2021 Annual Report Header

MISSION

To prepare on average over 20,000 youth and families in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

The Dan Beard Council is the administrative body of the Boy Scouts of America in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area, chartered annually through the Boy Scouts of America. With a geographic area of 12 counties in Southwestern Ohio and Northern Kentucky and serves on average over 20,000 youth and families, the Dan Beard Council is one of the larger metropolitan councils in the country and the largest youth organization in the Cincinnati area. Hundreds of Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, Explorer Posts, and two Sea Scout Ships make up the membership of the council. Learn more about the Dan Beard Council by clicking here.

The Dan Beard Council recently aligned the Districts to keep entire public school districts together, utilizing easy transportation routes, and enabling a critical mass of volunteers to build strong district teams to support units. The new district alignment went into effect on November 1, 2021.

During Scout Anniversary week on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, Dan Beard Council shared the virtual announcement of the brand NEW District Names along with a few other special surprises including a NEW Council Shoulder Patch (CSP)! The video of the announcement is below.

Scouts salute web honor

SCOUT OATH

On my honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake and morally straight.

SCOUT LAW

A Scout is:
• Trustworthy           • Obedient
• Loyal                       • Cheerful
• Helpful                    • Thrifty
• Friendly                   • Brave
• Courteous              • Clean
• Kind                         • Reverent

SCOUTING IMPACT IN 2022

In 2022, Scouting continues to grow and our Scouts are Living Scout Loud. Living Scout Loud is an all-in effort to support our units, the heart of our organization. We are rallying together to help get everyone through challenging times, and working together at all levels to build the future of Scouting for youth in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Scouts were excited to create adventures at camp this summer, and completed various community service projects while following continued health and safety protocols. Check out some of the Scouting highlights from the past year:

SCOUTING IS GROWING
3,406 new Cub Scouts recruited–up over 1,052 Scouts from 2021!

SUMMER CAMP
In 2022, 4,589 attended
summer camp!

COMMUNITY SERVICE
On average, Scouts performed
over 160,000 hours of
community service each year!4

OUTREACH
Over 130 youth attended Challenge Camp, and 679 youth were served through outreach programs!

Robert C. Taylor
President & Chair of the Board

Joseph N. Waller
Council Commissioner

Andrew V. Zahn
Scout Executive/CEO

Scouts Performed
Hours of Community Service on Eagle Scout Projects in 2021!
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Scouting in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky is strong and growing! The Dan Beard Council serves on average over 20,000 youth and families in our community each year. This past year was one to remember as our community continued to navigate a global pandemic. Because of the persistence and passionate commitment from our Scouting families, volunteers and supporters, Dan Beard Council found stability and success. Our local leadership continues to deliver quality programming that is not only safe, but meaningful to our Scouts, leaders, families, volunteers, donors, staff, and everyone involved.

Our Scouting families are the backbone of our organization. Each year, we share the excitement of welcoming new families into Scouting in our region and continue to offer expanded programs to better serve the entire family. This past fall, we welcomed more new Cub Scout families into Dan Beard Council this fall than we recruited in the fall of 2019, prior to the pandemic. Parents are looking for a place where they can enhance the family dynamic, participate together, and reinforce the values, ethics, and life skills they want for their children – Scouting makes it happen! As we strengthen families, we also strengthen the foundation of success for our youth.

This past summer, thousands of Scouts had a life changing adventure at Camp Friedlander and Cub World Adventure Camp, including the largest attendance of Cub Scouts in recent history. Another exciting highlight was the opening of “Eagle’s Lodge” at Camp Michaels along with the most significant capital improvements in the camp’s 75+ year history. Lastly, we ended this past year with an operating surplus which will be reinvested back into our Scouting program.

Dan Beard Council is also incredibly proud of our commitment to diversity and inclusion. From our Board of Directors to our membership, we ensure that our programs reflect the rich diversity of our region through our outreach programs, serving 679 youth in the past year. In addition, we pave the way to make sure that every child has an opportunity to become a Scout.

Scouting remains the premier leadership development program for youth. In 2021, Dan Beard Council proudly welcomed 308 Scouts who achieved the Eagle Scout rank in 2021, leading service projects such as constructing an outdoor school courtyard, installing food collection boxes, and building retired American flag drop-boxes in their communities. While today’s Scouting program has evolved to include everything from architecture, electronics, and engineering to public health, citizenship, and American cultures, doing a good deed and doing the right thing for others remains at our core. This past November, Scouts collected over 25,000 pounds of food during the inaugural Scouting for Food for those less fortunate right here in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Throughout 2021, our local Scouts continued to make a difference in our local communities.

Dan Beard Council’s future vision is to develop young adults who are exceptionally prepared to lead in their own way to make a positive impact in their personal lives, professions, and communities throughout their lifetime. Scouting answers that challenge. Only Scouting provides the breadth and quality of proven foundational training, practical learning opportunities, and meaningful life lessons to help every young person discover and develop their own personal leadership style – all while building confidence, making friends, spending time with family, and having fun.

The best of Scouting is yet to come, and we look forward to our continued partnership in 2022 and beyond. Thank you for your continued support of Scouting, because when we collectively work together, we create truly incredible, life-changing impact for the youth in our families and in our community. 

All inquiries should be directed to Rachel Ennis, Chief Marketing Officer, at (513) 991-8185 or email at Rachel.Ennis@scouting.org.