Boy Scouts LaSalle Council continues growth in 2024

The Boy Scouts of America LaSalle Council is continuing its forward momentum with another year of growth in the books for 2024.

The LaSalle Council, which provides programming to families throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, ranked second in percentage growth out of 245 Boy Scout councils nationwide in 2023 with a 21% growth rate of new Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA youth members. LaSalle Council CEO John M. Cary said the council experienced another 5% percentage growth in 2024, marking the third straight year the council has seen a spike in membership.

Cary noted that the LaSalle Council’s success is driven by several factors, including a $1.35 million grant dispersed over three years from The Lilly Endowment to help keep scouting affordable for families.

“Seventy percent of our membership come from economically challenged areas, but because our fundraisers have been so successful, and the Lilly Endowment also sees such value in our programming, we have been able to cut the cost in half for families,” said Cary. “This has made scouting affordable for families at a time when most other things are not affordable.”

Partnerships with schools, an increased interest from volunteers, and expanded programming have also contributed to the LaSalle Council’s growth, he said. The council has also capitalized on the Lilly Endowment grant to bring programming into diverse communities. The gift enabled the council to develop a Latino-based scouting program in 2023, boosting the council’s minority membership to 28% with a 3% growth in 2024. They have also implemented a four-week STEM day camp for all members.

“One of the highlights of 2024 was the construction of our solar pavilion,” said Board President Bob Bycraft. “It is currently feeding power to the office and allowing the youth to learn about alternative energy sources. It has been a fantastic way to become proactive in greener practices in what we do while also providing valuable education to our members.”

Cary said the ability to have boys and girls participating in the same programs is another factor driving growth, a move by the organization that now properly reflects the country’s youth population that scouting serves, he added.

“It has been a combination of those things. It shows that scouting is still revered and respected,” said Cary. “When you add it all up, that’s really the secret sauce to our growth.”