/Scouting_at_Home . As we stated, these re-opening plans will be fluid and subject to evolving COVID-19 waves as well as regulatory guidance.

We received one piece of guidance this past Wednesday from the County of San Bernardino where they declined to provide a permit of our “Adventure Weekend” and Cub Scout Resident Camp program (formerly at Camp Cherry Valley) at Hubert Eaton Scout Reservation (near Lake Arrowhead). While the County was complimentary of our protocols and plans, they were very clear that “no overnight Youth or Family camping was going to take place in San Bernardino County without further guidance from the State of California” (there are 158 Youth/Family camps in San Bernardino County).
 
However, we have a clear plan of action with our abbreviated calendar below for re-opening our Scout Shops and our “Valley” camps (Trask, Cabrillo, and possibly Firestone). Currently, guidelines only allow youth programs to meet under the auspices of a supervised program such as day camp. We know there is a huge desire for Scouting programs to continue. Therefore, we will provide programmed opportunities at our Camps so that our Youth members can participate in programs or service projects.
Council Re-Opening Calendar of Initial Events
  • July 6 – Trask Day Programs and Trail to Eagle Merit Badge Program
  • July 8 – Reopening of Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Cabrillo Scout Shops (not Service Centers)
  • July 20 – August 7 – Cabrillo Scouts BSA Day Camp
  • July 20 - August 7 – Cub Scout Day Camp Virtual Programs (Wolf/Bear/Webelos)
  • August 1 – Small group (den and patrol) activities with face masks and social distancing, subject to State Health Department/Chartered Organization approvals
  • September 1 – Larger group meetings with face masks and social distancing, subject to State Health Department/Chartered Organization approvals
  • September 18-20 and October 25-27 Webelos Golden Nugget Weekends subject to State Health Department guidance
  • September 20-26 NYLT at Camp Hubert Eaton subject to State Health Department guidance
  • October 17-18 and either October 24-25 or November 14-15 – IOLS training at Trask and Cabrillo subject to State Health Department guidance
  • October 2-4 and October 24-25 – Woodbadge at Bighorn at Circle X at HESR subject to State Health Department guidance
  • October 23-25 and October 30 – Nov 1 – Boo Fest at Firestone subject to State Health Department guidance
  • November 20-22 – Pumpkin Smash at Firestone subject to State Health Department guidance
Each of the specific Trail to Eagle at Camp Trask and week-long Scouts BSA Day Camp at Cabrillo programs will have their own charges ($45 and $240, respectively) that cover the admission to the facility. Otherwise, the day-use charge of $6 per day will apply for admission to the Camps for other programs. In addition, reservations will need to be made in advance and, as discussed during the re-opening webinar, there are three sets of signed documents required during admission to the Camp in addition to BSA Health forms A&B (transportation requirement, Waiver of Liability and Health Assessment) during the admittance and temperature check process. Members with temperatures above 99 degrees or other symptoms will be turned away at the entrance, and members with pre-existing conditions are strongly encouraged to stay-in-place at home.

While these conditions are not normal or preferred, they reflect our efforts to provide a safe teaching environment and outdoor experience. Please find additional information about our Day Camp COVID-19 protocols on our Council website: www.glaacbsa.org/Scouting_at_Home

We will continue to update you over the course of the summer about changes in the regulatory framework as well as updates to our Events calendar. Please visit our Council website and look for our monthly Council newsletter at the beginning of each month.