08/27/2020
COVID-19 Response Update – August 27, 2020
Dear Scout Leaders:
With the summer ending, it’s time to get back to school and back to Scouting! There is no doubt this school year will be different with some schools opening for virtual learning only and others operating with significant changes due to COVID-19. We are pleased that Scouting will continue this fall, both in-person and virtually, with safety modifications to protect our Scouts, leaders and families. Thank you for all you are doing to keep the program moving forward for our Scouts.
Three Harbors Council’s Health and Safety Committee and COVID-19 Scouting Task Force has approved guidelines for unit, district and council meetings, events and activities this fall. To help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, all in-person meetings and activities must be conducted within the guidelines of local health departments, municipalities and the Boy Scouts of America. The in-person event and meeting guidelines below are based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Unit Meetings & Activities
Unit leaders should follow all safety protocols in the BSA’s Safe Restart Checklist. Decisions regarding in-person meetings and activities should be made by the unit committee and approved by the unit’s charter organization.
Scout units are encouraged to meet outdoors this fall for as long as the weather permits. The council is offering outdoor space at Indian Mound Scout Reservation and Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta for units (including individual dens and patrols) to use for meetings and activities this fall. The camp facilities will be free of charge to Three Harbors Council units and should be reserved by contacting Katie Schneider at [email protected] or (414) 443-2842. Please note that restroom facilities will be open for these unit meetings, but no other indoor facilities will be available.
Camp Facilities Available to Units
• Camp Fire Bowls – Available for pack meetings and troop Courts of Honor
• Camp Pavilions – Great space for den or troop meetings
• Activity fields and other outdoor areas including picnic tables
Unit Camping at Camp IMR and Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta
Indian Mound Scout Reservation and Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta will be open for weekend tent camping this fall. Units will be responsible for their own food and restroom cleaning. The camp dining hall and cabins will not be available and camp attendance will be limited. Please click here to read more about unit meetings and camping at our camp properties including the new COVID-19 safety protocols..
District & Council Meetings
Districts are asked to conduct Roundtables, District Committee and Commissioner meetings, and other gatherings either outdoors (weather permitting) or virtually through at least December 31, 2020. Outdoor meetings provide the opportunity for personal interaction while maintaining social distancing. Face coverings are required for any in-person district meetings.
Scheduled outdoor meetings should have a virtual meeting back-up plan in case of bad weather or in-person meeting restrictions that may be put in place by local authorities. Three Harbors Council has a Zoom account available for District meetings which your district executive can reserve. The above guidelines will be the same for all Council meetings including Council Committees, Popcorn and Wreath Sale meetings and leader trainings.
Camp Properties
Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta and Indian Mound Scout Reservation will be open for unit camping as well as district and council activities with the following safety measures in place:
Social Distancing & Face Coverings
• Social distancing safety measures are required for all camp activities. Any group gatherings such as flag ceremonies or campfire programs should be social distanced by family and/or Scouting unit.
• Face coverings are required to be worn at camp when around other people.
Camp Facilities
• Cabins will not be available for rental until at least December 31, 2020.
• Dining Halls will also be closed but kitchens are available for approved event volunteers to prepare food to be served outside the dining hall or in campsites.
Camp Attendance Limits
• To accommodate social distancing, group size will be limited to 50 campers this fall. Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta can accommodate two separate groups of 50 campers. At Indian Mound Scout Reservation, three separate groups of 50 campers are permitted if one of the groups is in Camp Lazynski.
• All groups at camp must remain separated and not interact or share program or tenting areas.
Please click here to read more about District and Council Activities at Camp IMR and Camp ODKT this fall including new camp check-in procedures.
Guidelines for Activities Not Held at Camp
District and Council activities held outside of camp at a local park or other venue should follow the same rules and procedures required at camp. This includes avoiding indoor meeting space if weather permits, wearing face coverings, social distancing, regular cleaning and collecting COVID-19 health assessments.
Scout Shop & Service Center Operations
The Milwaukee Scout Shop and the Kenosha Scout Shop are open to serve our Scouting families. The Milwaukee Scout Shop is open Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Kenosha Scout Shop is open Monday – Friday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. Customers and staff are required to wear face coverings inside the Scout Shops.
The Program Services department at the Scout Service Center in Milwaukee is open Monday – Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Service Center is open for Scout Shop and Program Services visitors; however, conference rooms and meeting spaces remain closed through the fall. Our council staff continues to work both in the office and remotely, and the staff team is available to serve you.
Although it may look a little different due to the ongoing pandemic, Scouting’s leadership and character development program is needed now more than ever for the youth we serve. Thank you for your continued leadership as a Scouting volunteer during these challenging times.
Scout on Safely!
Andrew Hardin
Scout Executive
Additional Resources
Boy Scouts of America COVID-19 FAQ
BSA’s Safe Restart Checklist
Unit Meetings & Campouts at Council Camps - Fall 2020
Guidelines for District & Council Events - Fall 2020
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