Help Create Adventures that Last A Lifetime!

Golden Gate Area Council relies on dedicated volunteers to fulfill Scouting’s mission of preparing young people to make ethical and moral choices throughout their lifetime. Over 4000 adults provide leadership and mentoring to young people in our council. Because of their generosity, the BSA remains the foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training in America.

Volunteering relieves stress and builds a stronger sense of purpose. It’s official: living the “help other people” line of the Scout oath makes us more likely to keep ourselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

When you volunteer in Scouting, you create possibilities for young people to have extraordinary opportunities. A Scout can achieve their true potential and become the remarkable person they are destined to be. Thank you to all of our volunteers – and we invite all new families to volunteer and share in Scouting!

Did you wonder what our Council Committees do to help support Scouting? Check out the list below (open positions actively being recruited are in parentheses).

Note – this page is being updated frequently to include ALL council committees, but currently lists program committees only.

Advancement Committee

Recommends and implements policies for GGAC that are in alignment with the BSA National Council’s Advancement goals and regulations.
Support our units, including Scouts, leaders, and their families by documenting and disseminating best practices in advancement.
Provide timely, uniform, and authoritative responses to questions and concerns.
Serve a Scout’s advancement and recognition needs by providing guidance for Scouters who administer the program.

Scouts and Scouters with advancement and recognition related comments, issues, or concerns should first contact their District Advancement Chair. If necessary, the District Advancement Chair will contact the council committee for further guidance and resolution.

Committee Chair

Merl Nygren

Websites:

Merit Badge Counselors

Life to Eagle

Camping Committee (CHAIR POSITION OPEN JUN 1)

The mission of the Council Camping Committee is to ensure that every Scout has exciting and memorable outdoor adventures by providing quality, relevant camping programs to youth members and adult leaders throughout our council, in accordance with the aims and methods of the Boy Scouts of America.

Resident camp promotion literature for all programs
Camp enrichment programs
Camp standards and policies
Camp facilities (in cooperation with the properties committee)
Develop maximum use of camp properties

Council Camping Chair – Start Date 6/1/2024:

Ensures every youth has the opportunity for a quality outdoor camping program at the Council’s 5 overnight camps. Programs should be diverse to meet each program (Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting) with age appropriate activities designed to keep their interest in Scouting. The “outing” in Scouting is a key engagement and retention tool for personal development of all Scouts.

Benefits:

Ensure/enhance the camping experience for all programs at all camps.
Gain institutional knowledge about each of our 5 council camping properties.
Enjoy the outdoors!

Term: 3 years

Experience: Leadership, event planning, and team management experience required. Camping experience preferred, but not required.

Reports to: Council Vice President of Program

Advisor: Program Director

Interacts with: Scouts, Volunteers, Professional staff

Monthly Hours: 16-20

Meetings:

Camping Committee Meetings (Monthly)
Council Coordinated Meetings (Quarterly)
Council Program Chairs Meeting (Quarterly)

Uniform: Not required, but encouraged

Fundraising: No

Overnights: Not required, but encouraged

Youth Facing: Yes

Certification: BSA Adult Volunteer Registration, current YPT training, current California Mandated Reporter/LiveScan (AB 506) required

Directly Manage: 4-6 volunteers

Committee Chair

Michael McDowell (thru 6/1/24)

Websites

Cub Scout Camping

Residential Summer Camps

Training Committee

The mission of the Council Training Committee is to enhance and promote existing training programs and explore/pilot alternative methods to appeal to different styles and address different issues.

Train leaders—don’t just run training courses.
Establish local policies and procedures consistent with national policies.
Plan, coordinate, communicate, and schedule an effective, year-round leader learning and development program using the latest BSA training materials.
Encourage and assist districts in planning and implementing a total growth and development plan for all leaders, regardless of position.
Select, recruit, and train trainers.
Conduct or coordinate training events.
Approve applications for training recognition and service awards.
Develop procedures for evaluating Council training programs.
Keep informed of literature, audio/visual, and equipment aids.
Promote and support out-of-Council training opportunities.

Subcommittees under the Training Committee include:

High Adventure Training, or HAT
National Youth Leadership Training or NYLT
Wood Badge
Leader Education and Discovery, or L.E.A.D.

Committee Chair

Steve deRosier

Website

Training

NCAP Committee

The National Camp Accreditation Program (NCAP) Committee ensures that all of our programs adhere to NCAP standards.
NCAP includes the annual accreditation of our Summer Camps as well as maintaining standards for all short-term and long-term camping events.

Committee Chair

Norman Gee

Website

NCAP BSA

STEM Committee

Provides fun, engaging programs to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as a part of a BSA initiative to encourage the natural curiosity of Scouts about these fields.
Supports the process to earn the STEM Nova awards.

Committee Chair

Tracy Peters

Website

STEM

Conservation Committee

Provides support for members to earn the Council’s Distinguished Conservation Award including information and outreach.
Reviews and approves projects needed to achieve the award.
Provides technical assistance and expertise in matters of ecology, conservation, and resources management.
Guides council policy making and operational decisions regarding natural and cultural resource management.
Promotes conservation-related training and programs.

Committee Chair

Kellye French

Website

Conservation

Scouting Adventure Committee

Central point of contact for all Council Activity Committees.
Attracts, develops, and retains leaders for program development and to support our Scouts.
Partners with Properties, Training, Advancement, and Camping Committees to address activity needs.
- Influences program design through a lens of safety.
- Considers and maintains equipment needed for each program.
- Identifies sponsors and innovative program opportunities.
Provides subject matter experts on an ad hoc basis for related Merit Badges.

Aquatics

Develops and executes all aquatic programs at council camps and provides input for unit aquatics activities.
Members should have an aquatics background.
At least one individual must be certified by the National Camping School for Aquatics.
Skills include swimming, water rescue, snorkeling/scuba, canoeing, sailing, whitewater, rowing, water skiing.

Committee Chair

Vacant

Website

https://

ATV

Develops and executes an engaging and exciting ATV program at our Council Camps.

Committee Chair

Vacant

Website

https://

Bikes | Cycling

Develops engaging and exciting bike/cycling programs at our council camps.

Committee Chair

Vacant

Website

https://

COPE | Climbing

Oversees climbing, bouldering, and COPE programs at our camps.
Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience (or COPE) involves personal and team building activities along with a challenge course.
At least one member should be National Camping School certified for COPE.
Provide direct support to units who are seeking these opportunities for their Scouts.

Committee Chair

Vacant

Website

https://

Fishing

Develops and executes engaging and exciting fishing programs at our Council Camps.
Increases access to fishing opportunities for all of our Scouts.

Committee Chair

Dave Fontaine

Website

https://

Hiking

Develops and executes engaging and exciting hiking programs throughout the Council and its camps.

Committee Chair

Vacant

Website

https://

Horses | Corral

Develops and executes engaging and exciting horse programs at our Council Camps.
Maintains the health, safety, and comfort of our horses.

Committee Chair

Jackie Crow

Website

https://

Target & Range Sports

Supports the safety, quality, and quantity of Target and Range sports programs within the Council.
At least one member should be National Camping School certified in Target and Range Sports.
Promotes sportsmanship.
Develop marksmanship.

Committee Chair

Kim Dromlewicz

Website

https://

Committee Chair

Vacant

Website

https://

Activities

Activities

Districts

Districts

Camps

The Whole Enchilada

Youth Training

Programs

Hiking

Activities

Camps

High Adventure

Adult Position Specific

Adult Training

Adult

HAT

Youth Training

Everyone

Year Round Giving

Planning

Special Events

Special Events

Capital Donations

Advancement

Forms

Teamwork

Membership

Guides

Cub Scout Resources

Scouts BSA Resources

District Resources

Help

Short Term Camping

Champions

GGAC

News

Districts

Districts

Districts

Help Create Adventures that Last A Lifetime!

Alameda Trading Post

Fairfield Trading Post

Pleasant Hill Scout Shop

Pleasanton Trading Post

GGAC Service Center

Outdoor Program Office

How to verify an out of Council Merit Badge Counselor.

International

Highlander

Shooting Sport

Scouting for Food