Scouting e-Bulletin - Share Scouting with a friend this fall

Eagle Scouts are more likely than other Scouts and men who were never Scouts to indicate they have built character traits related to work ethics, morality, tolerance and respect for diversity. (Source: Baylor University) Learn more.

A Century of Eagle Scouts

By Michael Malone

(7/31/2012 - Wall Street Journal) -- One hundred years ago on Aug. 1, Arthur Eldred, a 17-year-old Boy Scout from Long Island, became the first person to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Eldred, tall, quiet and with a shock of dark hair, had joined scouting largely at the behest of his widowed mother, who hoped it would give some structure to his life. Yet as Eagle Scouts would continue to do throughout the next century, Eldred caught the scouting world by surprise. He was the first of an extraordinary new cohort of young men who were to prove very different from the classic 13-year-old Boy Scout in short pants ... Continue reading

Joke of the Week

A horse trainer raised a filly. When he raced her in the evening, she always won. When he raced her during the day, she always lost. She was a fine horse, but she was a real night mare.

Read more at www.BoysLife.org.

Recruiting season is about to begin. Are you ready?

Help us extend the fun and value of Scouting to other families in your community during our Join Scouting/Back to School drive this fall.

This fall we are rolling out more exciting programs, and youth development activities than ever before. With the support of Scout families like yours, together we are helping our youth to make new friends and learn new things in a community environment designed to help them succeed.

From building his own Pinewood Derby® car to learning how to roast the perfect marshmallow with his best friends at a family campout, you can benefit other children in your community by inviting families to join Scouting.

The Cub Scouting program is uniquely designed to meet the needs of young boys and their parents, through offering fun and challenging experiences that boys and parents do together. Youth are looking for: Camping, Hiking, Racing, Fishing, Swimming,

Parents can count on experiences that build values, provide a variety of learning experiences while building friendships, self-confidence and social skills.

Young boys grow up fast. Encourage new families in your community to join Cub Scouting today. As a Scouting Family, you are helping to make a difference in the lives of children today by supporting programs that instill values along with a variety of family based learning experiences.

Mass Media Campaign

The Connecticut Yankee Council is excited to be partnering with other Councils in the New York metro area in a major multi-faceted marketing approach. We've pooled our funds to purchase web banners on websites geared toward moms of Cub Scout-age boys; you may see inserts in the ValPak envelopes in your mailboxes, and a series of targeted emails going out starting next week. These all direct users to visit www.beascout.org. If your unit hasn't updated its info at beascout.org, please follow this link to learn how to be sure it's up to date.

Stay tuned for more exciting tools and resources to continue spreading the word about Scouting.

Sell Popcorn This Fall

The 2012 Connecticut Yankee Council and Trail's End Popcorn Sale is a win-win-win for everyone. Your Pack or Troop earns money to carry out their activities, it provides income to the Council to serve our Packs and Troops, and your Scouting families get a great product at a great price.

For more information or to sign up your unit to earn money for your program this fall, contact Jon Pleva at jopleva@bsamail.org or (203) 876-6868, Ext. 286.

Scout Night at the New Haven Open at Yale

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to come and experience world class professional tennis at the 4th annual Scout Night at the New Haven Open at Yale on Wednesday, August 22. The order deadline is August 14. The experience includes a private "meet and greet" with the father of the #1 doubles team in the world, Wayne Bryan, for all Scouts. They'll be called to participate in drills and fun group activities. Scouts can also enjoy fun in the Aetna Fitzone, and two great matches on the Stadium Court. Tickets will be available for pickup at the Council Resource Center on August 16, or at Will Call on August 22.

Complete details can be found by following this link.

Scout Day at Lime Rock

Schedule Change: Scout Day Lime Rock is now September 21-22. Start off your Scouting year with the annual campout and day at the races, Scout Day at Lime Rock, September 21-22, 2012. This event is a favorite with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts alike. Bring the whole family!

Learn more or register by clicking here.

Congrats to Mike Card & Bill Chin

Congratulations to Connecticut Yankee Council Scouters Bill Chin and Michael Card on receiving the Order of the Arrow's Distinguished Service Award, presented on July 31 at the National Order of the Arrow Conference at Michigan State University. The Distinguished Service Award was created in 1940 to honor those who rendered service to the Order beyond the lodge level. The award is presented to those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a sectional, regional, or national basis. Learn more by following this link.

Sweet 16 - Personal Safety Equipment & Safety Procedures and Policies

Personal Safety Equipment - The supervisor must ensure that every participant has and uses appropriate personal safety equipment. For example, activity afloat requires a life jacket properly worn by each participant. Bikers, horseback riders, and whitewater kayakers need helmets for certain activities. Skaters may need protective gear, and all need to be dressed for warmth and utility depending on the circumstances.

Safety Procedures and Policies - For most activities, there are common-sense procedures and standards that can greatly reduce the risk. These should be known and appreciated by all participants, and the supervisor must ensure compliance.

For questions on Scouting Safety, please contact John Braddock from the Council's Risk Management committee at john.braddock@cox.net.

Watch Eagle Scout Celebration From Your Computer

The National Eagle Scout Association is formally unveiling Joseph Csatari's 100 Years of Eagle Scouts painting, and kicking off the Eagle Scout Heritage Celebration with an event Saturday, August 11 at the National Scouting Museum in Irving Texas. Too late to book a flight? Watch it from your home computer at 11 a.m. (central).

Click here for complete information and the link to watch live.

Camp Sequassen Staff Reunion

Calling all staff members, past and present, for our second reunion. You and your family are invited to join us for a day of fun and fellowship at your favorite camp enjoying the trails, swimming in West Hill Pond, shooting archery, climbing the tower and closing the day with a campfire. You and your family will be able to meet staff members from across the decades, see pictures and memorabilia and admire all the new updates to the camp. The registration fee includes dinner, event patch and donation to the camp. Click here to register.

BSA Unveils Discover Card Partnership

The Boy Scouts of America is excited to share a new partnership with Discover Card. The BSA Discover credit card is designed to be used by adults as a responsible financial tool that will benefit the BSA and cardholders alike. The cards will include many of the same features as a typical credit card, but with ties to Scouting.

To learn more about the BSA Discover credit card program, please visit www.BoyScoutCreditCard.com. While there, be sure to sign up for ongoing notifications as the cards draw closer to launch.

Major Change to Cub Scouts & Venturing

Volunteer-led task forces supporting the 2011-2015 National Council Strategic Plan's Goal 411, after considerable deliberation, have recommended moving to the use of the Scout Oath and Law for all BSA programs. This change would primarily impact Cub Scouts and Venturing.

The recommendation has been reviewed and endorsed by the national support committee responsible for program content changes. It has also been discussed and endorsed by the national officers of the BSA, and Wayne Perry has directed that the recommendation be brought forward to the National Executive Board at its October 2012 meeting.
Learn more by clicking here.

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Connecticut Yankee Council

60 Wellington Road

Milford, CT 06461

P (203) 876-6868

F (203) 876-6884

www.ctyankee.org

The Connecticut Yankee Council will carry out the mission of the Boy Scouts of America in every community in our Council by providing leadership opportunities for all youth through quality programs, mentoring from trained adult volunteers and ongoing learning and personal development through outdoor experiences.