2 September Tasks: Get Leaders Trained, Make Sure New Scouts Have Fun

Help Your Leaders Get Trained: Visit the BSA's Online Learning Center (http://olc.scouting.org) for Fast Start Training and Youth Protection Training. Visit the Council's Training web page for upcoming courses. Contact your unit commissioner, district training chairman or district executive for additional assistance.
Experience The Program: Get everyone involved in an outdoor activity, field trip or other program as soon as possible. New Cub Scouts and their families are invited to attend Taste of Scouting on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Beaumont Scout Reservation. (See article below.)

Thanks to all leaders who fulfill Scouting's promise in our communities.

--Greater St. Louis Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America

--P.S.: Please be generous when asked to participate in your United Way campaign. The Council receives approximately 19 percent of its operating budget from United Way agencies. More...

Give Scouts Their First
Taste Of Scouting
Cub Scout Logo

Newly recruited Cub Scouts and parents can get their first Scouting experience at "Taste of Scouting."

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3

Where: Beaumont Scout Reservation.

Cost: $5 per family.
New Cub Scouts can spend the day at the archery range, crossing a monkey bridge, building crafts, climbing aboard a pirate ship and participating in many other fun activities. Come and go as you like. You may bring a picnic lunch.
Download a Taste of Scouting Reservation Form (PDF)

Beaumont Scout Reservation is located west of Interstate 270 off Interstate 44 at the Antire-Beaumont exit. Click here for a map to Beaumont...

Fall Recruiting

All successful Scouting begins with people. Inviting people to join your Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop or Venture crew is an important part of your unit's life cycle. School Night to Join Scouting is the annual fall membership drive. Help your unit welcome new members and leaders by planning your recruiting. Read more...

Selling Popcorn Helps Unit, Council Programs

One of the council's suggested money-earning projects is the annual popcorn sale. With a little imagination, many units have raised sizable amounts of money for unit accounts.

Units need a secure and stable source of income. Sellling popcorn fills this need. Monies raised by units can cover the cost of badges and rank advancements, special events, and pack and troop equipment. Some units create an account for each Scout who sells and allows individuals to use those funds for camps or events.

Units that are financially sound can spend more time and resources on providing a fun and challenging year-round program. The popcorn sale also benefits the council by helping us to serve volunteer leaders and members by providing better programs and camping facilities. More...

Leader Tip:

New Buddy Shoe Scramble

Cub Scouts put their shoes in a pile 25 to 30 feet from the starting line. A leader mixes up the shoes so that no pairs are together. On signal, one member of a buddy duo runs to the pile, picks out his friend's shoes, grabs them, returns to the start, and puts them on his buddy. When the buddy's shoes are on, that buddy races to the pile, grabs the pair of shoes for the first runner, returns, and puts them on his buddy's feet. The first team of buddies done is declared "Best Buds."

Source: Cub Scout Program Helps, September, 2008 (PDF)

Parent Tip:

Back To School Tips
The American Academy of Pediatrics provides dozens of tips for parents to help their children have a successful start to the school year. More...

Quick Clicks

Invitations: Scout units are invited to attend a wide variety of events and activities throughout our community. Many organizations offer Scouts free or reduced-cost admission for events and programs.
Opportunities to Serve: Nonprofit and charitable organizations welcome collaboration on service projects with Scout units.