If you've enjoyed and benefited from your son or daughter's Scouting experience, make it your legacy to leave your unit bigger and stronger than when you first started volunteering.
The start of the school year signals an annual rebirth for Scout units. Recruiting new Scouts brings new adult volunteer leaders, parent helpers and enthusiastic children who can't wait to go camping or shoot a bow and arrow.
Each year, thousands of first graders eagerly await the chance to join Cub Scouts and become a Tiger Cub. But other grade levels are just as important. Parents of second and third graders often delay joining until their son is settled in school. We've witnessed fourth and fifth graders joining because they're no longer involved in sports or other activities and see their friends enjoying outdoor adventures.
Several resources are available for our 2011 recruiting campaign:
Beascout.org: This website allows prospective members to enter their address and zip code, and view a map with Scout units in their geographic area. Units can customize information on this map! Learn more by downloading the
Be A Scout Unit Guide (3MG PowerPoint).
School Night PowerPoint (3MG): With a projector, screen, laptop and this presentation, you're ready to provide a high-quality orientation for your new parents and leaders.
Parent's Orientation Guide (PDF): Each unit will receive a quantity of these booklets to help new parents become familiar with your unit and the Scouting program.
Den Meeting Plans: Information on how to get your Scouts organized and your program rolling.
Taste of Scouting: All new Cub Scouts are invited to attend this event at Cub World at Beaumont Scout Reservation. The cost is $5 per Cub Scout, but parents and siblings are free.
As always, our staff is ready to assist and support you with recruiting. Thank you for helping our youth members grow and learn.
--Greater St. Louis Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America
Help Scouts Earn Their Way To Summer Camp
Help your unit and Scouts be financially prepared for a great year. More than 400 units will be selling Trail's End Popcorn in a few weeks. Here's how to join them:
Mark your calendars to attend a brief training to improve your unit sale. There are three sessions in the St. Louis metro area next week.
Our council is the first in the nation to provide a camping incentive for Scouts.
Cub Scouts who sell $750 or more can attend an adventure camp and a Dad & Lad or Mom & Me (parent included) OR a Webelos mini-camp at no charge. Webelos, Boy Scouts and Venturers who sell $1,500 or more can attend a week of Webelos Camp, National Youth Leadership Training, Boy Scout summer camp, Venturing summer camp, the Ranger program, or Horse Camp free of charge. There are many other incentives and bonuses for youth members.
Read more...
Order of the Arrow Lodges Prepared For Service Projects, Ceremonies
The council's Order of the Arrow lodges will hold their annual Fall Reunions on Sept. 9-11. Anpetu-We Lodge will hold its event at Camp Lewallen and Shawnee Lodge will hold their gathering at the S bar F Scout Ranch. The Order of the Arrow is Scouting's honor society. Visit the council's Order of the Arrow webpage for more information.
Camp Lewallen's 75th Anniversary Celebration Continues In September With Open House
Thousands of Scouts attended the six-district spring camporee earlier this year and more than a thousand Scouts and leaders attended Boy Scout summer camp during the 75th anniversary celebration of Camp Lewallen.
All who would like to visit Camp Lewallen during its 75th year can do so on Saturday, Sept. 10, during the Fall Reunion of the Order of the Arrow's Anpetu-We Lodge. Light refreshments and tours will be provided. Contact Jason Noland (jnoland@stlbsa.org), director of development, for more information.
Fall Fun Rally On Sept. 23-25 Is Ultimate Experience For Venturing, Exploring Units
The premiere weekend outdoor event for Venturing and Exploring is Sept. 24-26 at Beaumont Scout Reservation. The Fall Fun Rally is the largest event of its kind and designed specifically for Venturing and Exploring programs.
Visit www.fallfunrally.org for more information.
Make Your Unit Calendar Generate Excitement
Your unit calendar should make your Scouts, parents and leaders excited about the Scouting experience that awaits them. Our best units can trace their advancement, retention and enjoyment to a well-planned program. Units who take time in August and September to plan programs for the upcoming program year have a road map to fun and adventure. Providing a calendar to prospective members and their parents makes a great first impression during School Night to Join Scouting. The council's Program Guide provides a wide range of information to help your unit.
