Serving youth and families in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho
The Inland Northwest Council, # 611, serves more than 13,400 youth members with nearly 5,000 volunteer leaders in more than 600 Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity teams, Venture crews, Explorer posts, and Learning for Life groups.
The council is divided into 9 districts each with staff support as well as a volunteer committee to organize and support Scouting programs in its geographic area. The council employs 22 full-time, 3 part-time and 150 temporary (for summer camp operations) employees.
History
Scouting was founded in 1910 in the United States and in 1915 in the Spokane area. The council was first incorporated in the State of Washington in 1922 as the Inland Empire Council. The current Inland Northwest Council was formed after a merger with the Lewis-Clark and Idaho Panhandle Councils in 1992. A local volunteer executive board governs the council with an executive committee of officers and an advisory board.
Area
The council boundaries include the following Washington counties: Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Lincoln, Whitman, Garfield, and Asotin plus the panhandle of Idaho including these Idaho counties: Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah, Latah, Lewis, and Nex Perce.
The council operates three Boy Scout camps: CampEaston on the east side of LakeCoeur d’Alene, CampCowles on DiamondLake north of Spokane, and CampGrizzly on the Palouse River near Potlatch Idaho. The council also operates the nationally recognized North Idaho High Adventure Base that takes older youth on week-long whitewater rafting trips on the Salmon River.
Service Centers
Three Council Service Centers support our programs to nearly 5,000 volunteer leaders. The council is headquartered in the service center in Spokane, Washington (411 W. Washington St., Spokane, WA 99201, 509-325-4562). Additional service centers are located in Hayden, Idaho (10739 N. Government Way, 208-772-2455)and Clarkston, Washington (915 6th Street, Clarkston, WA99403 509-758-7575).
Budget & Funding
The council’s annual budget is $2.3 million. Revenue comes from United Way (5%), popcorn sales (14%), donations (25%), program fees (42%), sale of supplies (6%), and endowments (8%). 88% of the revenues are spent on program services, 8% on management, and 4% on fundraising. The council partners with the United Way of SpokaneCounty, Kootenai County United Way, Twin County United Way and the United Way of Pullman.
Strategic Plan
The strategic plan includes initiatives to: (1) aggressively market Scouting in the communities we serve (2) expand the leadership at the unit, district, and council levels with representative, quality leadership (3) increase our impact on communities through comprehensive recruitment programs (4) secure the financial resources to fully fund annual programs, renovations of facilities, and the future of Scouting through the endowment fund, and (5) provide quality, relevant programs for all ages of youth we serve with a special emphasis on great camping and high adventure programs.
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Our vision is to be recognized as an elite Boy Scout council through leadership, excellent programs, growing involvement and superior customer service.
Scout Law
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
Scout Oath On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; and to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
