[Noozhawk’s note: Third in a series sponsored by the Hutton Parker Foundation. Click here for the first article and click here for the second.]
Boy Scouts are always building: crafts, projects, communities, futures.
Now, as Los Padres Council, Boy Scouts of America celebrates 100 years supporting the Central Coast, it also seeks the community’s support in rebuilding Rancho Alegre, growing its programs, and building a future for boys and girls for another century.
“We want to see the values of Scouting continued and reaching as many youth in our community and making the most significant impact possible,” said Trey Pinner, Los Padres Council president.
Whether it’s rebuilding Rancho Alegre after the devastation of the 2017 Whittier Fire, expanding The Outdoor School, creating a more inclusive Scouting experience or growing Scouting’s troops, Pinner said the end result is sharing values that protect communities and the Earth.
“I do believe people who go through the Scouting program understand the outdoor code: leave no trace, leaving the place better than you found it,” he said. “These are the tenets generations need to practice or we’re going to have some trouble.”
Established in Santa Barbara in November 1910, only months after the Boy Scouts of America was founded, the council initially served Santa Barbara, then expanded further into the county and ultimately grew to include all of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
At its peak in the 1950s, three of every four eligible children in the region were involved in Scouting, according to local Scout historian Gregory Ogletree.
Today, Los Padres Council serves 3,000 boys and girls, young men and young women annually through programs, including Lion and Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts and Explorers from Carpinteria to Paso Robles.
“Throughout the Western United States there’s been a reduction in the number of Scouts,” Pinner said. “There are lots of other choices now: AYSO, baseball all year, basketball all year, dance and all other kinds of fantastic programs.”
Los Padres Council tasks itself with serving youth with interests in life skills, exploring the outdoors, exploring careers, serving their country, community and family while discovering their own strengths and building toward their own bright futures.
“There are three things anyone can contribute: time, treasure and talent,” Los Padres Council Scout executive/CEO Carlos Cortez said. “If people want to help and contribute time, they can join a unit and be a den leader, cub master, help a young person with a merit badge.
“Talent: our community is full of talented people who have gained skills through life experience or their professions. Maybe they want to donate architectural or engineering services, or help build the strategic plan for the council all together.
“And of course treasure: any contribution no matter how small makes a difference and makes an impact and is appreciated.”
While Scouting served young boys of the first half of the 20th century, the council expanded its mission over the years to include people of all walks of life. Nowhere has that been more evident than The Outdoor School at Rancho Alegre.
Since the late copper heiress Huguette Clark donated Rancho Alegre to the council in 1964, it has grown to serve Scouts through summer camps and a variety or programs, as well as 4,000 students annually in The Outdoor School, with visions of serving up to 10,000 people per year.
“We want to provide youth development programs to every family who wants to participate,” said Erica Mundell-McGilvray, Los Padres Council’s associate development director. “We envision Rancho Alegre being a wonderful camp and outdoor school facility for families and students of all backgrounds.
“The Outdoor School has provided people the opportunity to learn what it means to be environmentally conscious while developing character.”
All programs at Rancho Alegre — at 2680 Highway 154 across from Lake Cachuma — came to a screeching halt after July 8, 2017, when 48 of the site’s 50 buildings were burned to the ground. The dining hall survived the Whittier Fire, and one small dorm building was partially damaged. All of the shrubs and pines were reduced to ash.
“The Whittier Fire wiped the place out,” Pinner said.
But just as nature rebounds, so, Los Padres Council members believe, will Rancho Alegre. Many of the ancient oaks on the 213-acre property are recovering, and the council is well on its way to rebuilding.
Los Padres Council aims to have the camp in operation by October with completion of Phase One through its Phoenix Campaign.
“If we don’t get people outdoors and away from electronic things, they just may not care, and that would be a horrible thing,” Los Padres Council development director Ken Miles said.
Phase Two will follow in due time. Plans include a new friendship hall, secondary large education gathering hall and more dormitories.
“We want to get Rancho Alegre open as soon as possible and keep growing not only in size, but in scope,” Mundell-McGilvray said. “We serve Scouts and schools, Department of Fish and Wildlife and other forest agencies, and we’ll be available to rent to any organization — churches, corporations, businesses, family camping groups — with an interest in learning about and enjoying the outdoors.”
Miles said newly designed dormitories will be more flexible in their use, Larson’s Meadow remains an ideal site for camporees and other expansive groups interested in outdoor camping, and that tent sites are nearly limitless.
“We want to move forward with the vision that it become a community resource open to all, even families not in BSA or The Outdoor School, or families who haven’t camped at all but want their kids to have the exposure,” Cortez said.
“We want to be the first step to that. We want them to be comfortable going into nature. We want this facility to be available equally to the hard-core backpacking camper who wants to get lost in the woods for a week and the family that wants to go glamping for the night. Either way, we’re exposing them to what nature can provide to them.
“It’s not only a learning environment, it’s a mentally healthy environment for people to be a part of.”
Pinner said the council is building the new facilities better, stronger — and more fire-resistant.
“Can we build it better?” he asked. “Certainly we are building the camp far better than what we had there; one that will last 50, 100 years.
“The down side with these new structures, bringing the old structures up to code, rebuilding the entire water system, is that the cost is significantly greater than the structures that were there before.”
Rebuilding costs are anticipated to exceed $16 million. Fire insurance will cover a healthy chunk of that expense, and Santa Barbara resident Richard Berti provided the first major contribution with his $1 million donation. Still there remain millions of dollars more to be raised.
“We’re having do redo all the water systems, electrical, roads, replace the septic that’s not allowed anymore with a mini wastewater treatment facility up there,” Pinner said. “So the cost is more than ever anticipated.”
Perhaps now, more than ever, Los Padres Council could use community members’ contributions of time, talent and treasure.
“We can use lots of help with physical work at Rancho Alegre,” Cortez said. “Architects and engineers are always in high demand. And every penny, every dollar helps getting kid to camp, making sure they have a uniform, manual and tools necessary to be successful.”
Pinner was more direct.
“We’re ready for someone to name the buildings, the family outdoor education and leadership center, the dorms, the drinking fountains, anything they can support,” he said.
Miles said the transformation already has been impressive, and he’s eager to show it off.
“I would willing to give anyone who has a deep interest in outdoor education or who cares about getting families outside a tour of the facility to be inspired and learn more about what we’re doing,” Miles said.
Click here for more information about Los Padres Council, Boy Scouts of America. Click here to make an online donation.
— Noozhawk contributing writer Jennifer Best can be reached at news@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.