Digital Duffle Bag



July 10, 2012   

News for Scouting leaders, parents,
and the communities we serve  

COUNCIL
SERVICE CENTERS
MacArthur Service Center
4568 West Pine Blvd.
St. Louis, Mo. 63108-2179
Phone: (314) 361-0600 or (800) 392-0895
FAX: (314) 361-5165
Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

West County Service Center
11481 Page Service Dr.
St. Louis, Mo. 63146-3529
Phone: (314) 994-9469
FAX: (314) 994-9623
Hours: Monday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ritter Service Center-Cape Girardeau
3000 Gordonville Rd.
Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63703-5008
Phone: (573) 335-3346 or (800) 335-3346
FAX: (800) 269-7989
Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Southern Illinois Service Center-Herrin
803 East Herrin St., Herrin, Ill. 62948-0340
Phone: (618) 942-4863 or (888) 942-4863
FAX: (618) 942-2367
Hours: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
June through August: Monday through Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Giving
 
Memorials
 
The Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, is a United Way agency.
United Way
Greetings! 

We hope you and your Scouts or Venturers are enjoying summer Camp Gamble S bar F programs. Cub adventure camps and resident summer camps are the annual highlight for many youth members. Summer activities also can influence parents as much as Scouts.

A summer camp or adventure camp might be the first opportunity a parent experiences Scouting at its best and at full speed. These parents are often impressed by the quality of the programs, educational opportunities, character-building experiences, leadership-development exercises and -- most of all -- FUN.

Savvy leaders encourage or invite parents to get more involved with Scouting after they experience a successful summer program. There's no better time to ask for help with a den, for assistance with a unit fundraiser or to consider becoming a unit leader than at the conclusion of an enjoyable and memorable Scouting experience.

 

As always, contact us for assistance in providing the highest-quality Scouting program for our young people.

 

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

Schedule A Program Planning Meeting
Successful Scout units take time during the summer to plan programs and activities. 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.

July 16 Is Camp Lottery Deadline 

Don't forget to make your reservation for cabins, facilities and activities in the next program year. The deadline for submitting the new Short-Term Camping & Cabin Lottery Sign-up Form is July 16.

Download a lottery sign-up form...   

 

Help Scouts Finish Merit Badges Started At Council Summer Camps
Merit Badge Make-Up Day

Do you have Boy Scouts in your troop who didn't finish one or two requirements to complete a merit badge at summer camps? The

Eagle Scout Association will hold its annual Merit Badge Make-Up Day to help Scouts complete those badges on Saturday, Aug. 4, 9 a.m. to noon, at Beaumont Scout Reservation.   

 

Show 'N' Deliver Your Popcorn This Year
Customers can receive popcorn products immediately through the new Show 'N' Deliver feature of this year's popcorn sale. Orders for Show 'N' Deliver are due Sept. 10. Online orders begin Aug. 1. Click here for details and the full timeline...
Did you know... Popcorn sent 300+ Scouts to camp this summer.

Scouters Become Better Leaders Through Wood Badge
In two weekend sessions, Wood Badge provides advanced leadership training to all leaders. Read more...

STEM Awards Are Now
Available
NOVA and SUPERNOVA award programs promote activities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Read more...
Download for free: Cub Scout NOVA booklet, Boy Scout NOVA booklet, Venturing NOVA Booklet.

Cub Scout 'Year B' Manual Continues Lesson Plans
Help deliver the promise with the new Alternative Cub Scout Lesson Plans Manual: Year B (349-page PDF file takes awhile to download). This follow-up manual to Year A consists of the traditional Cub Scout program and can be delivered by volunteers and program managers. The easy-to-use guide is suited for mixed-age packs/dens and guarantees rank advancement for each Cub Scout.

What Should Scouts Bring To Camp? 

Scouts will have a better experience if they bring the right equipment:

Boy Scout Camp at S bar F Equipment List 

Swift Base at S bar F Equipment List 

Webelos Camp at Camp May Equipment List 

Webelos Mini-Camp at Camp May Equipment List 

Webelos Mini-Camp at Pine Ridge Scout Camp Equipment List    

Webelos Mini-Camp at Swift Base Equipment   

 

Camp Gamble S bar F
The new paddleboards are a great hit this summer at The Ranch and
Camp Lewallen. 
Maps To Camp

Make sure your Scouts, leaders and parents know how to get to camp:  

Directory of All Maps (web page)  

Map to S bar F Scout Ranch & Camp Lewallen  

Map to Beaumont Scout Reservation *  

Map to Pine Ridge Scout Camp  

 

* New pavement construction should be completed by July 15 on the westbound Antire Road ramps at I-44. Until then, lanes are closed 24 hours a day. Plan ahead for Webelos Camp, Webelos Mini-Camp and Grizzly Camp at Beaumont. Drivers heading from Antire Road to westbound I-44 need to take eastbound I-44 to Route 141 and head back along westbound I-44. Drivers on westbound I-44 heading to Antire Road need to take westbound I-44 to Lewis Road, head back on eastbound I-44 and exit at Antire Road. All detours will be marked. Plan on 15-20 minutes extra travel time. Click here for MODOT updates... 

  

Maps of Camps

Map of Camp Famous Eagle, S bar F Scout Ranch   

Map of Camp Gamble, S bar F Scout Ranch     

Map of Camp May, Beaumont Scout Reservation    

Map of Camp Sakima, S bar F Scout Ranch  

Map of Pine Ridge Scout Camp  

Map of Swift Base, S bar F Scout Ranch 

 

Medical Forms

Every Scout and leader who attends a long-term camp must have the required forms completed. The BSA recommends that everyone who participates in a Scouting event have an annual medical evaluation by a certified and licensed health-care provider -- a physician (MD or DO), nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Read more...   

Download Medical Form (680-001) Parts A & B (for campers spending less than 72 hours at camp)   

Download Medical Form (680-001) Parts A B & C (physical required)   

Camp Manuals

Have all program details at your fingertips by downloading the booklets from website:

Grizzly Camp 

Camp May - Webelos 

Camp May - Webelos Mini-Camp 

Swift Base - Webelos Mini-Camp  

Pine Ridge - Webelos Mini-Camp 

Swift Base - Venturing 

 

Parents, leaders and Scouts -- especially Boy Scouts and Venturers -- can begin planning a successful and fun week of camp by reviewing information in the manuals.

 

Special Summer Camps
Horse Camp, Ranger Program and Catholic Adventure Week also offer fun and exciting summer camp experiences.

Grizzly Camp
An exciting time awaits Cub Scouts and Webelos at Grizzly Adventure Camp at Beaumont Scout Reservation. Spaces are still available for July 16-20. Read more...

Calendar Updates...
ROCK CLIMBING TRAINING will be on Aug. 8 (at MacArthur, Ritter and Southern Illinois Service Centers) and Aug. 18-19 (at S bar F Scout Ranch). Download registration form.

ELECTRICITY MERIT BADGE SKILL CENTER, normally held in September,has been cancelled. Watch the council website and future issues of the Digital Duffle Bag and printed Duffle Bag for announcements of rescheduling.

Leader Tip

Incredible Bubble Maker
Cub Scout BubbleMaterials: 3 ft. of string, two straws
   Insert the string through the two straws and tie the ends of the string together. (This could be an opportunity to introduce Cub Scouts to the square knot; Elective 17a.)
   Pour a few pints of the Magic Bubble Solution (see ingredients below) into an open container such as a cake pan or dishpan. Dip the bubble maker into the solution and lift it. As you lift, pull the straws apart so that they are parallel to each other until the string is tight. This creates a sheet of bubble solution. Blow through the sheet. Experiment with different ways to create the bubble sheet:
-Keep the bubble maker low to the ground and raise it above your head.
-Hold it to your side while turning in a circle. With practice, you can create a circle completely around yourself.
Magic Bubble Solution: Mix together six parts water, two parts dishwashing soap, and one part glycerin (available at pharmacies). (Light corn syrup may be substituted for glycerin if necessary.)
   
    

 

Parent Tip

Pressure vs. Principle 

Teaching your teens to do the right thing isn't a game. Or maybe it should be.
Read more...
Source:
Scouting Magazine
Quick Clicks
Invitations: Scouts are invited to visit attractions or take part in various programs throughout our community. Many organizations offer Scouts free or reduced-cost programs.
Opportunities to Serve: Nonprofit and charitable organizations welcome collaboration on service projects with units.