Because the World Needs Scouting More Than Ever

A Capital Campaign for the Old Hickory Council, Boy Scouts of America

     On April 13, the Old Hickory Council announced an ambitious plan to raise $2.9 million dollars for improvements at Camp Raven Knob and the council’s other properties.  Dr. Richard Dean, chairman of the campaign, told a group of Scouters and community leaders attending the campaign kickoff breakfast that over two thirds of the campaign goal had already been pledged as a result of early calls on large corporations, campaign cabinet members, several foundations, council executive board members, and council staff.  At the end of April, over $2.1 million had been pledged.
     Dr. Dean, an Eagle Scout and former President of Wake Forest Health Sciences and former Medical Center Director for Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, agreed to serve as chairman after the council’s executive board approval of the capital campaign in November, 2009.  John Medlin, former CEO of Wachovia Bank, is serving as the campaign’s Honorary Chairman.  A very strong group of business and community leaders   make up the Campaign Cabinet and are providing leadership to a broad-based solicitation that will include businesses, Scouting alumni, foundations, Scout families, and many other supporters.
     At the April 13 kickoff, Dr. Dean stated that “Perhaps at no other time in our nation’s history have the values and ideals of Scouting been more important.”   He continued “During the early planning of the campaign, the discussion turned more and more to the need for more children to be exposed early on to Scouting’s values, either through our traditional Scouting activities or through the school-based Learning for Life program.  So the campaign theme naturally became ‘Because the World Needs Scouting More Than Ever.’”  He added that the continued high quality camping and outdoor programs at Camp Raven Knob are critical in delivering the best possible experience for youth.
     The need for this campaign is a result of Camp Raven Knob’s tremendous growth in usage over the last decade.  The summer camp program for Boy Scouts has become one of the highest attended among BSA camps throughout the country, and is widely recognized as one of the best quality camps in the nation.  In 2011, over 4500 Scouts from our local area and 12 other states are expected to be in attendance over seven one-week sessions.  In addition to Boy Scout camp, the 3200-acre property is used extensively throughout the year in a wide variety of youth activities.  Cub Scout Resident Camp and Parent-Son weekends bring thousands of Cub Scouts and parents to the Surry County site.  Weekend use by local Scout groups and larger organized events average over 200 Scouts and leaders virtually every weekend of the year.  During the week, schools participating in Learning for Life bring over 5000 students to the camp annually to participate in team building, leadership, and outdoor education activities.  In fact, Learning for Life programs use the camp more days than Boy Scout summer camp!
     The camp’s facilities have served Scouting well for the last fifty-five years, but the growth in attendance and usage in recent years has outstripped many of them.  “While we have made some major improvements over the last ten years – such as a new dining hall and campfire arena – we have simply not been able to keep up with the growth,” said council Scout Executive Steve Wilburn.  “This campaign will allow us to meet the needs of today’s campers, as well as help prepare for future generations of youth as we step into Scouting’s second century.”  Dr. Dean points to the camp’s health lodge as a prime example of the immediate need for improvements.  The facility was built in 1956 to serve no more than 150-200 campers a week – today, some weeks of camp will have over 1000 youth and leaders participating, with a growing level of health needs and concerns.  “I have told folks that we could raise a fair amount of the campaign goal just by auctioning off the antique medical equipment in the health lodge,” he half-joked.  “The current building has been out of date for many years, and is totally inadequate for a camp like ours.”
     The capital campaign will fund many much needed projects that include new facilities, renovation and replacement of some existing structures, and acquisition of property at Camp Raven Knob - and also some work at Raven Pointe (at High Rock Lake) and the council Scouting Center.  Alan Proctor, President of the Old Hickory Council, said “Having up-to-date outdoor program facilities that will meet the needs of today’s youth and families is critical if we are going to continue providing high-quality Scouting experiences for a growing membership.  And, we know that future generations of youth – especially with the continued advances in technology and information sharing – will need these experiences even more than today’s Scouts.  This campaign will help us ‘be prepared’ to meet these needs.”
     The campaign will continue through the summer and into the early fall.  In addition to the dollars already raised, a large number of volunteers are currently making calls on select groups of potential supporters throughout our eight-county area.  Scouting alumni, families of Scouts, and other supporters will have the opportunity to donate to the campaign over the next several months.  Proctor noted “We are very fortunate to have many supporters of our annual Friends of Scouting program, and we hope that they will all continue to give to that vital aspect of the council’s ongoing growth and support of Scouting.  We know that many individuals will also want to support the improvements to Camp Raven Knob.  Those gifts are important, as well, and will help prepare our council and camp for the future.”

Major Improvements Planned for Camp Raven Knob

     On April13, the Old Hickory Council kicked off a $2.9 million campaign to raise funds for a variety of improvements at Camp Raven Knob and other council properties.  These projects are designed to help prepare the camp for generations of future Scouts, as well as today’s youth and families.  Below is a partial list of projects identified as part of the council’s long-range strategic plan, completed at the end of 2008.  Some of the projects are already underway or completed.  For a more detailed list of projects, please visit the council’s website www.oldhickorycouncil.org.   Since many of the campaign pledges will be paid over a five year period, projects will be completed in order of priority as cash is available. 

·       New Health, Wellness, and First Aid Center to replace the old ‘health lodge’

·       New swimming docks and expanded swimming area

·       New, more challenging climbing and rappelling tower

·       Purchase of several properties to provide buffer from future development

·       New, larger rifle and archery ranges

·       New maintenance, logistics, and central storage center

·       New well added to the camp’s water system

·       Improvements to staff housing facilities

·       Improvements to camp ranger and assistant ranger residences

·       Replacement of camp equipment & vehicles

·       Improvements to campsites, roadways, trails, and other infrastructure

·       Other projects to enhance program, safety, and operations

Council Did It’s Homework to Prepare for Capital Campaign

     In 2008, the Old Hickory Council completed a long-range strategic plan that would guide the council through the year 2013 and establish direction for the council as Scouting enters its second century.  Over 300 local Scouting volunteers gave input during the planning process.  Part of the plan addressed the needs for capital improvement and development at the council’s properties:  Camp Raven Knob in Surry County, Raven Pointe on High Rock Lake, and the Scout Service Center in Winston-Salem.  In the plan, several million dollars worth of projects were identified as necessary to keep these properties up to the demands of current and future Scouts, and to be able to support quality programs for youth for years to come.
     In the spring of 2009, the council hired consultant Whitney Jones, Inc., to conduct a campaign survey to test the support for a funding campaign to meet the needs identified in the strategic plan.  During July, August, and September of 2009, the firm interviewed about 40 community and business leaders.  The participants were asked about perceptions of Scouting and the Old Hickory Council:  strengths and weaknesses, value of the proposed projects, and the feasibility of raising the needed funds.    
     The results of the study were very positive.   Most participants saw Scouting, its values, and the opportunities for youth as highly valuable.  Those that were familiar with Camp Raven Knob recognized the camp as a tremendous asset.  Nearly all of those asked agreed the development and improvement plans from the strategic plan were needed and reasonable.  Most thought that a campaign with a public kickoff in the early spring of 2011 would be well-timed, especially with 2010 being the 100th Anniversary of Scouting.The survey also asked about the likelihood of financial support for the needed projects from the council’s eight county area.  Based on the response to this question, Whitney Jones, Inc. formulated a realistic, achievable campaign goal and plan.     
     At the council’s November, 2009, Executive Board meeting, Whiney Jones, Inc. presented their findings and recommendations. The firm reviewed the survey results, and recommended that the council proceed with a capital funds campaign, with a public kickoff date in spring 2011.  After considerable discussion and questions, the board approved this recommendation, and also approved the hiring of Whitney Jones, Inc. to serve as campaign consultant.   Dr. Richard Dean agreed to chair the effort and large number of top community leaders from throughout the council agreed to leadership positions.  Solicitation of larger companies, council executive board members, and campaign volunteers began in the summer of 2010. The campaign goal was announced publicly on April 13.  As of the end of April, $2, 117,000 had been raised toward the campaign goal of $2.9 million.