Boy Scouts of America Baden Powell Council

What Boy Scouts of America Baden Powell Council does

Baden-Powell Council (publicly branded Greater Finger Lakes Council) is a non-profit local council of the Boy Scouts of America, operating youth development programs across six counties in New York (Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Tioga, Tompkins, and part of Seneca) and Susquehanna County in Pennsylvania. The council serves approximately 3,000 youth and adult members organized into 125+ scouting units across four districts (Chenango, Delahanna, Hiawatha, Taughannock) and delivers the standard BSA program portfolio: Cub Scouting (ages 5-10), Scouts BSA (ages 11-18, including Family Scouting troops for girls), and Venturing/Sea Scouting (ages 14-20).

The council operates two core camp assets: Tuscarora Scout Reservation, a 900-acre facility at the Catskill foothills with summer/winter camping units, a 40-foot climbing wall, and a 35-acre lake, plus Camp Barton, a historic Finger Lakes camp at Frontenac Point on Cayuga Lake. Specialized programs include Badges at Barton merit badge weekends, Cub Adventure Weekends, and National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). Administrative technology is provided by the national organization through Scoutbook (advancement tracking), Black Pug (unit management and event registration), and My.Scouting (training portal); no proprietary technology is developed locally.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model anchored by national BSA registration fees ($60/member, remitted to National), the Friends of Scouting annual fundraising campaign (recommended $180/member gift to cover ~$1.4M operating budget), Trail's End popcorn sales with 30% unit commission, Distinguished Citizen Award Dinners across five counties ($150 individual tickets, $1,000-$5,000 sponsorship tiers), James E. West Fellowship and Second Century Society major gift programs, and year-round camp rental revenue. Distribution is community-led via chartered organizations (schools, churches, civic groups) that host local units, supported by district executives and Membership Impact Specialists.

Name

Boy Scouts of America Baden Powell Council

Legal name

Boy Scouts of America Baden Powell Council

Website

https://bpcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Baden-Powell Council (Greater Finger Lakes Council) is a non-profit Boy Scouts of America local council delivering youth development programs (Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing) to approximately 3,000 youth and adults across six New York counties and one Pennsylvania county, funded through registration fees, annual Friends of Scouting contributions, popcorn sales, and event sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Services

NAICS

RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps (7212)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), 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
• Scouting programs
• Outdoor education
• Camping facilities
• Leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Binghamton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Annual Registration Fees: National BSA registration fee of $60 per youth member, which goes directly to National Office. This is a mandatory annual fee for all registered scouts and adult volunteers.
2. Friends of Scouting Campaign: Annual fundraising campaign asking families, friends, alumni, business and community organizations to support scouting. Recommended gift of $180 per member to cover operating costs. The council needs to raise approximately $180 per member to meet annual operating expenses of nearly $1.4 million.
3. Trail's End Popcorn Sales: Fall popcorn fundraiser partnership with Trail's End. Units earn 30% base commission with additional bonuses for participation. This is a zero-risk fundraiser where units receive product upfront and pay only for what they sell.
4. Special Events Revenue: Distinguished Citizen Award Dinners held across five counties, with ticket sales and corporate sponsorships. Individual tickets typically $150, with sponsorship levels from $1,000 (Trailblazer) to $5,000 (Distinguished Eagle Scout Sponsor).
5. Major Gifts and Endowment: James E. West Fellowship (minimum $1,000 for Bronze level, cumulative for Silver/Gold/Diamond), Second Century Society recognition for major donors ($25,000+ outright or $100,000+ deferred gifts), and planned giving vehicles including bequests, IRAs, and charitable trusts.
6. Camp and Facility Rental: Year-round camping facilities at Tuscarora Scout Reservation and Camp Barton available for unit rental. Facilities include summer units, winter units, dining hall, health lodge, family camp cabins, and entire camp rental options. Also serves non-scouting youth organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Baden-Powell Council delivers Scouting America youth development programs (Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing) for youth ages 5-20 across Central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania. The council operates two camping facilities (Tuscarora Scout Reservation and Camp Barton) and supports advancement, merit badges, and leadership training programs like NYLT and Woodbadge, sustained by membership fees, donations, and fundraising campaigns.

Product overview

The Baden-Powell Council offers a portfolio of interconnected youth development programs serving children and young adults ages 5-20 across Central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania. The core programs—Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, and Venturing—form the foundation, providing age-appropriate character development, citizenship training, and fitness promotion through the Scout Oath and Law framework. These programs are supported by two premier camping facilities: Tuscarora Scout Reservation (900-acre Catskill foothills camp with summer and winter camping) and Camp Barton (historic Finger Lakes camp specializing in merit badge achievement). Additional offerings include Badges at Barton merit badge weekends, Cub Adventure Weekends for families, NYLT leadership training, and the Scout Shop retail service. Fundraising programs include the Friends of Scouting Campaign and Trail's End Popcorn sale. Digital tools include Scoutbook for advancement tracking and Black Pug for unit management and event registration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cub Scouting A family-oriented program for youth ages 5-10 that introduces them to scouting through age-appropriate activities, outdoor experiences, and character development using the Scout motto 'Be Prepared.' Includes Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light ranks.
• Scouts BSA The flagship program for youth ages 11-18 (formerly 'Boy Scouts'), offering single-gender troops for boys and girls to work toward Eagle Scout rank through camping, merit badges, leadership development, and outdoor adventures. Includes Tenderfoot through Eagle Scout ranks.
• Venturing A youth-led program for young adults ages 14-20 (or 13 with completed eighth grade) that focuses on high-adventure activities, career exploration, and leadership development.
• Tuscarora Scout Reservation A 900-acre Boy Scouts of America camp located in Windsor, NY at the foothills of the Catskill Mountains on Summit Lake, offering summer camp programs, 10 summer camping sites with platform tents, 3 winter units, climbing tower, aquatics, and year-round camping facilities.
• Camp Barton A historic Scout camp located at Frontenac Point on Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region, offering merit badge programs, rank advancement, and outdoor skill development at a location with over 100 years of service.
• Badges at Barton A merit badge achievement weekend program held three weekends in August at Camp Barton, allowing Scouts to complete partial merit badges and earn new badges through flexible, time-efficient programming.
• Cub Adventure Weekends Family-oriented camping weekends offered twice yearly (Spring and Fall) at Camp Barton and Tuscarora, designed for Cub Scouts of all ranks to experience the outdoors with parents, guardians, and siblings.
• National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) A 6-day outdoor leadership course held at Camp Tuscarora, taught by youth staff, that equips Scouts with leadership skills, tools, and concepts for leading troops, crews, or ships.
• Friends of Scouting Campaign Annual fundraising campaign requiring $180 per registered member to support council operations, with gifts ranging from $5 to $5,000 or more, sustaining Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and Exploring programs.
• Trail's End Popcorn Sale Annual fall popcorn fundraiser through Trail's End partnership, offering units a 30% base commission plus bonus percentages for participation, with zero risk to units.
• Scout Shop The council trading post/store at 2150 NYS Route 12, Binghamton, NY, selling scouting supplies, uniforms, and merchandise, operating Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1:00-5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm.

Quantifiable outcome

• 83% of men who were Scouts agree values learned in Scouting continue to be very important to them today
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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 End (Popcorn Fundraising Partner)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership with Trail's End for annual fall popcorn fundraiser. Trail's End provides popcorn products, training materials, online sales platform, and support. Council and units benefit from 30% base commission plus bonus commissions. The 2025 partnership continues the relationship with show-and-sell and take-order sale models.
• James E. West Fellowship (BSA Foundation)minorOthersNational BSA Foundation donor recognition program for gifts to local council endowment funds. Minimum $1,000 gift qualifies for Bronze level membership. Cumulative gifts reach Silver, Gold, and Diamond levels. Gifts must be additional to annual Friends of Scouting support.
• Second Century Society (BSA National Foundation)minorOthersNational BSA social organization for major donors at local and national levels. Established 2011, replaces 1910 Society and Founders Circle. Qualifying gifts include $25,000+ outright or $100,000+ deferred gifts to local council, BSA Foundation, high-adventure base or any Scouting entity.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• 4-H (National 4-H Council): National youth-development organization delivered through Cooperative Extension. Competes for the same youth-development, leadership, and outdoor-activity participation budget that Baden-Powell Council targets, but is broader in scope and delivered via school/university partnerships rather than chartered organizations.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: National youth-development nonprofit with local affiliate clubs providing after-school and summer programming. Competes with Baden-Powell Council for the same parents and youth, but operates facility-based programming rather than volunteer-led units.
• YMCA of Broome County: Local YMCA affiliate operating in the same Binghamton/upstate NY service area. Offers youth programming, summer camps, and family memberships, partially overlapping Baden-Powell's youth and family-engagement value proposition.

Others

• American Camp Association: Industry association that accredits youth camps including Baden-Powell's two properties. Relevant as an ecosystem/standards-setting body rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Greater New York Councils (Scouting America): BSA local councils serving the downstate New York area. Operates the same federated youth-development model with chartered-organization units, Friends of Scouting fundraising, and camp properties.
• Seneca Waterways Council (Scouting America): A neighboring BSA local council serving western and central New York counties. Directly comparable as a regional Scouting council delivering Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, and camp programs under the same national BSA federation.
• Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways: A regional Girl Scout council serving parts of New York and Pennsylvania with overlapping geographic footprint to Baden-Powell. Delivers the closest functional analog — girls-only youth development, troop/charter model, camp properties, cookie fundraiser, and membership fees — making it the most structurally comparable peer.

Regional players

• Camp Barton (sister-property operations): Listed as adjacent only because the camp property itself is operated by the subject council; alternative comparable private summer camps such as Camp Che-Na-Wah or Camp Stella Maris provide merit-badge and sleepaway camp programming in the same Finger Lakes/NY region competing for camper enrollment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bpcouncilbsa
• Facebookfacebook.com/BadenPowellCouncil
• Instagraminstagram.com/badenpowellcouncil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boy-scouts-of-america-greater-pittsburgh-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Boy Scouts of America Baden Powell Council