7 takeaways from the 2014 BSA Sustainability Report

At Philmont Scout Ranch last year, crew members helped recycle 59 tons of cardboard, 2.8 tons of plastic and 900 pounds of aluminum, resulting in $91,000 in savings to Philmont.

At Camp Emerald Bay in California, spring-loaded water fountains and pull-string showers have drastically cut water use in a drought-stricken area.

And at Camp Guyasuta in suburban Pittsburgh, a new, 12,000-square-foot education center has achieved green-level LEED certification, turning a struggling camp into one that serves 33,000 visitors a year.

What’s the takeaway? The Boy Scouts of America has this sustainability thing figured out. But we can do more.

These and other great findings were included in the 2014 BSA Sustainability Report, released last week at the 2014 Sustainability Summit in West Virginia.

I’ve included a link to the report below, and I’ve pulled out seven takeaways that jumped out at me.

While reading the report, one thing became clear: Under the leadership of John F. Stewart, BSA Sustainability Director, great things are happening in the Boy Scouts of America as we go from “green to deep green.”

“We in Scouting are intent on helping our members move from leaving no trace to leaving a positive legacy,” Stewart wrote in a recent email to BSA Scout Executives. “We are working hard to integrate sustainability at every level of our organization and are committed to developing the next generation of responsible leaders.”

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