Northern Star Council

What Northern Star Council does

Northern Star Council (d/b/a Northern Star Scouting) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit local council of the Boy Scouts of America (EIN 20-3000282) that delivers youth development programming across 41 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The council operates four core program lines — Cub Scouting (ages 5–10), Scouts BSA (ages 11–18), Venturing (ages 13–21), and Exploring (ages 14–21) — supplemented by community-based offerings including after-school Scouting in schools, a juvenile diversion program, and Discovery Day Camp. Program delivery runs through 15 districts aligned to school district boundaries and is supported by 100+ year-round professional staff, approximately 600 seasonal camp staff, and 15,000+ volunteer leaders serving 100+ chartered organizations (churches, service clubs, civic groups).

The council's underlying technology stack is built on national BSA systems rather than proprietary platforms: My.Scouting.org for member self-service, Scoutbook for advancement tracking, Internet Advancement for unit reporting, Scouting Event for event registration, CampReservation for camp bookings, and GoScouting.org as a recruitment entry point. No AI, ML, or proprietary software assets are described. Distribution combines physical infrastructure (seven camp properties including Many Point, Tomahawk, Stearns, Rum River, Phillippo, Kiwanis, and Fred C. Andersen; the Base Camp urban adventure facility with Leadership Lab at Fort Snelling; and Scout Shops at Base Camp, Mounds View, Duluth/Hermantown, and Mankato) with multi-channel youth recruitment (mobile archery booths at community events, school partnerships, digital channels, and a seven-touch volunteer referral process).

Northern Star generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model: youth membership subscriptions ($210 youth / $65 adult annually; $70 Exploring youth / $50 adult), unit charter fees, camp and facility fees at Base Camp and the camp property portfolio, Scout Shop retail merchandise sales (also through ScoutShop.org online), popcorn fundraising via Trail's End (which delivered $1.14M to units in a prior year), and tax-deductible giving mechanisms including annual fund, James E. West Fellowship, planned giving, donor-advised funds, and corporate matching gifts. Financial assistance is offered up to 50% of fees with a stated policy that no youth is turned away due to inability to pay.

Name

Northern Star Council

Legal name

Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America

Website

https://northernstar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Northern Star Council is a 501(c)(3) Boy Scouts of America local council delivering Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring youth development programs across 41 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, supported by seven camp properties, the Base Camp urban facility, and 15,000+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI), Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Scouting programs
• Summer camp programs
• Outdoor adventure camps
• Leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Minnesota City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Youth Membership Fees: Annual registration fees charged to youth and adult members for program participation
2. Popcorn Fundraising: Council-wide popcorn sale fundraiser where units earn commissions (~$1.14M raised in prior year). Primary unit fundraising mechanism.
3. Donations and Planned Giving: Tax-deductible charitable donations including annual fund, donor-advised funds, James E. West Fellowship, tributes and memorials, and planned giving options.
4. Camp Fees and Facility Rentals: Fees for summer camps, weekend camping, facility reservations at Base Camp and scout camps.
5. Corporate Matching Gifts: Employer matching gift program where companies match employee donations to the council.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Northern Star Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit local council of the Boy Scouts of America that delivers age-tiered youth development programs (Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Exploring) plus the Order of the Arrow honor society across 41 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. The council also operates multiple residential and day camp facilities (including Base Camp, Many Point, Tomahawk, Stearns, Rum River, Phillippo, Kiwanis, Fred C. Andersen), runs adult volunteer training, and supports after-school programs and juvenile diversion initiatives. Revenue is generated through annual youth membership fees, camp and facility rentals, retail sales at four Scout Shop locations, popcorn fundraising commissions, and tax-deductible charitable donations.

Product overview

Northern Star Scouting is a Boy Scouts of America council offering a comprehensive portfolio of youth development programs and services across 41 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The core programs include Cub Scouting (ages 5-10), Scouts BSA (ages 11-18), Venturing (ages 13-21), and Exploring (ages 14-21), along with the Order of the Arrow honor society. The organization operates multiple camp facilities including Base Camp at Fort Snelling (urban adventure center), Many Point Scout Camp, Tomahawk Scout Camp, Stearns Scout Camp, Rum River Scout Camp, Phillippo Scout Camp, Kiwanis Scout Camp, and Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp. Additional services include training programs (Wood Badge, NYLT, BALOO, IOLS), after-school programs, juvenile diversion, Discovery Day Camp, family camping, Scout Shops at four locations, merit badge partnerships, seasonal camporees, and annual fundraising programs including popcorn sales and annual giving campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Scouting Youth development program for children ages 5 to 10 (kindergarten through 5th grade) that allows families to have fun together while building confidence, personal achievement, and respect; packs are run by trained volunteers with financial assistance available so no youth is turned away for inability to pay.
• Scouts BSA Program for youth ages 11 to 18 providing real-world leadership experiences, outdoor adventures, service projects, and individual recognition, with a pathway to the Eagle Scout rank.
• Venturing

Quantifiable outcome

• Scouts earned over $1.14 million through popcorn sales for camping and unit activities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Organizations (Churches, Schools, Community Groups)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 100 chartered organizations (churches, service clubs, community organizations) charter and own local Scouting units. These organizations provide volunteer leadership, meeting facilities, and organizational support. Northern Star provides program resources, training, and administrative support.
• National Boy Scouts of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Star Scouting is a local council of the Boy Scouts of America. National BSA provides program materials, training curricula, insurance, registration systems (My.Scouting.org), and national events (Jamboree).
• ScoutShop.org / Trail's End PopcorncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial Scouting merchandise distributor for uniforms, badges, and gear. Trail's End is the popcorn fundraising partner enabling unit fundraising through popcorn sales.
• Barbara Sinatra Children's Center FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for age-appropriate youth protection training materials developed for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing programs. Provides educational content on child abuse prevention.
• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NetSmartz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Cyber Chip online safety training content helping families and volunteers keep youth safe while online.
• Venturing Officers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth-led association providing resources, support, and activities for Venturing youth and adult leaders. Organizes council-wide Venturing events including ice cream socials and recognition events.
• Order of the Arrow (Totanhan Nakaha Lodge)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Totanhan Nakaha Lodge represents OA members in Northern Star Scouting. Maintains camping traditions, promotes year-round camping, and provides cheerful service to others.
• Many Point Scout CampcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Minnesota high adventure base providing summer camp, leader training, and seasonal programming. Part of Northern Star's camp property portfolio.
• Tomahawk Scout CampcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Wisconsin summer camp providing Scouts BSA programming, high adventure activities, and family camping. Part of Northern Star's camp property portfolio.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Boy Scouts of America: National parent organization of Northern Star Council; sets program curriculum, brand, training, insurance, and registration systems. Comparable as the umbrella under which Northern Star operates and as the largest Scouting body in the country.

Direct peers

• Sam Houston Area Council (BSA): One of the largest BSA local councils in the country, serving the greater Houston area. Directly comparable to Northern Star as a top-tier BSA council with multi-county territory, multiple camp properties, and a large volunteer base.
• Three Rivers Council (BSA): Mid-sized BSA council serving western Pennsylvania with multiple camps and youth programming. Comparable to Northern Star as a regional BSA council operating camp properties and unit-delivered programming.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities: Youth development nonprofit serving the Twin Cities metro with after-school programming, summer camps, and teen services. Comparable to Northern Star's mission, age range served, and after-school/community program offerings in overlapping geography.
• Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys: Regional Girl Scout council covering Minnesota and western Wisconsin with comparable youth development mission, multi-camp property portfolio, retail shops, and membership/fundraising model in the same geography as Northern Star.
• Cascade Pacific Council (BSA): Large BSA council serving Oregon and southwest Washington. Comparable to Northern Star in geographic scope, multi-camp operations, and large volunteer base.
• Cradle of Liberty Council (BSA): Large BSA council serving the Philadelphia region. Operates multiple Scout camps and community programs; comparable to Northern Star in operating scale and program portfolio.

Emerging players

• Outward Bound USA: Outdoor adventure-based youth development organization with expedition programming and leadership curriculum. Comparable to Northern Star's older-youth outdoor and leadership development offerings (Scouts BSA, Venturing) and camp-driven model.
• National 4-H Council: National youth development organization with strong extension-based delivery, summer camping, and STEM/leadership programming. Comparable to Northern Star in mission and age range served; competes for the same youth and volunteer mindshare, especially in rural counties.
• YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities: Major regional YMCA serving the Twin Cities with youth development, camping (Camp Ihduhapi), after-school programs, and membership model. Comparable in youth programming breadth and Twin Cities footprint, though broader in scope than Scouting specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/northernstarbsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/northernstarbsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/northernstarbsa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Star Council