Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America

What Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America does

Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit local council of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), headquartered at the Creighton Scout Service Center in Tacoma, Washington. Founded in 1914, the council delivers character development, outdoor adventure, and leadership training programs across nine Western Washington counties (South King, Pierce, Lewis, Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Pacific), serving over 3,200 youth and 1,700 adult volunteers through two districts (Rainier and Olympic). Core programs include Cub Scouts (K-5), Scouts BSA (ages 11-17), Venturing (14-20), Sea Scouts, Exploring, and the Order of the Arrow honor society (Nisqually Lodge #155).

The council's primary product surface is structured youth programming — progression-based rank advancement (Lion/Tiger/Wolf/Bear/Webelos through Eagle Scout), resident camp sessions at Camp Thunderbird (a 200-acre facility on Summit Lake operating since 1945), youth and adult leadership training (NYLT, Wood Badge, S.A.F.E. Safeguarding Youth), and event coordination (National Jamboree contingent, Camporee, WashJam). Supporting services include two Scout Shop retail locations, Fred's Closet uniform bank, advancement processing, and recruitment kits with Canva marketing templates distributed to chartered units hosted by schools, churches, and civic organizations. Technology stack is conventional — web-based registration (scoutingevent.com, campreservation.com), Constant Contact email, Canva design platform, and Meta/PeachJar recruitment channels — with no proprietary technology or AI/ML components.

Revenue is generated through diversified small-dollar streams: national Scouting America membership fees, the Friends of Scouting annual giving campaign (described as the second largest income source), Trail's End popcorn fundraising (approximately $300,000 annually across council units), Camp Thunderbird summer camp and program fees (Cub Scout camp at $345/youth, $150/adult), Scout Shop retail sales, training program fees (NYLT $325-$360, Wood Badge $340-$380 tiered), vehicle and stock donations via CARS and Charles Schwab, endowment income (James E. West Fellowship, 1910 Society, Founders Circle), and campership scholarships. The council employs approximately 20 full-time staff and is led by Scout Executive/CEO Andrew Sisolak with Council President Chris Panush and Council Commissioner John Spiegelberg. The organization is currently executing the Ready For Life capital campaign to revitalize Camp Thunderbird facilities.

Name

Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America

Legal name

Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America

Website

https://pacificharbors.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America is a non-profit local council headquartered in Tacoma, Washington, delivering youth development programs — Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Exploring — to over 3,200 youth and 1,700 adult volunteers across nine Western Washington counties, supported by Camp Thunderbird and Friends of Scouting fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (72121)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Camping & Scout Camps (THAGAOAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Activity Enrichment Camps (Academic + Arts + Sports) (EDAMALAA)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Outdoor adventure education
• Leadership training services
• Summer camp programs
• Scouting membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma, Washington

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual registration fees from youth and adult members, collected through national Scouting America system
2. Friends of Scouting Campaign: Annual giving campaign where volunteers and supporters donate to support local activities, events, and youth programs. Described as the council's second largest source of income.
3. Popcorn Fundraising: Trail's End popcorn sale program generating approximately $300,000 annually for packs and troops. Units sell popcorn to raise funds for camp and activities.
4. Summer Camp Fees: Camp Thunderbird resident camp fees - Cub Scout camp at $345 per youth and $150 per adult for 4-day sessions
5. Scout Shop Sales: Retail sales of uniforms, handbooks, merit badge books, and Scouting supplies at Tacoma Scout Shop and Camp Thunderbird Scout Store
6. Camperships and Scholarships: Donor-funded financial assistance for youth who cannot afford camp or registration fees
7. Endowment Income: James E. West Fellowship, The 1910 Society, and Founders Circle Award endowment contributions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Pacific Harbors Council delivers age-tiered Scouting programs (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, Exploring, and the Order of the Arrow honor society) for youth across Western Washington. The council operates Camp Thunderbird, a 200-acre residential facility on Summit Lake providing summer camps, weekend programs, and outdoor training. Supporting services include leader training (Wood Badge, NYLT, S.A.F.E.), financial assistance (Growing Leaders Fund, Camperships), retail Scout Shops, and the Trail's End popcorn fundraising program.

Product overview

Pacific Harbors Council offers a portfolio of Scouting programs and support services for youth and adults across Western Washington. The core programs include Cub Scouts (K-5), Scouts BSA (11-17), Venturing (14-20), Sea Scouts, Exploring, and the Order of the Arrow honor society. The council operates Camp Thunderbird, a 200-acre facility on Summit Lake offering summer camps, Trailblazer Camp, and facility rentals. Training programs include Bushmaster NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training), Wood Badge, and S.A.F.E. Safeguarding Youth Training. Financial assistance is provided through the Growing Leaders Fund, Membership Grant Request, and Campership Program. The council supports units with Scout Shops, Fred's Closet uniform donations, Recruitment Kits, Canva Marketing Templates, and Trail's End Popcorn Fundraising. The Ready For Life campaign is revitalizing Camp Thunderbird facilities. These programs and services work together to deliver youth development, outdoor adventure, leadership training, and community service across the South Sound region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Scouts

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,200 youth served annually through council programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Trail's EndcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTrail's End is the exclusive popcorn fundraising partner for the Boy Scouts of America. For over 35 years, the program has enabled Scouts and leaders to raise funds through popcorn sales. Pacific Harbors Council units use the Trail's End platform for Take Order and Online Direct sales, generating nearly $300,000 annually for packs and troops.
• Giving BeanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoffee and tea fundraiser supporting National Jamboree participants. Friends and family purchase through Giving Bean website, with 25% of sales credited toward Jamboree fees. Participants enter their name in the 'Person Attributed' field at checkout.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation program. CARS handles pickup, sale, and donation receipt for donors. Has returned more than $450+ million to nonprofit partners through vehicle donations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Trail Life USA: Alternative scouting-style organization for families seeking character/outdoor development programs. Represents a niche competitor in the same youth outdoor adventure category.
• YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties: Regional YMCA operating youth programs, summer camps, and outdoor education in the same Western Washington footprint. Directly competes for summer camp enrollment and family memberships.
• Camp Fire: National youth development organization offering camp and program experiences. Competes for the same families seeking character-building outdoor programming, though with smaller market share than Scouting.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound: Regional youth development nonprofit serving the same Tacoma/South Sound geography. Offers after-school programming that competes for family time and engagement, though with a different delivery model (clubhouse-based vs. unit-based).

Direct peers

• Chief Seattle Council, Scouting America: Washington-state Scouting America council serving the greater Seattle area with comparable program portfolio, summer camps, and council structure. Same national charter and revenue streams (membership, popcorn, Friends of Scouting).
• Cascade Pacific Council, Scouting America: Adjacent Scouting America council serving the Portland, OR and Southwest Washington region. Operates the same national programs (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, etc.) with similar camp facilities and revenue model, making it the most direct structural comparable.
• Mt. Rainier Council, Scouting America: Washington-state Scouting America council. Operates similar youth development and camp programs under the same national umbrella, with overlapping geographic coverage and donor base in Western Washington.

Broad incumbents

• Girl Scouts of Western Washington: Parallel national youth development organization serving girls in the same Western Washington geography. Competes for the same family demographic and volunteer pool with cookie fundraising analogous to popcorn fundraising.
• Scouting America (National Organization): National parent organization that charters Pacific Harbors Council. Sets program standards, brand, and national fee structure; comparable as the broad incumbent in the scouting category with overlapping capabilities at national scale.

Others

• 4-H (Washington State University Extension): University-affiliated youth development program operating in the same Western Washington counties. Competes for older youth (ages 5-19) with project-based learning rather than outdoor adventure, making it an adjacent peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pacificharborscouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/pacific_harbors_council
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacificharborscouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Pacific Harbors Council, Scouting America