PREPARING OUR AARONIC PRIESTHOOD BOYS. For Life.

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1 PREPARING OUR AARONIC PRIESTHOOD BOYS. For Life. A CAMPAIGN FOR THE UTAH NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

MONSON One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man.

2 ... if ever there were a time when the principles of Scouting were vitally needed that time is now. If ever there were a generation who would benefit by keeping physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight that generation is the present generation. THOMAS S. MONSON One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so you can enjoy life when you are a man. Nature study will show you... beautiful and wonderful things God has made.... Be Prepared in this way to live happy... stick to your Scout Promise always even after you have ceased to be a boy and God help you to do it. ROBERT BADEN-POWELL 1

develop the skills, confidence, and character required

and Scout leaders as they strive to help our boys become

achieving the combined purposes and goals of the Aaronic

To accomplish this to the greatest possible degree will

It may possibly require some changes in the way we

The goal is to provide unparalleled Scout camping

3 We Love Our Boys. We Believe in Them. We know our boys can accomplish great things both now and in the future. We also know that they deserve the opportunity to develop the skills, confidence, and character required of them as they grow into the family, Church, and civic leaders of the future. R Our goal then is to assist parents, ecclesiastical, and Scout leaders as they strive to help our boys become all that they have the potential to grow into by achieving the combined purposes and goals of the Aaronic Priesthood and Scouting. To accomplish this to the greatest possible degree will entail the support and resources of everyone involved. It may possibly require some changes in the way we organize ourselves to work together. The goal is to provide unparalleled Scout camping opportunities for each one of our boys as they rise up through the ranks of both Scouting and priesthood quorums. We look forward to helping make this happen, because we love our boys and believe in their amazing, God-given potential. 2 3

A TIME TO STAND TALL While much of our society continues to experience an ever-changing shaking of its moral foundation and its sense of responsibility and bearing, the Utah National Parks Council of

As a new century of Scouting is beginning, the Utah National Parks Council is undertaking a major fundraising effort to enhance our combined efforts aimed at meeting the needs of our young men.

4 A TIME TO STAND TALL While much of our society continues to experience an ever-changing shaking of its moral foundation and its sense of responsibility and bearing, the Utah National Parks Council of the Boy Scouts of America combined with our local priesthood quorums, stands rock-solid by providing a place of hope and promise in the lives of our boys in challenging times. As a new century of Scouting is beginning, the Utah National Parks Council is undertaking a major fundraising effort to enhance our combined efforts aimed at meeting the needs of our young men. This effort is aimed at significantly improving the facilities and outdoor experiences available in each of our camps. The goal is to provide an improved learning environment to: (1) Develop productive life skills and moral values. (2) Provide testimony building experiences away from distracting worldly influences. The Council s unique role in providing meaningful outdoor experiences in concert with Church leaders for an increasing numbers of Scouts is crucial. At this time, however, more needs to be done in order to provide a secure foundation for our Scout camps. Sustaining this effort will help broaden our combined capacity to influence our boys for good in a world we all wish to improve. Indeed, you are invited to support this significant effort on behalf of our boys with time, talent, and treasure. This is not a time to stand still and wait. Indeed, this is the time to press ahead, even a time to celebrate a time to stand together, prepared, and committed to moving forward in support of our boys and the growing experiences we desire for them to have. A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room. ROBERT BADEN-POWELL 4 5

CAMP EXPERIENCES ARE CORE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG MEN The Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America, is a fundamental part of growing up in this part of Utah.

It is the largest council in the United States and has the largest number of Scouts, volunteers, and Scout leaders in the country.

Many of our future leaders will develop needed social and leadership skills through Scouting.

It is this important combination that provides the foundation for us to better serve the needs of our boys. An integral part of a young man s experience in Scouting is Scout camp.

5 CAMP EXPERIENCES ARE CORE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG MEN The Utah National Parks Council, Boy Scouts of America, is a fundamental part of growing up in this part of Utah. The Council s geographical area consists of most of the state of Utah. It is the largest council in the United States and has the largest number of Scouts, volunteers, and Scout leaders in the country. Scouting is widely known as a developer of high ideals, good character, and citizenship. Many of our current and past leaders have come up through the ranks of Scouting. Many of our future leaders will develop needed social and leadership skills through Scouting. However, our great strength as a council comes when we combine our Scouting experiences with stake and ward priesthood activities. It is this important combination that provides the foundation for us to better serve the needs of our boys. An integral part of a young man s experience in Scouting is Scout camp. What occurs at camp is simultaneously personal and shared. Camp is a place of refuge where Scouts can be surrounded by others who all aspire to the same high moral standards that are taught in the home and at church. Camp provides opportunities for our boys to grow as young men, both spiritually and physically, through shared trials and common campfires. This growth comes in the form of newly developed skills and increasing self-confidence gained by working through challenging outdoor activities. This growth also comes through experiences gained by acquiring ranks, merit badges, and other such honors that they are able to earn. Camp is where boys learn to do hard things, where bonds of friendship are born and solidified, and where leadership skills are developed and practiced. The results are that, each time a Scout attends camp when accompanied by a positive role model, his experience becomes a memorable mile marker in his life. It is core to his view of life, his enhanced sense of self-worth, and the breadth of his life s experiences. Boy Scout camp helps young people become more socially adept by offering them opportunities to safely participate in and contribute to team-building activities. They also learn to be productive and creative by participating in a valuable mix of both physical and intellectual activities. However, our Council s camps are now unable to keep pace with the growing needs and demands for enhanced camp experiences. Even the once-flagship facilities are outdated, overused, worn out, and incapable of adequately meeting a growing population with its demands and expectations. 6 7

Our Current Camps are Worn Out: A MAJOR INVESTMENT IS NECESSARY. Solving the conspicuous problem facing the Utah National Parks Council is clear.

leaders. Most of the camps are now earmarked for improvements, because they are among the busiest, most worn-out, or most in need of expansion and updating.

6 Our Current Camps are Worn Out: A MAJOR INVESTMENT IS NECESSARY. Solving the conspicuous problem facing the Utah National Parks Council is clear. We need to systematically restore and upgrade the camps with the utmost care to meet the need of the greatest number of current and future Boy Scouts along with their Scouts and ecclesiastical leaders. Most of the camps are now earmarked for improvements, because they are among the busiest, most worn-out, or most in need of expansion and updating. Those camps in need of our immediate attention are: Maple Dell Scout Camp, Tifie Scout Camp at the Mountain Dell Scout Ranch, Scofield Scout Camp at Frandsen Scout Reservation, Thunder Ridge Scout Camp, Camp Jeremiah Johnson, and Bacon Memorial Park. Due to their location, constant use, and potential for greater service, the resurgence of these camps will greatly enhance the opportunity for an ever-increasing number of Scouts to grow from their camping experiences at these facilities. This undertaking is a worthy investment in our boys. Revitalizing our camps will bring them to a fullyfunctioning standard and help provide our boys with the kind of experiences they both need and will thoroughly enjoy. The opportunity to better serve our young men is what is at stake. Doing so will impact the lives of tens of thousands of Scouts now and many more thousands in the future. This campaign for the Utah National Parks Council seeks to prepare its camps to faithfully serve innumerable Scouts with outdoor experiences that can come in no other way. Revitalizing the camps across the Council will ultimately magnify Scouting s pivotal strengths. The following will provide the boys with the kinds of safe experiences they seek: 25 Stake Pavilions 2 Swimming Pools 30 Program Pavilions 5 Kitchen Pavilions 7 Climbing Towers 7 COPE Courses with Zip-lines 5 Shooting Sports Areas 100 Housing/Cabins 6 Medical and Business Offices 14 Adult Housing Units Total cost to install these facilities: $25 Million In summary, our ultimate goal can be summed up in three words: SERVE, ENHANCE, EXTEND SERVE ALL SCOUTS Make quality camps available to every Scout. ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES Make available and maintain teaching and learning experiences that can only occur in outdoor settings. EXTEND SCOUTING S INFLUENCE Promote the achievement of productive life skills, instill patriotism, and improve citizenship in every community. 8 9

NEW HIGH ADVENTURE HUBS TO BE ESTABLISHED For both fun and meaningful experiences And important part of our Scout camp plan is the creation of new High Adventure Hubs

This age group is currently at risk for continued activity in the Church.

The creation of new High Adventure Hubs with portable facilities will enable more of our young men to experience daunting high adventure outings in more areas than

It will be in outings, such as what these hubs will provide, that our young men, while learning to do hard things, even experiencing difficult and challenging

It will be in these outdoor settings where desired characteristics such as courage, tenacity, resilience, and faith can develop.

We will all be the beneficiaries of the growth experienced by our young men.

7 NEW HIGH ADVENTURE HUBS TO BE ESTABLISHED For both fun and meaningful experiences And important part of our Scout camp plan is the creation of new High Adventure Hubs throughout the Council. More young men between the ages of 14 and 18 will be able to experience adventures they never before imagined. This age group is currently at risk for continued activity in the Church. It is important to provide them with the kind of fun and meaningful experiences that will both challenge them and provide testimony-building experiences. The creation of new High Adventure Hubs with portable facilities will enable more of our young men to experience daunting high adventure outings in more areas than before. It is something that will reward our young men in unforgettable ways. Certainly, this is something that they can and will look forward to year after year. It will be in outings, such as what these hubs will provide, that our young men, while learning to do hard things, even experiencing difficult and challenging situations, will develop a stronger sense of their own strengths and capabilities. It will be in these outdoor settings where desired characteristics such as courage, tenacity, resilience, and faith can develop. These are all important elements in building character and independence, especially when accompanied by a respected leader. We will all be the beneficiaries of the growth experienced by our young men. However, our boys will be the ones who will benefit the most as they rise to the occasion of learning to climb the new and demanding summits that life will certainly present them in the future. Many boys will not undertake this journey of becoming all they can be without some organized support along the way. We believe, with the combined encouragement and leadership that dedicated Scout and priesthood leaders can provide, they will successfully undertake and complete this important stage in their lives. And, at the same time, have the time of their lives doing so

THE PRIMARY OUTCOMES OF THE UTAH NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL CAMPAIGN By delivering expanded outdoor programs combined with improved camp facilities, while also

opportunity to put into action gospel principles taught in priesthood meetings on Sunday.

Priesthood quorums are strengthened and faithfulness in priesthood callings is enhanced as our boys learn to live and work together toward common goals as

Young men are better prepared to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, temple endowments, and to serve full-time missions.

The desire for as much education as possible is increased.

and gain greater confidence in his own abilities to succeed.

8 THE PRIMARY OUTCOMES OF THE UTAH NATIONAL PARKS COUNCIL CAMPAIGN By delivering expanded outdoor programs combined with improved camp facilities, while also placing a greater emphasis on serving the needs of stake and ward youth leaders, our enhanced camps will produce the following outcomes: Every boy has the opportunity to put into action gospel principles taught in priesthood meetings on Sunday. Doing so encourages the development of desirable traits of character, citizenship, and physical and mental toughness. Priesthood quorums are strengthened and faithfulness in priesthood callings is enhanced as our boys learn to live and work together toward common goals as Scouts. Testimonies are strengthened through encounters with the Spirit at important moments in their lives while away from the pressures and busyness of home. Young men are better prepared to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, temple endowments, and to serve full-time missions. Each young man has the opportunity to develop valued relationships with positive role models while learning important leadership skills. The desire for as much education as possible is increased. With opportunities to tackle challenging experiences head-on, each boy will improve his natural creative potential, enhance his inherent problem solving skills, and gain greater confidence in his own abilities to succeed. All of our young men and young women have wonderful, expanded options for memorable youth conferences. Stake and ward leaders enjoy more opportunities to provide all of their young people with new growing experiences in the outdoors Opportunities are increased to give meaningful service to each other and strengthen bonds of love and appreciation. A stronger foundation for our boys to become successful husbands and fathers is established Our boys gain an increased respect for women, girls, and children by being in a positive, moral environment

The Future is Bright To see the bright view ahead first requires glancing back. Seeing how far we ve already come helps us better appreciate Scouting s amazing legacy.

For those who value the continued tradition of achievement in the Utah National Parks Council, this campaign provides an opportunity to help our youth better prepare for successful

You will become a source of inspiration to all who are doing their best to inspire our young people to stand tall and finish strong. The future is indeed bright.

9 The Future is Bright To see the bright view ahead first requires glancing back. Seeing how far we ve already come helps us better appreciate Scouting s amazing legacy. Looking forward helps us see the new summits further on and to better understand the tools needed for our boys to reach those new heights. For those who value the continued tradition of achievement in the Utah National Parks Council, this campaign provides an opportunity to help our youth better prepare for successful adulthood. We invite you to join with us and help strengthen the influence of both Priesthood and Scouting in the years ahead. You will become a source of inspiration to all who are doing their best to inspire our young people to stand tall and finish strong. The future is indeed bright. An investment in our youth today, by participating in this important endeavor, will bring a lasting reward a reward that will never fade. The light and life it will bring into the lives of our boys as they enjoy the uplifting and positive experiences available in our revitalized Scout camps will endure

10 All about me are boys. They are the makers of history, the builders of tomorrow. If I can have some part in guiding them up the trails of Scouting, on to the high road of noble character and constructive citizenship. I may prove to be the most important man in their lives... A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a boy. FOREST E. WITCRAFT ( ) 16

Yes, an organization whose motto is Be prepared and whose slogan is Do a good turn daily. THOMAS S.

11 In this world where some misguided men and women strive to tear down and destroy great movements such as Scouting, I am pleased to stand firm for an organization that teaches duty to God and country, that embraces the Scout Law. Yes, an organization whose motto is Be prepared and whose slogan is Do a good turn daily. THOMAS S. MONSON, THE UPWARD REACH ENSIGN, NOV P.48 Utah National Parks Council 748 North 1340 West Orem, Utah

SCOUTING. When I was a mission president, the Vision of. Our efforts as Young Men advisers and Scout leaders can have eternal consequences.

SCOUTING. When I was a mission president, the Vision of. Our efforts as Young Men advisers and Scout leaders can have eternal consequences. Capturing the Vision of SCOUTING By David L. Beck Young Men General President Our efforts as Young Men advisers and Scout leaders can have eternal consequences. LEFT: PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ROBERT CASEY;