At the Sunrise Rotary meeting on Tuesday, a representative from the Simon Kenton Council of Scouting America spoke about the positive impact scouting has on youth. The council, which is the largest in Ohio, serves 19 counties, including Pickaway, and supports four scouting units with more than 200 boys and girls.
The Simon Kenton Council is among the largest in the nation, operating in 18 counties across central and southern Ohio, as well as Greenup County in northern Kentucky. With a dedicated team of more than 25 professional and administrative Scouters and 4,500 adult volunteers, the council delivers scouting programs to nearly 9,000 young people.
The organization partners with approximately 300 charter organizations to sponsor various scouting programs, including Cub Scout Packs, Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, and Exploring Posts. Its goal is to be a leading force in youth development across the region.
The council also maintains and operates four year-round camps covering over 1,150 acres of forests, ponds, trails, and campsites, offering outdoor experiences for youth ages 5 to 20 in urban, rural, and suburban areas.
A key initiative of the council is the ScoutReach program, which provides scouting opportunities for at-risk youth in central Ohio at little to no cost to families. This program, delivered in partnership with Columbus City Schools, allows at least 1,000 youth to participate in scouting after school through special stipend-based program aides.
Through these efforts, the Simon Kenton Council continues to foster leadership, community engagement, and outdoor education for youth across Ohio and northern Kentucky.
