Great Alaska Council

The Great Alaska Council (GAC) creates lasting positive youth development through the Scouting program.

Helping youth is key to a more responsible and productive society. Scouting’s development program combines education and the outdoors with lifelong values and fun for boys ages 7-21 and girls ages 14-21. It includes activities spanning weekly meetings, community service, camping, and outdoor experiential learning, supported by safe environments and healthy relationships. Partnerships with local organizations support additional programs in high adventure and work-site based skill building.

Scouting aims to provide a program that builds character, citizenship, and personal fitness as youth develop into capable, contributing adults. Scouting helps young people become the best possible version of themselves by providing a means for who they will become. Youth develop healthy behaviors with opportunities to learn leadership, achievement, service, and outdoor experiences. Youth learn to do their best, help other people, and keep themselves physically, mentally, and morally strong.

Louis Harris and Associates found the Scouting program successfully addresses six critical elements of healthy youth development (compiled by the Search Institute and Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development by Louis Harris and Associates). This makes Scouting a change agent in the lives of youth. The advancement method provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them. Youth participate in planned achievements and progress at their own pace as they meet each challenge. Youth are rewarded and gain self-confidence.  For each age group, youth participate in earning merit badges, rank advancement, community service and leadership requirements. These help youth grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others. An internal outcomes study shows youth indicated camp is more than just a place to have fun, offering participation in challenging activities, an introduction to rewarding and new experiences, and supportive and caring relationships.

2012 Highlights and Achievements

• 2,827 adult volunteers delivered the Scouting program to 7,638

• The Great Alaska Council supported partnerships with over 107 organizations to deliver

programs to 286 scouting groups

• Over 1,645 new youth and families joined Scouting in the Great Alaska Council during our

fall membership recruitment drive, “School Night for Scouting”

• Outreach was expanded into after-school coed programs with 1,000 new youth participants

• Retention of youth involved is now at 71 9%

• Leaders work to protect our youth with 91 41% completing Youth Protection Training

• Native villages provide Scouting programs to 161 youth, 104 are native youth

Programs

• 7,638 scouts performed 30,246 hours of community service

• 1 local scout was awarded the National Heroism Award

• 125 Eagle Scout awards were earned during 2012

• Scouts enjoyed learning new skills and subjects as 3,659 merit badges were earned

• 887 Boy Scout rank advancements and 1,899 Cub Scout advancements were earned during

the year

• 201 Webelos earned the prestigious Arrow of Light

• 1,698 total Cub Scout awards were earned in 2012

Camping

• 382 Boy Scouts attended Camp Gorsuch and 92 attended Eagle River Camp

• 979 Cub Scouts attended Camp Carlquist and 82 attended Eagle River Camp

• 51 15% of our Boy Scouts had a long-term camping experience

• 25 6% of our Boy Scout troops attended summer camp

• 36 2% of our Cub Scouts had a summer camp experience

• 67% of our Cub Scout Packs participated in Cub Scouts Camps

• All resident camps qualifi ed as National BSA Certifi ed Camps

• 52 youth attended National Youth Leadership Training

Mission Statement

The mission of the Great Alaska Council is to prepare young people

to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the

values of the Scout Oath and Law

Vision Statement

The Great Alaska Council will prepare every eligible youth in Alaska

to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is

guided by the Scout Oath and Scout Law

Scouting...

Offers young people responsible fun and adventure;

Instills in young people lifetime values and develops in them ethical

character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law;

Trains young people in citizenship, service, and leadership;

Serves America’s communities and families with its quality, valuesbased

programs