Goshen Scout Reservation Closed

NCAC Scout Executive Alan Lambert to Hold Press Conference at NCAC
Headquarters in Bethesda

Event: Press conference to be held to address NCAC's decision to
temporarily close Goshen Scout Reservation.

Participants: National Capital Area Council (NCAC), BSA Scout Executive
Al Lambert

When: Monday, August 4, 2008
11:00 AM (EDT)

Where: National Capital Area Council, BSA Offices
9190 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 530-9360

Details: Goshen is the National Capital Area Council's long-term
resident summer camp located on 4,000+ acres in the
mountains of southwestern Virginia. There are six separate
camps on the shores of 450-acre Lake Merriweather. The Boy
Scouts use three of the camps for troop camping, the
Webelos Scouts use two of the camps for their activities,
and the High Adventure crews, hiking in the back country,
depart from the sixth camp.

Contacts: Don Reinhardt (301) 214-9117
Jeff Agnew (703) 203-8720

Statement by Alan Lambert, Scout Executive, National Capital Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America (NCAC) Concerning
Closure of Goshen Scout Reservation
August 3, 2008

At my direction, effective noon today, Goshen Scout Reservation has been
closed and will remain so until further notice. Earlier today, the National
Capital Area Council (NCAC), BSA was made aware of three additional Scouts
showing symptomatic signs of E. coli bacteria infection. The affected Scouts
were at Goshen Scout Reservation during week 5 (July 28 - August 2). As of
today, the source of the bacteria remains unconfirmed. There were 1,310
Scouts, adult leaders and staff attending Goshen during week 5. Our Council
immediately decided that closing Goshen Scout Reservation was in the best
interest of the Scouts, adult leaders and our camp staff. We have alerted the
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) of this decision and continue to cooperate
fully with VDH officials.
All Scouts, adult leaders and camp staff arriving for week 6 (Aug. 3 -
Aug. 9) are being notified of this decision and our Council leadership is
contacting the unit leader of record from every unit in camp during week 5 and
notifying them of the situation.
Safety is the number one priority at Goshen Scout Reservation - for the
Scouts, adult leaders and our staff.
A press conference to address this decision is being planned for Monday,
August 4. Details forthcoming.
SOURCE National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America