May 5, 2022

Dear Friends of the Narragansett Council,

We are writing to update you about developments in the bankruptcy case filed by the national

organization of the Boy Scouts of America, and how they will affect Scouting in the Narragansett Council.

To emerge from bankruptcy, the BSA has proposed a reorganization plan designed to accomplish two

key imperatives: equitably compensate survivors of past abuse in Scouting and ensure that Scouting

continues in our communities and across the country for generations to come. The BSA plan is currently

pending approval from the US Bankruptcy Court.

To accomplish these goals, every local council, including Narragansett Council, will contribute to a survivor’s

compensation Trust to resolve legal claims of past abuse in Scouting. The Narragansett Council has

agreed to contribute $6.45 million to the Trust.

The only way Narragansett Council can meet its obligation is to sell real estate. To help fund

our Council’s contribution to the survivor’s compensation Trust and ensure that we are best positioned to

continue serving youth, families, and communities in Southeastern New England, the Narragansett

Council Executive Board has decided to sell Camp Cachalot to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and

sell Camp Norse to separate non-profit and lease it back.

Although ownership of Camp Norse will change, our Council will enter a long-term lease of Camp Norse

from its new owner, so Camp Norse will continue without interruption to deliver the same life-changing

experiences to youth in our area well into the future. This type of arrangement is customary for our

Council—we already lease several camps including Camps Yawgoog, Champlin, Sandsland,

Aquapaug, Buck Hill and Cub World from this same organization.

We have reached agreement to sell Camp Cachalot to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Camp

Cachalot is subject to a conservation restriction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This sale

ensures that Camp Cachalot will be preserved as open space, be accessible to the public (including

Scouts) and be available for recreational purposes as determined by the Commonwealth.

The Narragansett Council will end its use of Camp Cachalot as a Scout camp on May 31, 2022. We have

begun the decommissioning of the camp by removing equipment and debris. The Cachalot Alumni

Association will host its annual Memorial Day Weekend event for families.

The proceeds from the sales of real estate, along with other unrestricted assets available to us, will

comprise our Council’s contribution to the survivor’s compensation Trust as part of the national

organization’s bankruptcy process.

To be clear, the Narragansett Council has not filed for bankruptcy—we remain as dedicated as ever to

delivering the nation’s foremost program for character development, values-based leadership training and

life skills training to the thousands of young people we serve every year in Southeastern New England.

We are looking forward to summer programming, an excellent membership recruitment campaign, family

camp weekends, Cub Scout Day Camp, Adventure Days, Merit Badge Mania, Scouting For Food, the

Council Jamboree in October, camporees and much more.

Additionally, we know this may raise questions about what other funds may be contributed to the

survivor’s Trust. We want to be clear that restricted donations can only be used for their designated

purposes and are legally protected so that they are used as the donor specified. Local donations through

Friends of Scouting (FOS), the Growing Leaders Campaign, fundraising events (golf, sporting clays,

Distinguished Citizens Awards Lunch) and sponsorships go straight to supporting Scouting in our

communities today; these donations are used in real time, are critical to maintaining local operations and

are not part of our contribution to the trust. Camp alumni association funds are unaffected and also will

not be used towards the settlement.

For more than a century, Scouting has thrived despite the many challenges we’ve faced throughout,

particularly over the past two years. While the sale of Camp Cachalot is difficult, it does not change the

exciting activities and adventures that packs, troops, crews and ships deliver to the youth in our

communities every day. There is much to look forward to in the weeks, months and years ahead.

As always, we are grateful for your continued support of Scouting. Please do not hesitate to reach out

with questions—you may email us at info@narragansettbsa.org. Thank you for your continued support of

local Scouting.

Yours in Scouting,