Scouting America, Sagamore Council

What Scouting America, Sagamore Council does

Scouting America, Sagamore Council is a nonprofit local council delivering the national Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) youth development programs across 14 counties in North Central Indiana. The council serves more than 2,000 youth annually through four age-tiered programs — Cub Scouts (ages 6-10), Scouts BSA (ages 10-18), Venturing (ages 14-20), and Exploring (ages 14-20) — organized under three districts (North Star, Peshewa, Wabash Valley), each staffed by a dedicated district executive. Operations are led by a 14-person professional team headquartered at the Hingst Scout Service Center in Kokomo, supplemented by two owned camp facilities: Camp Buffalo on the Tippecanoe River near Monticello and the 125-acre Cary Camp near Lafayette, the latter of which also hosts the Takachsin Lodge chapter of the Order of the Arrow honor society.

The council's technology stack is largely inherited from the national Scouting America organization, including Scoutbook for advancement tracking, My.Scouting.org for training and membership management, and the Scouting Event platform for activity registration. Third-party tools include Black Pug Software's campreservation.com platform for camp facility bookings and online payments, the Trails-End platform for the annual popcorn fundraiser, Constant Contact for email marketing, and a councilstuff.com/162 online storefront for merchandise. Beyond youth programs, the council delivers NRA-certified shooting sports training courses for adult Scout leaders, structured adult volunteer training modules, retail merchandise through physical Trading Posts in Kokomo and Lafayette, and a portfolio of community events including the Buffalo Stampede bicycle ride and the Scouting 4 Eggs Adult Easter Egg Hunt.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of recurring membership dues, philanthropic contributions (the Friends of Scouting campaign represents approximately 21% of the council's largest income sources and eight United Way/United Funds contribute 12% of the annual budget), transaction-based popcorn sales, usage-based camp and facility rental fees, retail merchandise, endowment and planned giving, memorial/tribute gifts, and small partnership-derived streams such as Indiana BSA specialty license plates ($25 of the $40 fee to the endowment), Amazon Smile, and Kroger Community Rewards. The council states that $153 is the cost to deliver one year of programming per youth and that more than 84% of funds raised go directly to programs. Go-to-market is community-led: recruitment through School Night to Join Scouting events at local schools, family solicitations during unit-level Friends of Scouting presentations, and engagement through chartered partner organizations (churches, civic groups, schools) that host local packs, troops, and crews.

Name

Scouting America, Sagamore Council

Legal name

Scouting America, Sagamore Council

Website

https://sagamorebsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Scouting America, Sagamore Council is a nonprofit local council delivering age-tiered Scouting programs (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Exploring) to over 2,000 youth across 14 counties in North Central Indiana, supported by two camps and a retail/trading post network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kokomo

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues for youth and adult members in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring programs
2. Friends of Scouting Campaign: Annual direct-solicitation campaign targeting Scout families, community individuals, service organizations and businesses. Represents approximately 21% of council's largest income sources. Over 84% of funds raised are dedicated to program.
3. United Way Contributions: Eight United Way and United Funds recognize Scouting's value and provide 12% of the council's annual budget
4. Popcorn Sales: Annual popcorn fundraiser through Trails-End platform. Units sell popcorn products with percentage going to council and units. Key dates: Show and Sell orders due 8/1, sale ends 10/18, final balance due 12/1
5. Trading Post Merchandise: Retail sales of Scout uniforms, supplies, patches, council merchandise, and specialty items. Physical locations in Kokomo and Lafayette plus online store at councilstuff.com
6. Camp Reservations and Fees: Facility rental fees for camps including cabins, campsites, shooting ranges, dining halls, and program equipment. Various pricing for different facilities and services at Camp Buffalo and Cary Camp
7. Memorial and Tribute Gifts: Contributions to Memorial/Tribute Fund. Gifts of $50+ placed in Council Endowment Trust Fund; gifts under $50 used for Executive Board designated projects
8. Endowment and Planned Giving: Bequests and planned gifts to endowment fund ensuring Scouting's future in North Central Indiana. Can be restricted to specific programs
9. BSA License Plates: Indiana BMV specialty license plates for $40, with $25 going to local council endowment and $15 to BMV
10. Kroger Community Rewards: Percentage of Kroger purchases donated to council through Community Rewards program when supporters link their account

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Scouting America, Sagamore Council is a chartered local council that delivers Scouting America's youth-development programs to roughly 2,000 youth across 14 counties in North Central Indiana. It operates Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring programs, supported by two resident camps — Camp Buffalo and Cary Camp — and an adult volunteer leadership structure. Funding comes from membership fees, Friends of Scouting donations, United Way grants, popcorn sales, trading-post sales, camp rentals, and endowment income.

Product overview

Scouting America, Sagamore Council operates as a youth development organization under the Boy Scouts of America, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core consists of four age-based Scouting programs (Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Exploring) that progress youth from ages 6-21 through character development and outdoor activities. The council supports these programs through two camp facilities (Camp Buffalo and Cary Camp) providing outdoor recreation and shooting sports, a Trading Post retail operation for uniforms and supplies, and multiple fundraising programs (Friends of Scouting, Popcorn Sales) that fund camperships and program operations. Training programs including NRA shooting sports instruction and adult leader development complement the youth programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Scouting Program

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile program donates 0.5% of purchase price to Sagamore Council when supporters shop at smile.amazon.com and select council as charity.
• KrogerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKroger Community Rewards program allows shoppers to link their Kroger account to Sagamore Council BSA. A percentage of qualifying purchases are donated to support Scouting.
• Black Pug SoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationBlack Pug Software provides the campreservation.com platform used for camp facility reservations, online payments, and event management for Camp Buffalo and Cary Camp.
• Trails-End (Popcorn Program)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrails-End provides the popcorn fundraising platform (trails-end.com and portal.trails-end.com) for the annual popcorn sale, including online storefronts and order management.
• National Boy Scouts of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSagamore Council is a local council of the Boy Scouts of America, operating under BSA national standards, using BSA systems (Scoutbook, My.Scouting.org), and following BSA programs and policies.
• Indiana Bureau of Motor VehiclesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndiana BMV offers BSA specialty license plates. Of the $40 fee, $25 goes to Sagamore Council Endowment Fund and $15 goes to BMV.
• Chartered Partner OrganizationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal organizations including churches, schools, civic groups, and other institutions that charter Scouting units and provide local leadership and meeting spaces.
• IU Health and Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Purdue University)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIU Health and Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University are presenting sponsors for the University of Scouting event December 2026 at Purdue.
• Subaru of Indiana AutomotiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSubaru of Indiana Automotive is the presenting sponsor for the 7th Annual Buffalo Stampede cycling event October 2026.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 4-H (Purdue Extension / National 4-H Council): Cooperative Extension youth program offering camping, citizenship, and STEM programming with strong Indiana (Purdue) roots. Comparable as a youth development and outdoor education nonprofit competing for the same age cohort and family participation time.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America (Indiana affiliates): National youth development organization with local chapters providing after-school programming, character development, and leadership activities funded through donations and grants. Comparable as a nonprofit youth-serving organization competing for the same families and donor dollars.
• Crossroads of America Council (Scouting America): Another Indiana-based local Scouting America council delivering Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and camp programming. Most directly comparable as a sister Indiana council operating under the same national brand with a similar program and fundraising model.
• Girl Scouts of Central Indiana: Regional Girl Scouts council serving youth in Indiana through membership dues, cookie fundraising, troop-based programming, and camp properties. Comparable as a youth development nonprofit with similar age-tiered programs, volunteer-led unit structure, and dual camp/revenue model.

Broad incumbents

• National Council of Youth Leaders (Boy Scouts of America / Scouting America): National Scouting America organization providing the brand, standards, technology platforms (Scoutbook, My.Scouting.org), and Jamboree access. Comparable as the parent organization governing Sagamore Council's program delivery.
• Learning for Life (Exploring program national): National Exploring program offering career-focused youth development for ages 14-20. Comparable as the national sponsor of one of Sagamore's core programs (Exploring), with overlapping workforce development and mentorship positioning.

Emerging players

• Adventure Scouts USA: Independent, co-ed youth scouting alternative offering programs for younger children through young adults. Comparable as an emerging competitor in the youth character-development space with a more flexible structure than traditional Scouting.

Regional players

• Anthony Wayne Council (Scouting America): Scouting America local council serving northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio with similar camping facilities and program portfolio. Comparable as a regional Scouting America peer with overlapping operational structure, camp assets, and donor base.
• YMCA of Greater Indianapolis / Kokomo Family YMCA: Regional YMCA providing youth programming, summer camps, and character development. Comparable as a community-based youth services organization offering camps and programming that overlap with Sagamore's Cub Scout and family offerings.
• Camp Tecumseh / YMCA Camp Tecumseh: Indiana-based residential camp offering outdoor adventure, leadership, and summer programming to youth. Comparable as a regional camp operator with similar shooting sports, waterfront, and overnight programming competing for camp and facility rental revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SagamoreBSA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/Sagamore162
• Facebookfacebook.com/SagamoreBSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sagamorebsa
• Instagraminstagram.com/sagamorebsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scouting America, Sagamore Council