Thursday, March 31, 2011

Camping news from Emerald Bay and Whitsett

July 7-10: Whitsett Webelos Rendezvous

Camp Whitsett invites Webelos to join them in July for the first Whitsett Webelos Rendezvous. Webelos will have the opportunity to learn Western skills like throwing a tomahawk, archery and BB gun shooting, using a bullwhip, candle making, and more. At night, campers will cook in Dutch ovens before turning in for a night of frontier camping. To learn more about this exciting event, or to register now, visit www.campwhitsett.org.

Emerald Bay and Lands' End

Camp Emerald Bay is excited to announce that we have partnered with Lands’ End to offer an online store to all friends of camp. Troops can preorder their troop T-shirt, customized with troop number, to be picked up at camp or delivered to your home in addition to all sorts of cool Emerald Bay gear. Best of all, everything ordered from the new store is Guaranteed. Period. ® Call (800) 995-8711 or visit www.campemeraldbay.org/store to learn more.

Whitsett First Year Pathfinders

The Pathfinder program is one of the highlights of the Camp Whitsett program. Designed for those new to Scouting, a veteran Whitsett staff member becomes patrol leader for the week and leads the Scouts through many of the Tenderfoot, Second, and First Class requirements. Scouts bond as a patrol and learn skills that will last a lifetime. To learn more, visit www.campwhitsett.org.

Year-Round at Emerald Bay

Not many people know that Emerald Bay has a thriving spring and fall camping program. During the week, the camp is home to an outdoor education program for students in elementary, middle, and high school. On the weekends, the camp is home to everything from Cub Scout camps to YMCA adventure guides to weddings to church retreats. The camp staff works with each of these groups to make the experience unique, from providing scuba training, to conducting classes on marine science in the Pennington Center, to transforming the dining hall into a dance hall. If you have a group that you are interested in bringing to camp, visit www.campemeraldbay.org or call us at (818) 933-0131.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Nominations for 2011 Adult Shofar Award

It is that time of year again when the West Los Angeles County Council Jewish Committee on Scouting is seeking nominations for those exceptional Scouters who have contributed greatly over several years to serve Jewish youth in Scouting. This award is only awarded to a few each year and is a great honor.  Therefore, please help us find the "best of the best" to honor for 2011.  We need your help, as you know that often these amazing people are in the background, helping but hidden.

Deadline:  Nominations must be received no later than April 22nd, 2011.

The Award

The National Jewish Committee on Scouting established the Shofar Award to recognize outstanding service by adults in the promotion of Scouting among Jewish youth. Just as the Shofar (Ram's Horn) calls people to the service of God, so the Shofar Award is recognition of the individual who has answered the call to serve Jewish youth in Scouting. Self and spouse nominations will not be accepted.

Eligibility Guidelines

A Shofar recipient should:

  • Promote the use of Scouting in synagogues, Jewish community centers, and other Jewish institutions.
  • Encourage Jewish youth to join the Boy Scouts of America as Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Varsity Scouts, and Explorers.
  • Recruit Jewish leaders on unit, district, and council levels.
  • Encourage and assist Scouts in earning the Maccabee, Aleph, and Ner Tamid emblems.
  • Promote religious observance on camping trips and at camporees, summer camp, Scout Sabbath, and other functions.
  • Exemplify religious convictions by personal participation in the ideals of Jewish life.

The recipient may or may not be Jewish.  Jewish recipients have come from all denominations.

Your local Jewish Committee on Scouting is now calling for nominations. Your nomination should include a listing of Scouting positions held, tenure in each position, awards previously earned, community contributions, and a statement by you outlining why this person is deserving of the award.  Only a few honorees are selected each year from the many who serve.

Please mail or e-mail your nominations to:

Sanford Weinberg
625 North Sycamore Street, #317
Los Angeles, CA 90036
sanford@techtalk.net

Nominations must be received by April 22nd, 2011.  A committee of past award recipients will meet shortly thereafter to determine this year's Shofar Award recipients.

YIJS,
Sanford Weinberg
2011 WLACC Shofar Committee Chairman

Monday, March 28, 2011

April 16, 2011 - Youth Day at the Range

Panorama Sportsman's Club / NRA / BSA Youth Day at the Range

Our next event will be held on Saturday, April 16th, 2011.

Space is limited for all BSA Youth Shooting Days.  Please make your reservations now.

Panorama Sportsman's Club with the NRA is pleased to again offer a shooting sports program for Boy Scout troops and their leaders.

The cost for the event will be $25, and will include:
  • Your day will start at 9 am with a mandatory firearms safety class taught by NRA certified range safety officers.
  • One-on-one instruction in riflery by certified NRA instructors.
  • One-on-one instruction in shotgun by certified NRA instructors.
  • Merit badge training, counseling, and qualifying is available.

All firearms and ammunition will be supplied for both .22 caliber rifle and shotguns. A meal for lunch will be included as well, including main course, drink, and dessert, in addition to liquid refreshments.

You may also inquire about making it an overnight activity, as the facility has camping areas available for use too.

Contact Mark Cohen, the youth coordinator for Panorama Sportsman's Club, at mfcohen@sbcglobal.net

Panorama Sportsman’s Club is located in Lopez Canyon, Sylmar, close to where the 118 and 210 freeways meet. Exact directions will be provided when reservations are made.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

May 2011 - Boy Scout Adult Leadership Training

Bill Hart District
Boy Scout
Adult Leadership Training
Spring Training 2011

Boy Scout Leadership Training is the first level of training for adult leaders in the Boy Scout organization. This course is in 2 parts with an online prerequisite. The online prerequisites that are needed are
  • This is Scouting
  • Youth Protection

If you have done this, you must make sure your Youth Protection card is valid (good for 2 years), otherwise you can renew it online. Both parts are required and a current Youth Protection Card is required for Leader Certification.You must attend all day in each session to be registered at council as a "trained leader".

Who should attend:
Adults seeking to participate in any way with a Boy Scout troop.

What to bring:
  • Boy Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster Handbook and/or Troop Committee Handbook.
  • Wear a Scout uniform for the indoor session and comfortable camping clothing for the outdoor session.

When:
  • Session 1: Saturday, May 7, 2011, 9 am to 4 pm
  • Session 2: Friday, May 20, 2011, 7 pm to 11 pm / Saturday, May 21, 2011, 7 am to 4 pm

Where:
  • Session 1: The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints, 27405 Bouquet Canyon Rd. (and Centurion), Saugus
  • Session 2: TBA at Session 1.

Questions:

Additional notes:
  • Session 1 - Lunch will be provided.
  • Session 2 - Cracker barrel, breakfast, lunch will be provided.

Cost:
  • $45 if you send in a registration form by April 30
  • $50 afterward

    April 23, 2011 - Cub Leader Basic Training

    Bill Hart District
    Cub Scout Leader Basic Training
    New Leader Essentials and Youth Protection

    April 23, 2011

    Who needs this training:
    • Cubmasters
    • Assistant Cubmasters
    • Pack committee members
    • Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos Den Leaders and assistant leaders

    Where is the training:
    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    27405 Bouquet Canyon (and Centurion), Saugus

    Time: 1 pm to 4:30 pm

    Why do you need the training:
    • To learn about the objectives of Scouting.
    • To develop the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful leader.

    What to bring:
    • Den Leaders bring your Tiger, Wolf, Bear or Webelos Book.
    • Cub Masters and Committee Members bring the Cub Leader Handbook.
    • Wear your Scout Uniform if you have it.

    Snacks will be provided.

    Please register by April 16 so that training materials and food can be provided to you.


    Cost:
    • $10 if you send in a registration form by April 16
    • $15 at the door

    Any questions, please call (661) 263-9197 or kippyone3@yahoo.com

    Thursday, March 10, 2011

    May 7, 2011 - Merit Badge Day at the International Printing Museum

    Merit Badge Day at the International Printing Museum
    Saturday, May 7th, 9 am - 4 pm
    (Scouts need to sign in by 8:30 am - activities will start promptly at 9 am)

    Earn two merit badges in one day:

    • Graphic Arts
    • Pulp and Paper

    Create a special Mother's Day Card as part of the day's activities!

    Partnering with major companies from the printing and paper industries, the Printing Museum has structured this special day for Scouts to earn two merit badges and go home with fantastic keepsakes and a t-shirt! This will be an exciting day filled with engaging activities for the Scouts, exploring the very creative and diverse world of printing, paper and the graphic arts. The International Printing Museum in Carson is a world-famous facility with a working collection spanning hundreds of years.

    The day includes:

    Graphic Arts

    • Working tour of the Printing Museum
    • Litho printing on a modern small offset press
    • Relief and letterpress printing
    • Digital printing and design
    • Screen print a T-shirt that you bring

    Pulp and Paper

    • Explore the history of paper and papyrus
    • See how paper is made today
    • Make your own paper by hand
    • Understand how paper is used today

    Free Admission!
    The day is limited to 120 pre-registered Scouts.
    RSVP by May 1st, 2011
    (310) 515-7166
    E-mail / Web / Facebook
    315 Torrance Boulevard, Carson, CA 90745

    National Eagle Scout Association news

    Join NESA Soon

    The national NESA Committee has voted to increase NESA membership fees effective July 1, 2011. This is the first increase in nearly 20 years. The current fees are only $25 for a five-year membership and $180 for life membership. Beginning July 1, the fees will increase to $35 for a five-year membership and $250 for life membership. Now is the perfect time to receive the great value of NESA membership.

    The National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) is a home for all Eagle Scouts. We publish an acclaimed full-color quarterly magazine, Eagle Scout Magazine, award $400,000 in college scholarships to Eagle Scouts, publish books about Eagle Scouts, and provide a number of interesting online services; including a permanent NESA.org e-mail address.

    Eagle Scout Cards at www.NESA.org

    NESA has a goal of re-engaging all living Eagle Scouts and reconnecting with each. Please help us accomplish this by downloading and printing the reconnection cards on our home page at www.nesa.org. Carry them and share one when you come in contact with a fellow Eagle Scout. Also, consider mailing them to your Eagle Scout friends and relatives. 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the first Eagle Scout Award being earned. NESA will publish a book about Eagle Scouts with the theme of "Where are they now?" Everyone will want to be part of the centennial celebration.

    Alumni Award

    The Alumni Award, approved in March 2011, may be earned by all Scouting alumni. The BSA has a wide range of alumni: former Scouts, former and current volunteer leaders, family members of former and current Scouts, and key constituents who support Scouting in their community.

    The requirements for the Alumni Award are available at www.BSAalumni.org. The recognition items for those who complete the requirements will be: a square knot if you have a uniform and/or a distinctive lapel pin.

    Alumni Scrapbook

    Registered BSA alumni (it’s free and easy at www.BSAalumni.org) can post their Scouting stories in the BSA Alumni Scrapbook. We welcome you to post one per each year of your involvement. And after you have registered as a BSA alumni, download the free cell phone ring tones of 10 different bugle calls!

    Participate in a Survey of Eagle Scouts

    Professor Nicholas Evan Sarantakes (Eagle Scout, 1983) of the U.S. Naval War College is authoring a history of the Eagle Scout Award. He is currently asking holders of this award to complete a questionnaire about their experiences in Scouting. He will use these replies in the content of his book, and then will deposit the completed forms at the National Scouting Museum. If you are interested in assisting him document the history of Scouting in his publication, please contact him at: Nick.Sarantakes@usnwc.edu, or via hard-copy mail at: Department of Strategy and Policy, U.S. Naval War College, 686 Cushing Rd., Newport, RI 02841

    2012: The 100th Anniversary of the First Eagle Scout Award

    NESA President Glenn Adams has appointed a task force to plan the 100th anniversary of the first Eagle Scout Award next year. We will keep you advised as participation opportunities are developed.