After a year of sheltering in place, the Scouts BSA Girls Troop 518 and the Scouts BSA Boys Troop 518, teamed up to make sure this summer happens…and happens big! The two Troops have already sold out of the 2,000 Campcards and stopped by the Service Center to pick up another thousand.

“We just wanted to make sure the Scouts get to do all they can,” said the James, the Scoutmaster of the boys troop out of Roadrunner’s District. “Last year, only one of our Scouts went to Bear Creek.”

This year, safe COVID protocols and Campcards are going to change that. Most of the Troops’ younger scouts are going to Bear Creek Summer Camp, but eleven of the units’ senior Scouts are going to the High Adventure camp of Cavalcade, an epic 2-5 day High-Adventure horseback Trek in the Davis Mountains.

“With the leftover money we earn from selling Campcards, the Troops plan to go to Atchafalaya Swamp Base in Louisiana,” a high adventure camp where Scouts paddle through the Atchafalaya Swamp over 6 days and nights.

How They Did It

The Troops’ success lies in planning and getting rid of misconceptions about fundraising. “The kids thought ‘cuteness sells’ and they were just too old to be cute,” James chuckled. “What we discovered was the little kids talked to everyone.” Putting cell phones away, staying on their feet (as opposed to sitting in a chair), smiling, and the lost art of conversation proved to be the winning combination. “We even invited some of the Webelos from the Charter’s Pack to join us and sell.”

Another tip from these pros: Don’t call it a Campcard. “Most folks have no idea what that is,” he admitted. “Once we started calling it a discount card, or coupon card – those were terms they knew. Recognition was key. People don’t know what a Campcard is, but everyone knows what a discount card is.”

With the Girls Troop and the Boys Troop selling outside of the retail stores together, several people stopped to ask questions and offer support. But that’s not all…they recruited three new Scouts; a Venturer, a Webelos ready to crossover, and a new Scout who recently moved to San Antonio!

Congratulations, to both Troops – you’ve done an amazing job, and we can’t wait to hear about your trips this summer!

Ready for an Adventure of your own? Consider Campcards for your unit and THINK BIG! Email campcards@AlamoAreaBSA.org to start FUNdraising your next Adventure!