Scout Leaders,
We are in interesting times and we are being asked many questions. Let us try and help you answer them and give you some guidance.
- First: there is NO National BSA or Council rule that states, “No School, No Scouts”
- Second: Scouting is NOT considered an Extracurricular School Activity.
- Lastly: National BSA and Councils are NOT governing agencies for your program, your Charter Organization is.
Understanding that many units will struggle on what they should do at this time, here are the steps we suggest you follow.
- Contact your Charter Organization and ask what they would like you to do. If they suggest you close till further notice, do so.
- If they are ok with you continuing to meet. Then ask your families, what they would like to do.
- If your families are comfortable with continuing to meet, then do so.
Please do not pressure families, scouts, or anyone to respond in either direction. Let us reiterate this is a decision made between your Charter Organization, Unit Leadership, and Scout Families. The National BSA and Council will support either decision.
As of today, some Council and District activities of more than 50 people may be canceled or postponed. You may monitor event updates at
www.cnyscouts.org
.
That being said, Camp Woodland
WILL REMAIN OPEN
. Plus, it is the decision of the Council, starting next week 3/23 to open Camp Woodland (weather permitting) for families and units to use Monday through Friday 9AM till 5PM at
NO Cost
. To add some normalcy to these trying times we encourage families to come to Camp Woodland and enjoy the nature trails, have a picnic, learn a skill, or just to get away. We are also looking
at offering some simple programs once a week as well. There is no better place to be than in the outdoors getting fresh air right now.
We encourage everyone to continue to follow the everyday preventive measures listed below.
- Stay home when you feel sick.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands before and after doing so.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve/elbow, not your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
- Avoid shaking hands.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, or if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should isolate and not attend any Scouting events. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Should you have any questions or concerns about a specific upcoming event or activity, please reach out to your local district executive. We will do everything we can to answer your question using the information available to us. Your local District Executive’s contact information can be found on the Council website at
http://www.cnyscouts.org/about/staff.
Yours in Scouting,
Grey Rolland
Scout Executive/CEO
