March 2020

Aloha Council - BSA Response to COVID-19

March 16, 2020

As always, your safety and the safety of all our members, volunteers, and employees is our top priority. We know there are questions and concerns about how COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, could affect local Scouting programs in the Aloha Council. Please know that we are monitoring developments regarding COVID-19 both locally and through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The following information regarding local events and prevention measures is based on the latest available guidance. As this is an evolving situation, this information is subject to change. We will continue to update you on relevant developments, and we appreciate your understanding of any necessary adjustments in the interest of health and safety.

Status of Council Events
After much discussion by Aloha Council - BSA, it has been decided that all in-person Council and District events, activities, and meetings between Monday, March 23, 2020 and Wednesday, April 1, 2020 will be postponed or cancelled. This decision has been made from an abundance of caution and concern for the health of our Scouts, Scouters, and their families.

Further, Aloha Council strongly suggests that individual Scout units follow this policy. The finaldecision on continued unit activities will be the responsibility of the unit committee in consultation with their chartered organization and, in some cases, their meeting facilities until such time as new guidance is issued by the CDC.

We strongly encourage that districts, units, and council committees consider using technology to continue with as many of their normally scheduled meetings and events as possible. Free or low-cost options include Free Conference Call, Skype, and Google Hangouts.

Summer Programs
Currently, all summer programming – day camps, summer camps, etc. – will continue as planned.

Council Facilities
Currently, the Scout Service Center and scout shop will also be closed for business. All committee meetings will not be held in person. If you are coming to visit a staff member, please consider calling instead. Our council camping facilities will be closed through April 1, 2020. If you have an existing reservation, we will honor your reservation but will not accept future reservations.

Event Refunds
When possible, we are encouraging events to reschedule for a later date. If you are registered for an event that gets postponed, your registration will be transferred to the new date. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled event, you may request a refund according to our standard policy.

For events that are cancelled outright, we are in the process of reviewing our council refund policy. Given the number of events, and that many events have already incurred substantial costs for supplies and reservation fees, it may be difficult to issue full refunds. Our team is working to determine what is possible.

If you can do so, please consider not requesting a refund and allowing your registration fee to support Scouting. This will help us offset the costs and lost income from cancelled events.

BSA Polices to Prevent the Spread of Illness
The Boy Scouts of America continues to have policies and procedures in place that help protect participants from contracting an illness at large Scouting events. These include the Annual Health and Medical Record and the Pre-Event Medical Screening Checklist.

Everyday Preventive Measures
Even with those important policies in place, it is critical that we all take these everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases:

  • Stay home when you feel sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash your hands before and after doing so.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve/elbow, not your hands.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Do not share personal items such as cups, water bottles, eating utensils, etc.
  • Avoid shaking hands. A Scout salute or wave will suffice.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms associated with COVID-19, or if you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should isolate and not attend any Scouting events. People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

Should you have any questions or concerns about a specific upcoming event or activity, please reach out to your district executive. We will do everything we can to answer your question using the information available to us.

Aloha Council Event Updates:
Oahu Eagle Banquet Postponed, Oahu Onizuka Day of Exploration (ODE) Canceled

March 12, 2020

Due to the rapidly changing COVID-19 situation, the Aloha Council is announcing that the 2020 Oahu Eagle Banquet, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 11, 2020, has been postponed to Saturday, September 12, 2020. The venue will remain the Honolulu Country Club.

Additionally, the annual Onizuka Day of Exploration on Oahu, scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2020 has been canceled. Given the event’s historical attendance of 8,000-10,000 people, our volunteer leadership has determined that cancellation is the best course of action to ensure that safety of our Scouts and the community. We look forward to the 2021 Onizuka Day of Exploration.

For questions or concerns, please email Development104@Scouting.org.

COVID-19 Updates from the Aloha Council BSA

March 9, 2020
 
Aloha to our Scouting families,
 
The welfare of our scouts, volunteers, and employees is always our top priority. Given the recent headlines regarding COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), we wish to assure our Aloha Council community that we are actively monitoring the situation and carefully tracking key updates from the CDC. As of today, March 9, there are two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hawaii, but there is no evidence of community spread (in Hawaii) at this time. 
 
Aloha Council activities will continue as scheduled at this time but stay tuned for frequent updates on the situation. 
 
According to the State Department of Health, the best way to prevent transmission of the coronavirus is to:
 
The following guidelines apply to all Aloha Council activities and meetings:
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Face touching may be the most frequent route of transmission, as the average American unknowingly touches his or her face over 90 times a day.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday to You” Twice.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Avoid handshaking. For the time being, use the Scout “fist bump”.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched items and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 
  • Stay home when you’re sick!
 The CDC has specific guidelines for prevention, identifying symptoms,  and travel restrictions. These can be found here. Today, the CDC also issued a “social distancing” recommendation for people over the age of 60 and/or with pre-existing conditions. We ask that you review all CDC guidelines and adhere to them.
 
It is always important for individuals to assess and follow what they feel is best for their own health needs and those of their family. For more information and to stay current on all COVID-19-related news, the Hawaii Department of Health website is an excellent resource. We will also stay in touch with the CDC and advise you should a change to these procedures become necessary. 
 
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Jesse.Lopez@Scouting.org.
 
 
Mahalo, 
Jesse Lopez
Scout Executive/CEO
Aloha Council – Boy Scouts of America

2020 Hawaii Camping Adventure Sold Out!

March 4, 2020

The Hawaii Camping Adventure, a special summer program for Scout units visiting from outside the Aloha Council, has sold out for 2020. This once-in-a-lifetime, week-long experience features some of Hawaii's top historical, cultural, and outdoor attractions, combined with camping and merit badges. To get on the email notification list for 2021, please email Camping104@Scouting.org.