Northern Star Council, Boy Scouts of America

It is the vision of Northern Star Council to be recognized as a positive influence in the lives of 100 percent of the youth in the communities we serve.

Scouting Changes Lives: Scouting serves young people and their families by creating the foundation for making good decisions, based on personal values and ethical experiences. A 2005 study by Harris Interactive for Boy Scouts of America found boys who are or were Scouts agree Scouting is a positive influence in their life. Scouting has helped them gain self-confidence, leadership skills, determination, and social interaction skills. Scouting has also impacted their academic skills; Scouting activities have helped boys improve their reading, science, engineering, physical fitness, and emergency preparedness skills. In addition, boys who are Scouts report earning higher grades than do boys who were never Scouts. Scouts are also more likely to make the most ethical decisions, not the easiest. Scouts are more likely to volunteer to be a leader, practice responsible recycling procedures, and take part in community service.

Working with Others: Scouting only works though its partnerships and in collaboration with other organizations; more than 1,100 community organizations enter into an agreement with the council to become a chartered organization and become responsible for a pack, troop, team and/or crew. The organizations are comprised of education, religious, and civic and labor groups. In 2010, these groups sponsored over 1,400 Scouting units.

All Scouting units perform community service projects, often in partnership with volunteers from their charter organization, to the benefit of their community. This service is as varied as helping keep highways and byways clear of litter, to the food drives. Youth members provided a total over 800,000 hours of service to their communities.

Scouting's Impact: Northern Star Council supports over 22,000 adult volunteers who developed and enriched the lives of more than 72,000 boys and girls, ages 6 through 20. The council is comprised of youth and adults representing various racial, ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, physical and mental abilities, and educational experiences. It serves 25 counties across central Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Wilder Research has found that through participation in Scouting activities young people develop strong relationships with adults, they develop self-esteem through service to others, they develop critical social competencies such as working as a team member, making good decisions, solving problems, and knowing right from wrong; all qualities that help young people become full participants in our communities and the world.

Scouting in Action in Your Community: Take a look at this example of how Scouting prepares today’s youth: Lindsey Paradise, a member of the Fridley Police Exploring program, was attending a Fridley basketball game with family and friends when the training she had learned at school and through the Police Exploring program was called into action. With about five minutes left in the game, 49-year-old referee, Dale Wakasugi, collapsed to the ground. Without hesitation, Lindsey quickly ran down to the gym floor. After assessing the situation and checking for a pulse, she realized that CPR was necessary. Remembering the CPR breathing mask in her purse, Lindsey ran back to her seat, grabbed it. Then, she and two parents, who are nurses, performed CPR. Unfortunately, after four rounds, Wakasugi still had no pulse. Lindsey then ordered a spectator to get the automated external defibrillator and ultimately administered the shock that restarted his heart. “I saw his chest going up and down,” Lindsey said. “We were talking to him, saying, ‘Keep breathing, Dale,’ and we were trying to comfort him.” By the time rescue personnel took over, Wakasugi was conscious, sitting up and talking. EMT Renee Hamdorf, one of the first on the scene, said Lindsey’s quick action saved his life. Wakasugi was sent to Mercy Hospital where he underwent surgery to repair a blocked artery. He is now home with his family, grateful to Lindsey for her quick thinking and ability to stay calm while operating the defibrillator. “I was just glad I was able to help and he is home and doing well. It wasn’t just me. I had help from other parents and the school trainer. I am just overly joyed that he was home for the holidays and he is doing good.” Lindsey plans to continue her training with the Fridley Police Exploring program and would like to eventually become a police officer.