Kickoff summer with a great game of baseball, an evening of fun for the entire family, and a campout in the outfield at the annual Scout Night at the Bluefish on Saturday, June 16. It doesn't get any easier or more fun for Cub Scout families. $16 a ticket gets you the pre-game parade, a great game, campout and of course a patch. Plus we've got fireworks. Ticket orders must be in no later than June 10. Click here to download a registration form.  

All Cub Scouts are invited to Hoyt Scout Reservation for the annual Me & My Shadow event with the theme of Patriot Games. Bring your Scout spirit and go through a Colonial-era boot camp Live a soldiers' life for the day, play some games and earn your stripes. BB-guns, sling shots, obstacle course, musket demo and more. This event is limited to the first 150 Scouts. Contact Keith Watson for more information. 

The Connecticut Yankee Council is teaming up with the Connecticut Building Trades Unions to offer a merit badge workshop on October 12-13 for Scouts 13 and older. Scouts can learn directly from skilled tradesmen who will offer American Labor, Architecture, Electricity, Engineering, Metalwork, Painting, Plumbing, Surveying, Welding and Woodwork Merit Badges. It's like Camp Sikorsky with power tools. Online registration goes live on July 1. Check the website for complete details.  

"I was a Cub Scout in Pack 4 and crossed over to Troop 4 in Hingham, Mass. in the fall of 1977, and Scouting meant camping out 1 weekend a month and freedom from a very protective mother at the time. I remember having a very tough ASM, who constantly challenged me whenever I had my board of review with him. I didn't get it at the time, but he was pushing me to do better, challenging myself to exceed, and pushing for me to finish Eagle. Thru Scouts, I learned I liked helping people get things done, teaching them how to cook, lead, sharing what I knew, and learning what I didn't.

 

When I was 14 or 15 we started an Explorer post, and my advancement in Scouts had slowed, and I was busier, with 2 weekends camping a month and being explorer leader.  This ASM, my Webelos leader, and father of a fellow friend and scout, entered the hospital shortly before my 17th Birthday, He passed away a month later at 43, and I was a pallbearer in my Scout uniform, at his funeral.  I knew then I had to finish my Eagle, and I would do it to help honor him, and all the time he put into me.  I submitted my paperwork three days before my birthday, and dedicated my Eagle award to him, and all the other leaders and Scouts before me that helped out.  From that point on I got what Scouts was all about, and the same attitude about helping people continues to guide me today.  I hope to inspire others to achieve and pay it forward for them."

 

- Dennis Ames
Eagle Scout

 

If you are an Eagle Scout, we'd like to know what it means to you. Send a note (300 words or less) to tony.vogl@scouting.org and we'll share in future editions of this newsletter. 

Is 2012 your year to take Wood Badge, Scouting's premier adult leadership training course? This training, founded by Baden Powell in 1919 and full of modern day management principles and leadership essentials, focuses on preparing adults to deliver the promise of Scouting, in a fun atmosphere. The course is August 24-26 and September 28-30 at Deer Lake. The staff has been preparing for nearly a year ... are you ready to join them in August? 

The Early Bird Registration Deadline has been extended to June 15, so take advantage of this discount and make your registration today. Visit http://www.ctyankee.org/woodbadge to learn more. 

Joseph Csatari's latest work of art was unveiled at this morning's Americanism Breakfast at the Boy Scouts of America's 2012 National Annual Meeting. The piece celebrates this year's 100th Anniversary of the Eagle Scout award, first presented to Arthur Eldred in August 1912. To order a print on high-quality paper ($60), an unframed canvas print ($150), or framed canvas print ($300), go here.