Michael S. Quirk Scout Executive

As I see it...

Some wonderful spring product sale results are in and over $53,000 of profits are being shared by packs and troops who participated in our largest sale in 10 years. It's exciting to see so many opportunities boys will now have as a result of a successful sale.  One particular success story is the accomplishment of Scout Zack Ausborn of Cub Scout pack 23 of Eugene, who sold more than $3,000 of candy and meat sticks to fund his Scouting program.  He is a remarkable young man who set a goal and worked hard to accomplish it.  Nice work, Zack.

I was honored once again to participate in the Cascade District Camporee held recently at Camp Murnane in West Eugene.  Many great volunteers worked hard to turn a weekend into a great Scouting activity for several troops in East Lane County.  Michael Thornton,  a Springfield Scoutmaster (and Camporee Chair) praised the Boy Scouts of America during the campfire for providing opportunities for he and his sons to connect and spoke of the many experiences they shared while hisboys grew up.  It was a great reminder of the impact our leaders have on boys and the power of Scouting to positively affect lives.  Thank you to the following Camporee Chairs:

                                                 Benton & Yaquina Districts:  Kelly Brown

                                                Cascade District: Michael Thorton

                                                Chinook District: Roger Langlie

                                                Doug Fir District: Patrick Parson & Tom Leech

                                                Greenwood District: Tim Loftis & Tim Page

                                                Wacoma District: Tim Buehler

Camp Baker provides unforgettable experiences for your Troop!

There is still space available at beautiful Camp Baker this summer.  Take advantage of the great facilities and programs that are offered at this premier camp.  From sailing to rifle shooting, C.O.P.E. course challenges to nature study, there is something for every Scout, at every level, at summer camp.  For more information, click here.

Camp Baker 

Camp Melakwa offers beautiful scenery and a fantastic outbound experiance.

There is still space available, so sign up now.

Camp Melakwa 

 This is where the adventure of Cub Scouting beings!

This year's theme, "Gizmos and Gadgets" offers a fun-filled week of challenging Cub Scout activities, exciting adventures and new friendships.  Cub Scout Day Camp is for boys who will be in the 1st - 5th Grade in the fall of 2011.Activities include crafts, games, archery, bb guns, obstacle courses, and much more.

If your pack has not had a day camp presentation yet, concatct Debbie Knechtel at 541-284-4389. For more information and registration materials, click here. 

When you go to day camp or summer camp this summer, don't forget your Annual Health and Medical Record Form. Scouting requires one of these forms to be filled out every year before going to a camp. If you are attending Cub Scout Day Camp, or Cub Scout Resident camp you need to fill out parts A and B. If you are attending a camp longer than 72 consecutive hours, you will need part A and B, and a physician to fill out part C. If you are attending a high adventure camp all parts of the form must be filled out.

 Corvallis Eagles Soar

Here is a picture of Eagle Scouts, Eric Mason, Kevin Fisher, Ryan Goold, Paul Elias, Toshio Hiratsuka and Jason Mock with their former Cub Scout Den Leader Brent Goold.  All six Scouts started in the Cub Scout Pack 468, Den 6 in Corvallis, OR.  The picture was taken at the Philomath Scout Lodge after the Eagle Court of Honor ceremony for Eric Mason, Kevin Fisher, Ryan Goold, Paul Elias and Daniel Baggett.

We need pictures of all of the wonderful things Scouts do all year 'round! Please email the picture to djohnson@otcbsa.org with a caption explaining who, what, where, and why and your picture could be in the next Trail Smoke! 

 Here are just some of the wonderful things our Scouts have been doing:

Scouts from Pack 413 receive their Wolf Badge of Rank

The Powder Horn Course is an opportunity to safely participate in fun and challenging outdoor activities, an introduction to resources to improve unit programs, exposure to new and exciting high adventure activities and a challenge for both youth and adults to creatively deliver safe high adventure programs in their units. This course is an introduction to resources and is not designed to be a certification for any event. In order to earn the Powder Horn award medallion, participants must attend at least 10 electives, and will meet expert consultants in our area who will be providing the program. Be prepared to have fun attending this action-packed, hands-on outdoor experience. The course will be offered June 20th - 24th. Click here for registration information. 

The National Youth Leadership Training course syllabus integrates the best of modern leadership theory with the traditional strengths of the Scouting experience. Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, and audio-visual support, NYLT participants will be engaged in a unified approach to leadership that will give them the skills and confidence to lead well. Through a wide range of activities, events, games, and adventures, NYLT participants will work and play together as they put into action the best that Scouting has to offer. This course will be offered June 26th - July 2nd. Click here for registration information.

Just a reminder that camper fees were due for all Boy Scouts attending Camp Baker and Camp Melakwa by May 31st. Both camps have a great line up of all star camp staff ready to make our 2011 camping season the best.

See you at camp! 

We are looking for Ranger staff for Camp Melakwa. We need staff for crafts, nature, outbound, and Scout skills. We also need an 18 year old for Archery.

Please contact:

Ryan Rasmussen, Camp Director at 503-320-9391

or Pat Patterson at 541-942-4739

Click here for a staff application

Do you have a Scout or leader who makes a significant contribution in their Lane County community?  The Register Guard is been sponsoring a Volunteer of the Month program which is a great way to honor and recognize outstanding volunteerism.  Our own Dr. Tom Macready, Scoutmaster of Troop 175 of Eugene was recently recognized as Volunteer of the Year.  Complete the application by clicking here and send it to the United Way of Lane County.

When planning your outings this summer, don't forget to fill out and submit your tour plan. The tour plan replaces the online tour permit system.

The definition of the tour plan in the Language of Scouting:

"Units complete this form when planning for local, national, or international adventrue. The plan helps ensure the unit is properly prepared, that qualified and trained leadership is in place, and that the right equipment is available for the adventure."

Click here for a fillable tour plan

36^th Annual Boy Scout Golf Classic  

36^th Annual Boy Scout Golf Classic  

SAVE THE DATE, Monday September 12^th, at the Eugene Country Club.  For more information please contact Rex Starr at (541) 284-4394 or rstarr@otcbsa.org.

Registration & Sponsorship Options:

-         Individual players may register for only $250 each (1/2 cart incld.),

-         Corporate Teams (foursome with carts) are only $1000.

-         Major Sponsor $2,500 (Team of 4 w/carts, prominent signage at registration, sign at a hole and logo on all printed materials).

-         Corporate Sponsorship $1,250 (Team of 4 w/carts plus sign on a hole).

-         Hole Sponsors $250

Click here to register  

Time to check your Unit Rosters!

    Now is the ideal time to be sure all of your Scouts did indeed get registered for the current calendar year.  As you head off to camp and other outdoor adventures, you want to be sure everyone is covered by the Council insurance that is included with the registration.

    Take a few moments to go onto the Oregon Trail Council website, and go to the Internet Advancement page.  It is here that you can read the current roster for your Pack/Troop/Team/Crew/Ship.  If you need your unit I.D. number, check with your internet advancement chair, or phone the Council Registrar.

    Below is the Registration fee chart for the remainder of the year.  All applications must have the correct fees included with the paperwork at the time of submission to be processed.  Remember that Adult Tiger Partners must also pay their $2 Council insurance fee when they register their Tiger Cub.

Time to Renew District Positions & Merit Badge Counselor Registrations

If you hold a registered position in your District, or if you are registered as a Merit Badge Counselor, be watching your mail for the renewal form this month!  Please return this to the council office right away to be sure your registration in these two areas get renewed on time.   

In case you didn't know the position of Merit Badge Counselor is classified as a DISTRICT position, and not a unit position.  There are no fees required to be registered as a Merit Badge counselor . This position MUST be renewed by July 1^st in order to get on the list of Merit Badge Counselors for 2011-2012. 

Should you have any questions regarding this, please email the Oregon Trail Registrar at: cbusse@otcbsa.org.

BSA Community Service-

Something to be proud of!

The Boy Scout handbook describes a service project "as a special Good Turn that puts Scout spirit into action".   If that is the case, then the Scouting spirit is very active in the communities we serve.   But exactly how many total hours of service have been performed?  How many Scouts, leaders and volunteers have been involved?   

There is a great tool available to units and the council that will help collect valuable information about the impact of  Scouting's community service.   It is called Journey to Excellence.  The Journey to Excellence program is the BSA's new Quality recognition for units, districts and councils.  Among the many categories the award measures is Community Service.

To log community service hours, units need to establish their account on the Journey to Excellence service hours website:  http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.  Here you will find good information about logging service hours and also about the Journey to Excellence award overall.   Part of the log in process for unit leaders involves knowing the unit's id number.  This number is available by contacting the council office at 541-485-4433. Units should identify one leader or parent to be in charge of logging hours. 

Oregon Trail Council will use the information from the Journey to Excellence service hours website to highlight successful unit projects in Trailsmoke, on www.otcbsa.org, and in other marketing efforts. 

Oregon Trail Council has a goal of every Scout performing at least 3 hours of community service.  You can help far exceed this goal by encouraging your unit to perform community service projects and by logging your project at the Journey to Excellence website.    http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence

July 13^th - 29^th, 2013

Share the word with your Scouts...the 2013 National Scout Jamboree is coming and it's not their father's jamboree.  We're talking seriously high adventure, people! Whitewater rafting, zip lining, rappelling, mountain biking, hiking, and more-with 50,000 of their closest friends at the brand new Summit Bechtel Reserve in the wilds of West Virginia.  Encourage your Scouts to visit the site https://summit.scouting.org/en/Pages/default.aspx  for more exciting information. Oregon Trail Council's contingent attend the national Scout Jamboree, followed by 8 days of touring historical sites on the east coast including Williamsburg, Virginia, Washington DC., Gettysburg and New York City.

Adult leaders wishing to participate with our council contingent, please email Scout Executive Mike Quirk at mquirk@otcbsa.org.  Scouters wishing to apply for staff, should follow the link at https://summit.scouting.org/en/Pages/default.aspx

Camp Melakwa Weekend Camping 

Help save the Council thousands of dollars in federal forest lease fees by taking your troop, team or crew to Camp Melakwa this summer or fall for a weekend of camping adventure. 

Oregon Trail Council pays the Forest Service an annual lease which is reduced by the number of users so it is important to get Scouts and leaders using Camp Melakwa, even if they are not camping there for summer camp.

Camp Melakwa is an outstanding site for weekend camping with a great lake to fish, trails to hike and makes a great base camp for more high adventure treks.

Scouters Needed at Camp Beaver Day! 

Scouters of all skill levels are needed to help get Camp Baker and Melakwa up and running for another great season of camping. If you can spare a day to help, come to camp.

Camp Baker Beaver Day, Saturday, June 4th at 8:00am

Meals provided. Contact Brian Gray at bgray@otcbsa.org.

Camp Melakwa Beaver Days: July 15th and 16th

Contact Mike Quirk at mquirk@otcbsa.org. 

Scouting's Journey to Excellence" is the BSA's new council performance recognition program designed to encourage and reward success and measure the performance of our units, districts, and councils. It is replacing the Centennial Quality Awards Program as a means of encouraging excellence in providing a quality program at all levels of the BSA.

Starting in October, units, districts and the council will begin to complete their score sheets.   Oregon Trail Council spent some time evaluating the key indicators that the award measures and set some "bold" goals to help guide us to excellence.  The following chart shows the council's progress on these goals.  The results will change and be updated as the year progresses and more information becomes available.

How is your unit doing?  Do you need help understanding the form or where to find information?  Call your district executive (541-485-4433) to help start the process.

 FOS Chart

Council Training