Boy Scouts of America

BSA National Outdoor Ethics & Conservation Conference

Guiding Our Youth Into the Future – 70 Years of the Outdoor Code

September 12-15, 2024
Pre-Conference Courses Sept 9-12

Camp Tracy, Salt Lake City, Utah

News / Updates

Register Now!

Conference Apparel

Conference Flyer 

We are looking forward to seeing you at Camp Tracy in September!

NOTE – There will be some roadwork close to the mouth of the canyon leading to the camp and we will have up-to-date detour information listed here.

General Information

The National Outdoor Ethics and Conservation Conference is Scouting’s largest gathering of volunteers and professionals in the areas of Outdoor Ethics and Conservation within the BSA. It is two days of elective sessions, an outstanding keynote speaker, exhibits with ideas to take back with you, an opportunity to meet and talk with representatives from Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly!, contests, and fellowship with Scouting’s many great outdoor leaders.

2024 OEC Conference Patch

Schedule Overview

  • Pre-Conference courses Tuesday – Thursday
  • Conference Check-In will open at 1:00pm on Thursday
  • Conservation Good Turn Award Project – after lunch
  • Conference events start Thursday evening
    (evening meal at 6:00, Conference Grand Opening at 7:00)
  • Conference sessions all day and evening on Friday and Saturday
  • Conference ends Saturday evening (around 9:15) 
  • Participants in the all-day pre-conference courses should plan to arrive the evening before their course starts.
  • Preliminary Schedule 
  • (OEC Subcommittee members are encouraged to stay for the OECS meeting Sunday morning.)

Conference Program

The overall conference program is shaping up:

  • Our Speakers
    • Julie A. Seton – Keynote, the grand-daughter of Ernest Thompson Seton, one of the founders of the Boy Scouts Of America; 
    • Ben Abbott from BYU who works primarily on permafrost climate feedback and water quality in river networks; 
    • Kelsha Anderson, Deputy Forest Supervisor, Uintah-Wasatch-Cache National Forests
    • Danielle Fowles-McNiven the Asst. Director of TreadLightly!
    • JD Tanner, Director of Education and Training at Leave No Trace
    • Traveling Team – Leave No Trace, formally know as the Traveling Trainers
    • Lee Hughes, Conservation Director of Philmont
  • General Sessions
    • Updates on BSA OE & Conservation Program and Futures
  • Lots of great Workshop Sessions to choose from on Friday and Saturday.
  • Display/Gameboard Contests
  • Region Meet and Greet
  • Optional courses before the conference:
    • Risk Management – Tuesday or Wednesday
    • Council Outdoor Ethics Advocate – Wednesday and Thursday
    • Distinguished Conservation Service Award Adviser
    • Tread Lightly! Master Trainer – Wednesday
      (See Course List for descriptions)
  • Plenty of time for networking.
  • … and more

Conservation Good Turn Patch

Conservation Good Turn

Our Conservation Good Turn Award project starts after lunch on Thursday and will last a few hours.  This activity will provide you with first-hand experience on how to use this award with the units you serve.  Certificates will be provided and the intention is for you to be able to purchase the patch on site.  If you plan to be part of the project please send an email to oec-conference@outdoorethics-bsa.org and let us know so we can have enough of the awards on-hand.  Thursday lunch is included in your conference fees anyway so you don’t want to miss out on this fun activity while you have a few free hours.

Keynote Address – Julie Seton

Julie Seton is the youngest granddaughter of Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946) who was one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America, and an internationally renowned conservationist, naturalist, writer, artist, storyteller, and outdoor educator.

Accommodations

  • At Camp Tracy:
    • Shared men’s and shared women’s cabins w/ bunk beds, space limited
    • BYO Tent sites
  • Nearby: Nearly 100 hotels/motels within 20 miles (browse map), or ski resorts (30+ miles)
  • Home at night – locals 
  • Cabins have mattresses, a heater, and an outlet. Bring your own sleeping bag and pillow.
  • Tents have no electricity or heating. Bring your own warm bedding.
  • Showers are located by the pool and segregated by gender, bring your own towel, washcloth, soap ….
  • Bathrooms: KYBO’s for tent campers and those staying in cabins. Flush toilets in the Lodge and by the pool.

Conference Cost

Conference Registration – 9/12-9/15/2024 Meals Included
  $200 before 6/1/2024
  $225 after 6/1/2024		 Thursday Lunch through
Sunday Breakfast
+ Lodging  
  Offsite $0  
  Onsite with your own tent $0  
  Shared rustic cabin onsite $25 – Entire week  
+ Pre-Conference Options
(See Course List for Descriptions)		  
Tuesday Classes – 9/10  
  Risk Management – $50
    (only for those who take a different course Wednesday)		 Monday – Dinner
Tuesday – Breakfast, Lunch
Wednesday  Classes – 9/11  
  Council Outdoor Ethics Advocate – $70
    (Wednesday 9/11 through Thursday noon)		  Tuesday Dinner through
Thursday Breakfast
  Distinguished Conservation Service Award Adviser – $70
  Risk Management – $70
  Tread Lightly! Master Tread Trainer – $100

Registration

  • Register Now
  • Registration deadline extended to August 10, 2024.
  • The cancellation fee is $100, and there are no refunds after August 1.

Camp Information

  • Camp Tracy is the Council Training Center for the Crossroads of the West Council.
  • The camp is located in Millcreek Canyon, east of Salt Lake City, at an elevation of about 5600′.
  • Map

Transportation

  • Camp Tracy is less than 30 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. (Directions)
  • If you indicate on your registration that you are interested in carpooling, from the airport or other parts of the country, we will put you in touch with others.

Tour

  • Plan some time before or after the conference to see the area.
  • Things to Do

Health and Safety

Every participant must submit a copy of his/her current Annual BSA Health and Medical Record, Parts A, B and C.

There will be a doctor on-site.

Please contact us at oec-conference@outdoorethics-bsa.org if you have questions, concerns or requests related to:

  • Food sensitivities
  • CPAP or electrical device
  • Refrigerated medicines
  • Sign language, interpreter for the blind, service animals
  • Other medical needs

Miscellaneous

  • Conference jackets, shirts, hats, and bags are now available.  Extra patches will be available.
  • What to Wear: Field uniforms are not required but always welcome, conference branded apparel is good too. Bring layered clothing that will allow you to adjust for daytime temperatures in the 60s or 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s or 50s.

More Information

Still have Questions? Email oec-conference@outdoorethics-bsa.org.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.