Adventure is calling!
For over 100 years Sea Scouting has promoted better citizenship and improved members’ boating skills through instruction and practice in water safety, boating skills, outdoor, social, service experiences, and knowledge of our maritime heritage.
Sea Scout units– called ships- are established all across the country on oceans, bays, rivers, and lakes. They provide limitless opportunities and exciting challenges that you won’t find anywhere else. Sea Scouts is a place to grow and learn, find adventure, and build long lasting friendships.
The Greater Alabama Council currently has four ships, and is working to expand our fleet! If you would like to learn more about Sea Scouts or find out how you can help grow Sea Scouting in our Council, contact Council Director David Self or Council Commodore Christopher Arnold to learn more!
From the Pillars of Sea Scouts to the Sea Promise, Sea Scouting is more than just boats! For Sea Scouts, the water is the classroom where leadership, essential life skills, and seamanship are taught and fun and adventure abound!
Looking to start a new ship? Wondering what kind of space you need? Trying to figure out what you need for a new ship? We have tools and resources just for you! The New Ship Organization webpage has all the info you need to set sail for adventure!
You’ve heard this before: “Every Scout deserves a trained leader” and Sea Scouting is no exception! Well trained adult leaders open the door for youth to lead the adventure, grow into the best versions of themselves, and thrive wherever life takes them.
The Greater Alabama Council, Scouting America, gives thousands of young people in North and Central Alabama the ability to grow into young adults who make a positive impact in our communities. Scouts learn how to lead, the importance of service to others, and how to respond in a crisis.
Scouting America’s vision is to prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law. We achieve this through thousands of dedicated, talented volunteers and a small number of professional staff.
Your Friends of Scouting gift will ensure that our camps, programs, and leadership remains great for all Scouts in Alabama now and for years to come.
CLICK HERE to make your donation online.
For more information, please contact your District Executive or Tommy Youngblood, our Director of Development at 205-970-0349; Tommy.youngblood@Scouting.org.
Did you know that there are local, national and international companies that match dollar-for-dollar what their employees donate to charity? A number of these corporations also provide cash contributions for employees that spend a specific number of hours volunteering at a nonprofit. In addition, companies and corporations also contribute to local communities in a variety of ways such as:
If you made a donation or are planning a donation to the Greater Alabama Council, Scouting America, all you have to do is ask your Human Resource, Marketing, Public Relations or Community Relations department if your company has a matching gift or volunteer match program. If the answer is YES, then follow these steps:
Once you have completed the above steps, you are done. We’ll take care of the rest. Once we receive your forms, we process and mail them to your employer’s benefits department or corporate headquarters. Your employer will mail a matching gift check directly back to us and your annual donation will be increased based upon the amount of the matching gift check. Thank you to all of the companies that are in our matching gift program for their significant support of Scouting in Alabama.
The Youth-at-Risk Breakfast has been held since 1973 with primary leadership from U.S. Steel, Drummond Company, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, and Robins and Morton. Bill Morton, President of Robins and Morton, chaired the event from 2006-2011 with Drummond Company, U. S. Steel and Wood Fruitticher coordinating since 2012. Over the past five years the event has averaged 250 in attendance and raised approximately $50,000 annually. Recent speakers include Nick Saban, Jay Jacobs, Gus Malzahn, Greg McElroy, Bill Clark, Greg Sankey, and Bruce Pearl. The event is typically in June.
The Greater Alabama Council, Scouting America understands the difference between a transaction and a relationship. Attentiveness to our individual donors is at the heart of all we do. Through relationships we listen and craft philanthropy with our investors so they may direct funds to their specific interests in Scouting.
The Scouting Heritage Society of the Greater Alabama Council recognizes the men and women who believe in preserving the tradition and values of Scouting as well as perpetuating its future for generations to come.
Our Council acknowledges their foresight and generosity and bestows lifetime membership to all men and women who make an outright gift to the Trust Fund for Scouting of at least $1,000 or who designate a gift of at least $5,000 to be made through a deferred gift such as their estate. These gifts are appreciated and always will be important in perpetuating the Scouting Movement for the youth in our region. For more information, please contact Tommy Youngblood, Director of Development at 205-970-0349; Tommy.youngblood@Scouting.org.
James E. West was the first Chief Scout Executive of Scouting America and he served in the position for more than three decades.
The James E. West Fellowship recognizes gifts of $1,000 or more to the local council designated to its endowment fund. Our Council has three individual endowment funds to which donors may designate their gifts: Operating, Capital, & Scoutreach. There are four levels of recognition in the James E. West Fellowship: Bronze ($1,000+); Silver ($5,000+); Gold ($10,000+) and Diamond ($15,000+). Donors may make cumulative gifts to reach Silver, Gold and Diamond levels. Gifts can be made in cash or through marketable securities.
The gift must be in addition to – and not replace or diminish – the donor’s annual Friends of Scouting support. Many individuals and corporations make these gifts either on behalf of someone else – such as in honor of an Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver recipient, a retirement, a special accomplishment, or anniversary – or in memory of a special individual.
Download James E. West Fellowship Application
The Second Century award is given to donors who make an outright gift of $25,000 or more payable over five years, or a deferred gift of $100,000 or more, to a local council, Scouting America Foundation, high-adventure base or any Scouting America entity for operating, capital or endowment. These gifts may be in the form of cash, securities, land, five-year pledges, or other property suitable for a council endowment fund or easily converted to cash. There are four levels of recognition in the Second Century Society: $25,000+, $100,000+, $500,000+ and $1,000,000+. Donors above $100,000 receive special recognition and opportunities provided by the Scouting America Foundation.
Download Second Century Society Application
The Presidents Leadership Council recognizes gifts of $1,000,000 or more designated to or through the Scouting America Foundation payable over five years, as part of an advised fund, designated fund, trust or other Foundation fund structure. Gifts may be designated to benefit local councils, high-adventure facilities or other BSA entities. There are three levels of recognition in the Presidents Leadership Council: $1,000,000+, $5,000,000+ and $10,000,000+.
For more information, please contact Tommy Youngblood, Director of Development at 205-970-0349; Tommy.youngblood@Scouting.org.
As a founding agency of the United Way, Scouting America greatly appreciates the support that has been extended to Scouting America councils across the country. For many decades, United Way funding has helped Scouting America bring Scouting programs to underprivileged youth, introduce new programs, and broaden the existing program. The Greater Alabama Council works with various United Ways in the territory that make up the council.
Scouting America greatly appreciates the support of various United Givers Funds. Their financial support helps Scouting America bring Scouting programs to underprivileged youth, introduce new programs, and broaden the existing program. The Greater Alabama Council works with various United Givers Funds in the territory that make up the council including: United Givers Fund of Dekalb County, and United Giver Fund of Jackson County.