Gamehaven Council: T-4 Fly Fishing for Gills

“We learned that making events more accessible by covering program costs helped families participate and helped our retention of youth in scouting.”
– Arne Landsverk, Assistant Scout Executive/COO at Gamehaven Council

Gamehaven Council of Boy Scouts of American received a $3,300 Cycle 2 Community Grant from the Winona Community Foundation in 2021. This grant covered the activity fees for 50 youth to participate in local scouting activities. This allowed for the youth to be reengaged with activity, challenge and friendship.

The Gamehaven Council serves youth ages 5-21 with specific age programming. The covered program fees allowed these youth to participate in monthly activities and more significant group events. Youth that were in the elementary school age (i.e. ages 5-10) were able to participate in their Cub Family Weekend in October and their Polar Cub event in February. Youth that were middle and high school aged (i.e. ages 11-17) were able to participated in the Fall Camporee at a private farm near Winona, the Winter Camporee at Whitewater State Park, and the Spring Camporee at Forestville State Park.

The impact region includes a population of families including 106 youth under the age of 18 including 46 youth elementary school aged and 60 youth middle and high school aged. Of this population, 72% of the youth reside in and around Winona with the remaining in Lewiston. During the grant period, they were able to serve 88 young men and 18 young women.

These dollars also contributed to the creation and membership participation of a brand-new Troop 4 group, composed of five young ladies aged 11-14, was formed. All scouts within this group benefited from the grant. This was of great support as starting a new Troop is an expensive endeavor. The costs associated include personal equipment, registration fees, uniforms, and books. The Spring Camporee was a catapult for these scouts and allowed them to bond together while competing against other Troops. A month after their formation, these scouts completed their merit badge.

As a result of the grant, the Gamehaven Council reports that scouting has grown locally. Arne Landsverk, Assistant Scout Executive/COO, states, “Winona Community Foundation’s support not only covered activity fees… but it helped us grow scouting locally. As of June 30th, we have increased participating by 19.5% in our elementary school-aged youth participating in a Club Scout program. Compared to the end of the 2021-21 school year, overall growth of 3%, including starting a new group for middle school aged girls in Winona.”

“Winona Community Foundation’s support not only covered activity fees… but it helped us grow scouting locally. As of June 30th, we have increased participating by 19.5% in our elementary school-aged youth participating in a Club Scout program. Compared to the end of the 2021-21 school year, overall growth of 3%, including starting a new group for middle school aged girls in Winona.”
– Arne Landsverk, Assistant Scout Executive/COO at Gamehaven Council 

To learn more about Gamehaven Council – Boy Scouts of America, please visit https://www.gamehavenbsa.org/.

An important part of the Winona Community Foundation’s mission is realized though awarding community grants to meet the ever-changing needs of the community through a competitive process. By doing so, a variety of interests are supported with the goal of helping local charities make a difference in the Winona area. Our community grants for nonprofits are broad and inclusive to meet the current community needs in the Winona area. Make a gift in support of the Community grant program to make a difference today.