9/21/21
Dear Scout Leaders and Parents:
As we begin a busy fall Scouting season, this is a reminder of COVID-19 safety guidelines for meetings and activities in Three Harbors Council. With the spread of the Delta variant in our area, the safety of our Scouts, volunteers, employees, and communities continues to be our top priority. We continue to follow the guidance from expert agencies and follow the measures that have become second nature to many – hand hygiene, masks, distancing, meeting in cohorts and remaining at home if you have symptoms or feel bad.
It’s important that everyone understand the rationale for our caution and actions. Because of the pandemic, fewer youth have joined Scouting. To welcome new members and their families, we must demonstrate that we are safe and are concerned with the health of all. Here are important reminders of the COVID-19 safety guidelines in place for unit meetings, council camps, Service Centers, and Scout Shops.
Unit Meetings & Activities
Unit leaders should follow local health guidelines and continue to practice social distancing in all Scouting activities. Face masks are not required in outdoor settings where social distancing is incorporated. For indoor meetings and activities, face masks are required for all youth and adults in attendance. Individuals may choose to continue wearing face masks even when it is not required.
We encourage units to conduct meetings and activities outdoors this fall and to avoid crowded and poorly ventilated indoor activities. On campouts, we recommend that Scouts sleep one per tent in Scouts BSA or with immediate family members in Cub Scouts.
Face Masks at Camp
While outdoors at Camp Oh-Da-Ko-Ta or Indian Mound Scout Reservation, face masks are not required except for in program areas which do not allow for social distancing or as instructed by the camp staff. Face masks are required to be worn indoors including inside the dining hall and other camp buildings.
Camp Facilities
Camp meals will continue to be served outdoors. All staff preparing or serving food are required to wear face masks. The camp dining halls are open for meetings and trainings with no capacity restrictions; however, face masks are required to be worn inside the dining hall. The sleeping cabins at both camps will remain closed for units until further notice. The council’s COVID-19 Task Force will review plans to re-open the cabins later this fall.
Pavilions and outdoor program areas at both camps are available for Pack meetings or Troop Courts of Honor. Units can reserve these facilities at no cost by contacting Karla Langoehr at (414) 443-2877 or Karla.Langoehr@Scouting.org.
Council Service Centers & Scout Shops
Face masks are recommended when visiting the Council Service Centers and Scout Shops. Conference rooms at the Milwaukee Service Center, including the Pieper Power Learning Center (PPLC), are available for meetings with no capacity restrictions. Food service is permitted if the food is prepackaged or served by a designated server wearing a mask. Self-service buffet lines are not allowed at this time.
District & Council Meetings
District & Council meetings, trainings, and events are encouraged to be conducted outdoors this fall where possible. If meetings are held indoors, face masks are required.
Thank you for all you are doing to keep our Scouts safe and the program fun and rewarding for the youth and families we serve!
In Scouting,
Andrew Hardin
Scout Executive |
Perry Wyatt
COVID-19 Scouting Task Force Chair |
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