Friday, July 30, 2010

January 4-9, 2011 - OKPIK Cold Weather Leader Training

Six months and counting until the coolest High Adventure program in the BSA begins for the 2010-2011 season. Come "up north" to experience the cold weather adventure documented by the Outdoor Channel and Boys Life in the past year.

Scouts and Venturers can snowshoe and cross-country ski over frozen lakes and snow packed hills. Build snow shelters, ice fish, and learn to thrive in -10 degree weather.

The OKPIK Cold Weather Leader Training on January 4-9, 2011 is the perfect training for your troop or Venture crew to learn how to do cold weather camping events safely from the experts.  Join other Scout leaders and older youth (min. 16 years old) for a 5 day in-depth training session on how to have fun and excitement in the snow.

Below is the link to the registration form for OKPIK 2010-2011. Registration is now open for Webelos, Scout Units, Venture crews, and Council Contingents.  Limited dates available throughout the winter. We have openings for all our programs from the Dog Sled Treks, Musher Camp, Ski/Snowshoe Treks, Winter treks, Cabin Stay and the newest of our programs WOW! (Webelos OKPIK Weekend). Please distribute this to other members in your pack, troop, crew or council.


Don't let this opportunity pass you by to take part in the coolest High Adventure program. To reserve your spot or if you have any questions, please contact the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program at (218) 365-4811.

Visit www.ntier.org to view the new Northern Tier promotion video!

Help homeless kids love to read

Hi friends,

Hope you're enjoying your summer!  Ella, Tai and I just started volunteering at LA Family Housing, doing summer-campy activities with recently homeless children. LAFH has a Transitional Living Center in North Hollywood for homeless families who are working toward stability.  Space is very tight, and kids have little to do and nowhere to go, so volunteers can bring summer camp to them.

We're also starting a Read to Succeed program.  Regular reading sets off a chain reaction of intellectual development, improved grades, and confidence which can greatly impact a child's future.  Because their families have had to focus on daily survival, most of these kids have never owned books or read for fun.

Would you like to help grow their love of reading?  Here's how:

Read to Succeed needs
  • Prizes for weekly Book Review raffles (not too large), e.g. toys, games, $5 gift cards
  • Grand Prizes for the best book reviews of the summer
  • Party supplies or ice cream (Kids who accomplish their reading goals get a parking lot movie party)
  • Fun folks to read to children (any time)

Friday Fun Camp needs
  • Messy Art Day - paintbrushes, roll of butcher paper, used adult t-shirts for coverup (kids don't have extra clothes to get splattered)
  • CSI Science Day - fingerprint ink pad, footprint casting kit, toy magnifying glasses

You can also donate $ or help solicit businesses for supplies/donations!

If you have questions or are available to help, please call/email us.

Thank you!
Quynh, Ella, Tai
(818) 906-9970

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

National online unit directory / search

The BSA is putting Scouting on the map all across the nation!  In time for Join Scouting 2010, the Boy Scouts of America has its own joining Web page with information on Scouting, plus a Google Maps application that will help potential Scouts and their parents find packs, troops, and crews in their communities.

How does it work?  In a nutshell, unit leaders can update their unit's Google pin (the bubble you see on Google Maps) through MyScouting.  They can add their unit meeting time, location, phone number, unit Web site address if they have one, as well as a contact name for the unit.

"Ask Us!  We can help."  A new feature allows people interested in a particular unit to e-mail questions to the unit leaders.  The parent can type in the question and the unit leader can then respond.

In summary...

  • Unit leaders publish information about their unit to a pin icon on a Google map.
  • Parents go to the Web site, submit their address, and find units in their neighborhood.
  • Leaders gather information from visits to their pins and compile leads that they can manage                    through MyScouting.

For questions on this process, please contact your District Executive.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

September 11, 2010 - Walking with Dinosaurs

They're back for another bite!

Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Spectacular

A magical event for Boy/Cub/Girl Scouts and other youth groups!

Everyone is invited to join my group!

September 11th, 2010 (Saturday)
10:00 - 10:30 AM ticket distribution
Staples Center

Group will meet at the 11th Street main entrance (by Magic Johnson statue)

All guests in my group will receive the 2010 Walking With Dinosaurs commemorative patch.

Great seats are available to my group (VIP / Premier Level / 200's Level - Center - blue section of map) on a first-pay, first-served basis!

Blue tickets are regularly $72.75 from Ticketmaster ($59.00 + $11.25 convenience fee + $2.50 e-mail delivery fee).  However, if you reserve through me, the cost is only $36.00 per child/adult.  (includes processing/handling fees charged by Staples Center for every ticket...)

This does not include food or parking, please... Carpooling is the best way to go!

Reserve your tickets now!  RSVP to Jocelyn Reyes.  PayPal instructions will be e-mailed once reservation is confirmed.

Seats will be assigned as per payment received!

I will be sending more detailed info to all participants by September 8th, 2010.

Payments are non-refundable after tickets are purchased.

Don't wait until the last minute to take advantage of the great seats I have!

And remember:  The 2010 Walking With Dinosaurs commemorative patch is exclusive to my group.

July 24, 2010 - Andrew Pope's Eagle project

Andrew Pope (Life Scout, Troop 228)
Eagle Scout Service Project
Volunteers Needed!

Date: Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Time: 8 am through 5 pm (or until done)

Place:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) School
23233 Lyons Ave.
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(school is located at back of church)

Supplies needed: Please bring paintbrushes, paint scrapers, and safety gloves and glasses if you have them. Also, wear clothing that can get dirty.

Service Project: We will be painting door safety lines, painting a handrail, and replacing a wooden sprinkler system cover.

RSVP:
Please contact Andrew Pope at:
(661) 309-3081 (Cell)
(661) 296-3060 (Home)
Andrew_Pope@ca.rr.com

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Wood Badge records

The Western Los Angeles County Council Leadership Development Training Committee needs your help to update our records.  We do not always get notification from other councils that you have completed Wood Badge and would like to update our records.  Also dates of completion were not retained until about 2005 so your help is appreciated.

Please contact us and answer the following questions:

  • Did you attend a Wood Badge for the 21st Century course anywhere in the world? 
    • What was your course number?
    • If you attended a course outside of the United States, what country was it in?
    • Did you complete the course and receive your regalia?
    • What is the date on your certificate?
  • Have you served on staff of a Wood Badge for the 21st Century course?
    • What course number?
    • What position?
  • What is your current contact information?

Thank you for assisting with this effort to update our records.

Monday, July 12, 2010

October 2, 2010 - San Fernando Valley Leaders of Character update

The San Fernando Valley Leaders of Character event is set for Oct. 2, 2010, at the Marriott at the Warner Center.

Balboa Oaks honorees:
  • George Savin and Bonnie Marie Bursk, attorneys
  • Jim Hill, sportscaster, Eagle Scout
  • Paul Krekorian, city councilman

Las Colinas honorees:
  • Dennis P. Zine, city councilman
  • Jean and James Jauck

The price for the event will be $225 per person.  There will be a pre-reception an hour before the event which is being planned.

Businesses and individuals are invited to congratulate the centennial Leaders of Character and share their support of Scouting through event program ads.  Ads are available in three sizes:

  • Business card - $150
  • Half page - $250
  • Full page - $500
We are happy to create an ad for you with your own message of congratulations or support.  Ads can contain both images and text.  Please submit ad requests to Joseph Strother by September 24.


    Wednesday, July 7, 2010

    July 31 to August 8, 2010 - Summer camp in Oregon

    Troop 10 has 1 available spot to attend the famous Camp Makualla in beautiful Oregon.  This adventure leaves July 31 and returns August 8th.  We will be taking the train there and back through the beautiful scenery of California and Oregon.  Great opportunity for your son to get an all too rare experience of riding the rails.

    Along with the week at this outstanding Summer Camp the trip also includes a trip to awesome Crater Lake and whitewater rafting!  There is 1 spot open for sure and possibly 1 more.  Cost of transportation, summer camp and all the extras is $445.  Some financial assistance may be available based on need.  If you are interested please contact Bernd Engelmann at (818) 343-9027 or (818) 371-5825.  First come - first served.

    Thursday, July 1, 2010

    July 14, 2010 - Wood Badge beading ceremony and going away party

    Wood Badge beading ceremony and going away party

    Wednesday, July 14th at 7 pm

    Palmdale United Methodist Church
    39055 10th Street West
    Palmdale, CA 93551

    It is with great joy that Glinda invites you to her Wood Badge beading ceremony.

    It is with great sadness that Glinda will be leaving the Antelope Valley. She will be joining her husband in Texas. Their son, Greyson, will be leaving on July 16th and won't return to California after his National Jamboree tour.

    If you have questions about the beading please contact Glinda at (661) 361-9118.

    If you have questions about the going away party please contact Lisa at (661) 942-0582.