Bay-Lakes Council Special Needs

Unique Programs Serving Individuals with Physical, Cognitive, and Emotional Disabilities

“Since it’s founding in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has had fully participating members with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. Although most of the BSA’s efforts have been directed at keeping such boys in the mainstream of Scouting, it has also recognized the special needs of those with severe disabilities.”

In response to recommendations by the council’s strategic plan, the Bay-Lakes Council has placed an emphasis on serving youth with disabilities. Since October of 2004, staff members have been serving the 22 counties and 7 districts of the Bay-Lakes Council for Special Needs with support and training for leaders of traditional packs, troops, crews, and posts that serve mainstreamed youth with disabilities.

There is also an effort to serve youth with more severe disabilities. Units are bring organized composed of members with similar disabilities or special needs, such as a Cub Scout pack for boys with autism. Many of these special Scouting units are located in special schools or centers that have made the Scouting program part of their curriculum.

BACKGROUND

In Special Needs Scouting, we use ALL the programs of the Boy Scouts of America. Each of these youth development programs are age appropriate and grade specific. The programs are:              

Cub Scouting              Boys in grades 1–5

Boy Scouting               Boys in grades 6–12

Venturing                    For young men & women in high school through age 21

Exploring                     For young men & women in high school through age 21

Learning for Life          An in-school or institution based program for boys & girls in Kindergarten through high school

Although each of these programs are different… they all have the same objectives:

• Character Development
• Participating Citizenship
• Personal Fitness
• Developing Lifetime Values
• Ethical Decision Making

CUB SCOUTING – Boys age 7 – 10+
Cub Scouting is a year-round program uniquely designed to meet the needs of young boys and their parents. The program offers fun and challenging activities that promote character development and fitness.

Service projects, ceremonies, games, and other activities guide boys through the core values and give them a sense of personal achievement. Through group interaction and parental guidance, boys also learn honesty, bravery, and respect.  Through interaction between parents, leaders, and friends, boys learn citizenship, compassion, and courage.

BOY SCOUTING – Boys age 11 – 18+
Boy Scouting is an outdoor program designed to develop character, citizenship, and fitness. With the Scout Oath and Law as a guide, Scouting helps a boy develop into a well-rounded young man.

Through the advancement program, a Scout can progress in rank through achievements, gaining additional knowledge and responsibilities. Earning merit badges provides opportunities for Scouts to be introduced to a lifelong hobby or a rewarding career. By planning and organizing, Scouts develop teamwork and learn to lead as well as follow and develop an awareness and appreciation of their role in their community.

VENTURING – Young Men & Women age 14-20+
Venturing is program for young men and women. The purpose of Venturing is to help young people mature and become responsible and caring adults. Young people in Venturing learn leadership skills and participate in challenging outdoor programs.

Venturing focuses resources that provide wholesome, flexible, well rounded, challenging activities, tailor-made for young men and women.

LEARNING FOR LIFE – Boys and Girls age 6-21+
Learning for Life is an educational program designed to meet the needs of youth, schools, and organizations. It helps youth meet the challenge of growing up by teaching character and good decision-making skills and then linking those skills to the real world. The age-appropriate and grade-specific lesson plans get youth involved through role playing, small group discussions, and reflective exercises.

The Special Needs Learning for Life program teaches life skills needed to achieve self-sufficiency. To meet the various levels of disabilities, the lesson plans on self-concept, social skills, and life skills can be tailored to meet the needs of individual students.

EXPLORING – Young Men & Women age 14-20+
Exploring is a transitions program for young men and women that allow an experience in various career fields through speakers, workplace tours, and job shadowing.  Young adults in Exploring gain practical knowledge in careers and the life skills needed to achieve self-sufficiency.

OUR APPROACH

There are two parts to our approach:

1.   FIRST, we support and train leaders of traditional packs, troops, and crews that serve mainstreamed youth with disabilities. In the Bay-Lakes Council, there are an estimated 2,796 boys mainstreamed with disabilities. The State of Wisconsin estimates that 16% of the school aged population is affected by one or more disabilities.

2.   SECONDLY, there is also is an effort to serve youth with more severe disabilities. Units have been organized, composed of members with similar disabilities or special needs, such as a Cub Scout pack for boys with autism or an all-blind Boy Scout troop. Many of these special Scouting units are located in schools or rehab-centers or with organizations that make the Scouting program part of their curriculum. We currently have 64 of these special units that serve 1,612 Special Needs Scouts. 

While this approach is considered non-traditional, the Bay-Lakes Council is still committed to developing strong values, strong leaders, and character that counts in all of our Scouts. That commitment comes from our belief that together we can make a difference in the life of a boy. Scouting is a time tested, family centered program that really does make a significant difference in the life of a boy.

UNIT SUPPORT
Every time one of these Special Needs Cub Scout Packs or a Boy Scout Troops or a Venture Crews meets, it doesn’t just happen. Behind the unit leaders are a dedicated group of Special Needs volunteers that are supported by the Bay-Lakes Council with facilities, programs, training, coaching, and resources.

Some examples of that support provided to units:

• Assistance to Adult leader training courses and workshops
• Adaptations and accommodations to Day camp programs
• Staff training for Resident camps at Rokilio, Gardner Dam, and Bear Paw
• Registration assistance and scholarships to camp for Special Needs Youth
• The monthly leader newspaper, The Guide has articles about serving Special Needs Scouts

• Where traditional volunteers are not available, Program Aides are hired to lead the units. Three have been hired so far.
• Braille Scout books, Scout books on audio tape, and “how to” books are available to help adapt the traditional programs for use by the leaders of Special Needs youth.
• Our staff provides adaptations and camp staff orientation so that day camps and long-term resident camps will accommodate special needs units.

Where to get help or information:

Robert Heffron, MSEd           Dan Donovan
Special Needs Chairman        District Director
heffronrg@att.net                 Dan.Donovan@Scouting.org
H:  (920) 739-2538                B:  920-734-5705 X 136

Catherine Nett, Service Team Leader
C:  (920) 923-4503