SENATE RESOLUTION WELCOMING THE NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL, SCOUTING AMERICA, TO THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 24TH OF 2026, AND JOYFULLY CELEBRATING SCOUTING MONTH IN FEBRUARY

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
WELCOMING THE NARRAGANSETT COUNCIL, SCOUTING AMERICA, TO THE
RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE ON FEBRUARY 24TH OF 2026, AND JOYFULLY
CELEBRATING SCOUTING MONTH IN FEBRUARY

Introduced By:
Senators Acosta, Dimitri, Tikoian, Gallo, de la Cruz, Rogers, Lauria,
Thompson, Appollonio, and Famiglietti

Date Introduced:
March 24, 2026

Referred To:
Recommended for Immediate Consideration
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WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council, Scouting America, previously the Boy Scouts of
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America, was founded in 1910, and is one of the largest Scouting and youth development
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organizations in the region, with thousands of youth participants. Since Scouting America's
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beginning, more than 130 million Americans have participated in its programs nationwide, to the
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great benefit of our nation. Through the years, countless youngsters have developed leadership
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skills and character, learned how to be self-sufficient, as well as life-saving and career enhancing
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skills and have selflessly served their local communities and made positive differences in the
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lives of countless people. In celebration of Scouting month, a group of Narragansett Council
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Scouts and leaders are visiting the Rhode Island State House on February 24th; and
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WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council serves the entire State of Rhode Island along with
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cities and towns in neighboring states, and tirelessly endeavors to be accessible to all Rhode
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Islanders, regardless of their income or social status. In particular, they work to include
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disadvantaged families within our State's urban communities. In 2025, 1,558 new Scouts and
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their families joined programs offered by the Narragansett Council; and
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WHEREAS, When thousands of Rhode Islanders suddenly lost access to their
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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) benefits during the federal government
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shutdown in November 2025, Scouts stepped up to support their communities. Scouts collected
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292,038 pounds of food through "Scouting for Food" and delivered that to local food pantries in
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every community in Rhode Island. Scouts and their leaders also completed 40,451 community

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service hours in 2025 and donated 254 pints of blood; and
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WHEREAS, Camping and environmental education have always been vital and integral
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parts of the Scouting experience. In 2025, at the nationally renowned Camp Yawgoog, run by the
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Narragansett Council, there were 4,553 campers, over 120,000 meals served, and 16,039 merit
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badges earned. There were 262 boy troops and 59 girl troops attending Camp Yawgoog last year;
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and
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WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council also operates the highly successful Adventure
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Base Camp at Camp Champlin in Cranston; and
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WHEREAS, Camp Champlin's year-round "Adventure Base Camp" delivers the youth
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development, life skills, and leadership development programs of Scouting not just to thousands
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of Scouts every year, but to all Rhode Island youth and families, focusing on unique outdoor
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adventure program experiences; and
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WHEREAS, Throughout the year, the Narragansett Council offers many enriching,
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rewarding and educational programs including Fire Explorer's Academy, Law Enforcement
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Explorer Academy, and Police Explorer Stations Day. All of these programs offer young people
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the opportunity to participate in practical hands-on activities that explore possible career choices;
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and
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WHEREAS, Each year, the Narragansett Council also offers training classes on a variety
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of important topics including Youth Protection Training, Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics
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Classes, National Youth Leadership Training, and Introduction to Leadership Skills; and
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WHEREAS, Since girls were officially welcomed into Scouting in 2019, the
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Narragansett Council enrolled its largest share of girl scouts in 2025, accounting for 19 percent of
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all Scouts in the Council; and
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WHEREAS, The Narragansett Council's more than 6,800 youth, and their families,
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highly value the positive experiences and enriching educational opportunities the Narragansett
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Council provides for them as they help to prepare their children to lead successful and rewarding
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lives and to make a positive impact within their communities; now, therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby welcomes the
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Narragansett Council, Scouting America to the Rhode Island State House, joyfully celebrates
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Scouting month during the month of February, and thanks the Scouts and their adult volunteer
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leaders for all the good they do on a daily basis in the State of Rhode Island; and be it further
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Tim McCandless, Scout Executive and

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CEO of the Narragansett Council, Scouting America.
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