 Camping opportunities for our SCOUTS!!
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| Leaders, need Training? |
Boy Scout Leader Specific Trainingis a one day training event that introduces parents and leaders to the skills needed to plan and conduct Pack outdoor activities, particularly Pack camping. Come to Camp Old Indian for a day full of fun, food, and interaction with other Cub Scout Leaders. To register, Click here.
Webelos Leader Outdoor Training is for all Webelos Leaders. This supplemental training course covers the skills and resources needed to teach the outdoor activity badges and helps to provide good and safe outdoor experiences. For date and registration information, click here.
Baloo Training- A new training program required by BSA. At least one leader from each Pack must be BALOO trained.
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 Program Kickoff Meetings
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Be sure to attend this very important meeting. We will have all program information to hand out for the year including calendars, school night information and upcoming events scheduled for 2008-2009. See you at your District Program Kickoff!!!
Six & Twenty August 7, 7:00 pm LDS Church-Anderson
Pickens August 12, 7:00 pm First Baptist Church - Easley
Oconee August 14, 7:00 pm St. Marks Methodist-Seneca
Long Cane August 14, 7:00 pm Main St. United Methodist
Saluda River August 14, 7:30 pm Broad St. UMC-Clinton
Foothills August 14, 7:00 pm Taylors First Baptist Church
Reedy Falls August 14, 7:00 pm Council Service Center
Scoutreach August 14, 7:00 pm Council Service Center
Southbounder August 14, 7:00 pm Council Service Center
Learning for Life August 14, 6:30 pm Council Service Center
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 Criminal Background Checks for Leaders
- The Boy Scouts of America has conducted criminal background checks on all new adult leaders since April 2003.
- Some leaders have not changed leadership positions since that time, and have not been checked.
- Leaders who have not been checked will receive a letter from the national Chief Scout Executive in early June.
- The letter will give recipients instructions to visit a website, to "opt in" to a criminal background check.
- Recipients who decline to authorize a background check will lose their BSA membership.
For more informaion, view this link.
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| National BSA Registration Policies |
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All leaders must be 21 with the following exceptions:
Assistant Scoutmaster
Assistant Den Leader
Assistant Varsity Coach
Assistant Cubmaster
Assistant Webelos Den Leader
Tiger Cub Adult
These six positions must be at least 18 years old.
All members (youth and adult) must have their full name (no initials) as set forth in the Registrar's Procedures Manual issued by the Registration Services Office, Boy Scouts of America.
Please note that the requirement for a Criminal Background Check is a part of the Scouting Youth Protection initiative, and is for the safety of the youth members. Accordingly, a Social Security Number is required for all adult registration forms (please note that we will keep these confidential). _______________________________________________
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 2008 Cub Scout -Recruiting Plan |
1. Your Pack should have a "Back to the Pack" meeting sometime in August, preferably before the School Night. This can be a simple meeting such as a picnic or pool party. The purpose of this meeting is to reorganize the pack by confirming the leaders and reorganizing the dens if needed. Emphasis should be put on the dens where new leaders are needed.
2. A member of our staff will contact the school principals to schedule the School Night. Cubmasters will be notified when the date is set. Please do not contact the Principal. We have agreements with the school districts that must be honored.
3. During the first week of school a parent's flyer will be delivered to the school for distribution to the boys. The flyer explains the benefits of Scouting and announces the School Night date.
4. One day prior to the school night a member of our staff will visit the school. They will personally talk to the boys and give them a reminder notice to take home.
5. Our Scout staff will conduct the actual School Night meeting. It will be helpful if your Pack is represented to answer questions specific to your Pack.
6. New leaders are recruited at the School Night. They need training and the sooner the better. Cubmasters are asked to schedule a Den Orientation with parent and new leaders within one week of the School Night. Your Pack Trainer should conduct the Den Orientation. New leaders will be given the Program helps booklet at the School Night
If you have any questions about this plan, please contact your District Executive. Thank you for all you do in Scouting!!
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48 Scouts Complete NYLT Course
It was a long hot week at Camp White Pines, but regardless of the heat and obstacles 47 Scouts from the Blue Ridge Council and 1 Scout from North Carolina completed the 2008 National Youth Leadership Training Course. The course that replaced the old JLT Course incorporates a wide range of activities, events, games, and adventures to teach participates to work and play together as they put into action the skills and knowledge need to return to their troops as leaders. NYLT also models a month in the life of a troop by using the patrol method, Patrol Leaders Councils and troop meetings to allow scouts to participate in techniques that they can take back to their home troops.
This year's course was lead by Scoutmaster Bill Mulligan and Senior Patrol Leader Lee Mitchell with a staff of 3 adult leaders and 15 youth leaders. The entire course was conducted by the youth staff following the national course guideline and is truly a boy lead course.
After the first day of getting to know each other the patrols worked together to complete numerous activities and projects over the 6 day period. It was amazing to watch them go from disorganized patrols to 6 highly motivated patrols working as a team to compete with each other for the Patrol of the year. While all the patrols and participates came out as winners the Yellow Patrol won the over all patrol for 2008 under the guidance of their Troop Guide Chandler Fleck.
If your troop has not taken advantage of this valuable youth training program, then you need to start planning now to participate in the 2009 course. For more information on NYLT contact Program Director Matt Kubler at the Council Office.
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National Jamboree 2010
July 26- August 4, 2010
Don't be left behind. Blue Ridge Council is taking applications for the 2010 NATIONAL BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE Council Contingent. We only have 180 Scout positions available. The first 180 Scouts to get in their deposit will be able to go. This is a ONCE in a life time event. The 100th year Anniversary of Scouting only occurs once. Make YOUR plans to attend, NOW. Do not be left behind. Ask any leader who has attended in the past about their experiences and you will hear about the great time that is available for the few that go.
To sign up for the Jamboree go to myscouting.org and create a log-in user id and password. You must have your BSA member ID# to create a user account. This is on your membership card, or check with your Scoutmaster. You may also call your Council for your number. There will be a window on the log-in screen informing the user of the BSA member ID number requirement. Create a user account. Then you can create an online application. When submitting, the applicant will be asked to pay a $10 processing fee payable by credit/debit card. This fee is non-refundable. Once completed, print your confirmation, have your Scoutmaster sign it and take it along with the Council registration form, (form is on link located below this article) along with your $100 deposit to the Council Service Center located at 1 Park Plaza in Greenville. If there are any questions about the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, contact Staff Advisor Matt Kubler at 864-233-8363.
To sign up for Jamboree 2010, click here for registration form.
For more information on the 2010 Boy Scout National Jamboree, click here.
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| Scouts have fun at Fitness Fest
The Blue Ridge Council would like to thank Jim Anthony and The Cliffs Communities for their program and financial support of FitnessFest. |
The FitnessFest
took place from January 1, 2008 to May 3, 2008 culminating at Pinnacle Point fo the Fitness Day. The program was designed around 4 fitness components- cardiovascular, strength, nutrition, and endurance. The participants worked on this over a course of 16 weeks. We had 3,680 Scouts and Leaders sign up for the program and had 787 participatns complete the entire 16 week program. On May 3, we had 406 Scouts and Leaders participate at Pinnacle Point. Points could be accumulated in the four fitness components based on the following criteria: 1 point for every 2,000 steps, 1 point for each sit-up done in 1 minute, 7 points each week they had a nutrition plan and 1 point for each squat thrust done in a minute. The average score for the Scouts that particpated on May 3 was 1,400, with one Scout earning over 14,000 points. The following comments were heard that day: "I lost over 18 lbs.", "It is gret to see a program designed around fitness", "the event was extrememly well organized", "The boys really got behind the program", "We are going to continue this after the event", "We can not wait for next year". The following Packs, Troops, and Crew were the $500 winners in their Districts:
Downtown Greenville- Pak 170, Troop 519 North Greenville County - Pack 208, Troop 925 South Greenville County- Pack 707, Troop 350 At Risk Youth in Greenville County- Pack 112 Pickens County- Pack 6, Troop 134 Oconee County- Pack 235, Troop 235, Crew 212 Laurens and Newberry Counties- Pack 21, Troop 339 Greenwood and Abbeville Counties- Troop 401 Anderson County- Pack 23, Troop 97
The top Pack and Troop in the Council won tickets to Carowinds was Pack 21 and Troop 925. Congratulations!
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 Troop Open House
The Boy Scout Troop Open House allows a Troop to swing open its doors and roll out the red carpet to welcome guests. It provides a forum to show off Scouting activities and the troop's accomplishments. It is an effective tool to reach youth who have never tried Scouting.
Hosting a troop open house is a five-step process that has been tried and proven in troops throughout the nation. Each of the following five steps is vital to the event's success:
1. Present a school rally to fifth- and sixth-graders
2. Mail the parents of interested youth a personal invitation to the troop open house
3. Follow the invitation with a telephone call to the parents
4. Host the troop open house for youth and their parents
5. Organize a troop or district activity to involve new Scouts right away
Youth join Scouting for the fun and outdoor adventure. Parents want them to join for completely different reasons - character building and leadership training. Following this plan for conducting a troop open house will help you address the wants and needs of both youth and their parents.
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| Dr. Frank S. Page presides at Boy Scout Baptist Luncheon |
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The Blue Ridge Council, Boy Scouts of America hosted a Baptist Luncheon on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at the Poinsett Club in Greenville. Dr. Frank S. Page, President of the Southern Baptist Association presided over the luncheon extending the offer for Baptist Churches to offer Scouting as outreach ministry in their perspective churches. The luncheon resulted in 14 committments from Baptist Churches.
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 Venturing's 10th Anniversary Contest
deadline August 1, 2008.
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Thank you for your investment in Scouting in the Upstate!
Hollingsworth Foundation, Inc.
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always a SCOUT always PREPARED
Do you have your copy of Boy's Life? |
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