Council Strategic Plan 2026–2028

The Virginia Headwaters Council has adopted a focused three-year strategic plan to drive measurable growth and long-term sustainability across every dimension of our operation. Built around four strategic pillars, this plan charts an ambitious but achievable path forward for Scouting in our region.

Membership: 3,000 by ’30 — We’re committing to bold membership growth through a coordinated, year-round approach to recruitment, retention, and renewal. That means adding over 900 new youth members in 2026 alone, launching new units in underserved areas of the council, improving our Arrow of Light transition rate, and rebuilding Join Scouting events with stronger marketing and outreach. Our target: serve 3,000 youth by the end of the decade.

Fundraising: Strengthen, Grow, and Modernize — Financial stability is the engine behind everything we do. This plan lays out strategies to strengthen Friends of Scouting at both the family and community levels, grow our special events portfolio—anchored by a $100K FOS Luncheon goal—boost Popcorn & Peanuts participation, and modernize our systems with CRM and cloud-based tools. The bottom line: consistent operating surpluses and a cash reserve of at least $150,000 by 2028.

Camp Shenandoah: A True Camper-First Experience — Camp Shenandoah is the heart of our program, and this plan treats it that way. We’ll eliminate camp debt by 2027, dedicate 10% of the annual budget to upkeep and improvement, invest easement funds into both immediate improvements and long-term endowment, and lay the groundwork for a capital campaign. The goal is a year-round facility with distinctive programming that sets us apart regionally.

Culture: Operational Excellence and Empowered Leadership — None of the above happens without the right people, tools, and habits. This pillar focuses on building a transparent, volunteer-driven operating model supported by stronger communications, streamlined operations, better training and mentoring for unit-level leaders, and an Executive Board recruited for the skills and influence needed to move the plan forward.