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Help us support our Mount Diablo Silverado Council
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 | | Learn More about Religious Emblems that Aim to Promote Reverence | Click Here!
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 | | Help Wanted | Volunteers are needed to help with a variety of office work, including preparing mailings and filing paperwork.
Please contact you are available to help on an as needed basis during normal business hours (8:30am-5:00pm).
Please note, some of the filing projects require bending and lifting as well as getting a little dirty.
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Words of Wisdom
The Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams Nat'l Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award
In 2009, the National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. The award recognizes the Scout for his Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award.
Will Goldie, of Troop 204 in Lafayette, was selected as the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council's 2014 Adam Nat'l Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year. Will's Eagle project addressed the gender equality and education of women in Afghanistan. Many girls risk their lives to attend school. These girls were being taught computer skills, but they have no access to actual computers. Will designed an extremely low-cost computer configuration to help these schools, raised funds, purchased and assembled the systems and arranged for delivery with the project sponsor. His goal was to outfit one classroom (10 computers). In using an innovative internet "crowd fundraising" approach, he received donations from around the globe and exceeded his $2, 250 goal, raising over $20,000 and ultimately delivering over 70 systems to schools in Afghanistan.
Will's project will compete at the Western Region level. The Regional winners will be announced around March 31st. National winners will selected by April 15th and recognized at the Boy Scouts of America National meeting in May.
Applications for the Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award are now being placed in the Eagle Scout certificate packet that each new Eagle Scout receives. It can also be found at www.nesa.org/PDF/542-026.pdf.
Thank You,
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Scout Spotlight
Carol is a veteran Scouting leader who has a talent for training. She joined Scouting in 1995 with her son in the Tiger Cub program. She served as a leader in Pack 882 in multiple positions and has been both Asst. Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster in Troop 201. Carol has attended almost all of the available adult leadership training available at the Boy Scout and Venturing levels. She also has been on staff for Scoutmaster Fundamentals, LEAD, Outdoor Leader Skills, Trainer' EDGE, and Wood Badge. Carol is a Brotherhood Honor member in the Order of the Arrow. She has served as a Course Director for the National Youth Leadership Training course in Mt. Diablo Silverado Council for three years. The past two years, Carol has been on staff at the Philmont Training Center for the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE), serving as an Assistant Course Director in 2012, then the Course Director in 2013. She is also very active in the East Bay SPCA with over 800 hours of volunteer service hours over the past three years in the areas of canine behavior and training team, humane education, off-sites and special events, and the training of volunteers. Carol is married to Claude, and they have one son, Christopher, who is an Eagle Scout.
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Exciting New Fundraiser Sends Supporters Over The Edge (Literally) This June
Are you a thrill seeker looking for your next great adventure? Are you afraid of heights and ready to conquer your fear? Do you love Scouting and are willing to go over the edge for MDSC?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Over the Edge is for you!
Over the Edge will take place on Saturday, June 14 at One Concord Center. Like other pledge-to-participate fundraisers, interested individuals get pledges from friends and families to reach a personal goal. Once the goal is reached, Edgers go Over the Edge!
When you sign up at our website, you get a personalized web page to track your progress. You may post to facebook, twitter, email and get friends and family to support you. When you reach your goal, join other Edgers at One Concord Center on June 14 to rappel down Contra Costa County's highest building. Has your boss ever pushed you too far? Join your coworkers to raise money to toss your boss Over the Edge! Partners, teams and families are encouraged to participate. Prizes will be given for individual and team participation, spirit and of course fundraising! Costumes are encouraged, but all safety standards must apply.
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, Swift Realty Partners and Over the Edge USA will partner up to bring you this outrageous fundraiser. Visit our website or contact Suzanne Martin for more information. |
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Second Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser a Big Hit!
Last Saturday, the rain gave way to big puffy clouds as 107 shooters converged on Quail Point Hunt Club in Zamora, CA. Everybody enjoyed the NSCA (National Sporting Clays Association) registered targets. First-timers received hands-on instruction and use of a gun while experienced shooters encouraged and welcomed all. The spirit of the day was fun and light-hearted. A sumptuous lunch of slow-cooked tri tip had everybody talking.
 Greg Little took the high overall prize with a score of 97, Bianca Delfabro won the ladies division with a score of 60. Will Bruce won the Eagle Class prize, Richard Arrowood won the Star Class prize, Doug Brown won the Tenderfoot Class prize and first-timer, Nathan Bell from troop 249 won the Duck-and-Cover Award. Final bills have not been received, but we expect to net over $10,000 for the Scouts in the Mt. Diablo Silverado Council.
Thank you to Drill Tech, our Gold Level Sponsor, to Northern California Carpenters and UA Local 342, our Silver Level Sponsors and our Station Sponsors, Bay Alarm and Shoot for a Cure. We'd also like to thank Barry Whiffin, Bill Grubbs, the Diablo Rod and Gun Club, Greg Kunz, Mark Peterson, Contra Costa County District Attorney, Marty Klier, Konocti Rod and Gun Club, Quail Point Hunt Club, the Sheet Metal Workers, Tim Hessong, Valley of the Moon Trap Club, Tom Hansen and Troops 83, 212, 249 and 262. We look forward to seeing more Scouts shoot next year.
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2014 Friends of Scouting Campaign on Track!
Thanks to numerous FOS Chairs and the generosity of many families and individuals, our 2014 Friends of Scouting campaign is on track to reach our goal by June 30. Many Cub Scout packs have held FOS presentations at their Blue & Gold Banquets and several Boy Scout troops, Exploring and Venture crews are planning theirs as well. We have raised over $230,000 in pledges and are a third of the way to our goal! If you missed an FOS presentation, you may learn more about the Friends of Scouting campaign or click here to give online.
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Flight to First camp for New Scouts 
It can be an overwhelming experience for newly bridged Webelos who enter a new Boy Scout troop. If the troop is too large, he can get lost in the constant commotion; if the troop is too small, it might not have enough resources to engage every Scout. We may be able to help with an overnight camping experience at Camp Herms! This year's camp takes place the week of August 4-9. This camp concentrates on the skills needed to reach the First Class rank as well as getting a start on several merit badges (make sure that you get your Scoutmaster's approval to start these badges by having your "blue cards" pre-signed by him or her). Updates for this event will appear on the council website at: http://bsa-mdsc.org/events/boy-scouts/boy-scout-resident-camp.
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Please come and support the Venturing Officers' Association!
Fundraiser Pancake Breakfast
Date: Sunday, April 13, 2014
Time: 8:00-11:00am
Location: Walnut Creek Elks Lodge
1475 Creekside Dr., Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Cost: $5
Includes
Eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, coffee & juice
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Oakland A's Scout Day
The 2013 American League Western Division Champion Oakland A's is hosting a Scout Day on June 1st. The team is offering discount tickets to Scouts to attend a game against their division rival, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Participation in the pregame activity festival, on-field parade of American and unit flags, and a Scout Day patch are additional highlights of the day with your Scout Day ticket purchase. Additional information can be found at:http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/oak/schedule/group_events.jsp?content=scout.
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Swimming and Water Rescue 
The Guide to Safe Scouting strongly recommends that all units have at least one adult or older youth member currently trained in BSA Swimming and Water Rescue or BSA Lifeguard to assist in the planning and conducting of all unit swimming activities. The MDSC Aquatics Committee has room for 16 people in this two session course-May 2 for classroom work, and May 10 for practical skills in the water. More information can be found at: http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/training/adult/high-adventure-hat/swimming-and-water-rescue. |
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Highlander Hiking Awards Program
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council h  as an extensive recognition program for enjoying day hikes throughout our council boundaries. Cub Scouts through Venturers can find an outing suitable for their skill level through this series of 14 hikes. Information can be found on our council website at: http://bsa-mdsc.org/events/highlander-program . A center patch can be had at $4.99 for completing your first hike, and a series of rockers at $1.50 each can be purchased for each completed trek. All patches are available through the Pleasant Hill Scout Shop. |
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Applying for a Trail Leader Permit for EBMUD hiking trails
The Bay Area has a wealth of hiking trails, many of them on East Bay Municipal Utility District lands. You may get permission to use these trails for your family and three additional guests through a Trail Use Permit. If you want to take a larger Scouting group (up to 30 people) on a hike, you will want to apply for a Trail Leader permit. The former is a simple on-line process through the EBMUD Recreation site through this link: https://www.ebmud.com/recreation/trail-use-permits/ . If you want a Trail Leader Permit, it is currently more efficient to download a paper application and send in payment as opposed to getting an on-line Trail Use permit and upgrading it. For the Trail Leader permit, please contact Alan, the council Program Director, at programdirector@bsa-mdsc.org for a set of hiking questions that EBMUD has for you. Once you complete that questionnaire, he will send you a partially completed Application for Trail Use Permit with the filled-in Trail Leader endorsement section. You can see the form at: https://www.ebmud.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/Trail%20Permits_0.pdf . You may then finish completing the form and send it in, or take it, with payment to any of the "Locations to obtain EBMUD Trail Permit": https://www.ebmud.com/sites/default/files/pdfs/LOCATIONS_0.pdf .
Take advantage of the warm weather and get outdoors. Happy trails!
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Looking for Summer Camp Staff
We are looking for friendly, organized leaders who work well with youth to help lead our summer camps. These outing start on Memorial Day weekend with our Cub Family Camp and run into August. Staff members must be at least 14 years old. The big adventure is at Camp Wolfeboro for the whole summer with Boy Scouts and Venturers, and paid positions are available if you are 16 years or older. District Cub Scout day camps, Cub Scout resident camps at Camp Herms, and Family Camps at Camp Lindblad last a few days to a week if you need to stay closer to home. If you are interested in being a positive role model, complete the on-line application at: http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/sites/default/files/Staff%20Application%202014.pdf , and return it to the council service center. |
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The BSA's Commitment of Safety
We want you to know that the safety of our youth, volunteers, staff, and employees cannot be compromised. Health and safety must be integrated into everything we do to the point that no injuries are acceptable beyond those that are readily treatable by Scout-rendered first aid.
The Scouting program itself, activities Scouts participate in on a regular basis, and the outdoor classroom used in Scouting have inherent risks. A challenging program and activities help attract youth and retain them in Scouting. Perceived risk during such ventures heightens awareness and builds confidence and discipline vital to building tomorrow's leaders.
There is a place in Scouting for age-appropriate events that push youth beyond their normal comfort level and stretch their abilities. This is appropriate when risks are identified and mitigated. One should not participate in or promote activities when risks are unknown or ignored. We must protect our youth as part of our program. In a sense, safety is our license to operate.
In particular, Scout leaders are responsible for the physical and mental well-being of everyone under their supervision. Parents who entrust Scout leaders with their children justifiably expect them to return uninjured.
To achieve that goal, everyone must work together to do the following:
* Know, understand, and comply with all rules, policies, and procedures.
* Model safe behaviors when participating in Scouting events.
* Encourage staff, volunteer leaders, and youth members to share in the management of risk.
* Promote, provide, and, when appropriate, require health and safety training.
* Communicate the importance of incident and near-miss reporting and hold staff members accountable for implementing reporting procedures at unit, district, and council levels.
* Study incidents that do occur to learn from them, and modify risks where appropriate.
* Support enterprise risk management concepts.
Thank you for being part of the Scouting movement and creating an exciting and safe experience for every participant.
The National Key 3: Commissioner Tico, Perez, President Wayne Perry, and Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock
For questions regarding this program or other scouting safety issues, contact Don Kubik Jr. (dkubikjr@comcast.net), the council's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Chair.
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Ways to improve your Journey To Excellence score
Journey to Excellence is a process to give youth a well-rounded program through a continuing improvement process. The whole program can be found at: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx. Now is a good time to capture your year-end results for various categories-number of youth who went to summer camps, number of service hours towards community projects, number of trained leaders. From here your pack, troop, team, crew, or ship can plan how to deliver a stronger set of activities for 2014.
projects, we are able to show that Scouting gives back to the community. If your unit has not logged in to record hours, go back to the person who did your internet recharter. Click in the boxes, and the site will prompt "New Users Click Here". The "Unit ID" is the same number used to access the internet recharter website. From there you may set up a profile to enter your hours.
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Scouting Safely - To Keep Myself Physically Strong
The start of the New Year is a great time to start preparing for another year of great scout activities and getting fit is a key element to being prepared. A great way to get fit is to take the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge! "PALA" stands for "Presidential Active Lifestyle Award" and this challenge is for everyone associated with the Boy Scouts
 of America, including Scouts, Venturers, parents, volunteers, council staff, board members, Friends of Scouting, and BSA Alumni. To earn the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge Award, you are required to meet a daily-activity goal-30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for kids under 18-for at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. The patch can be obtained from the Scout Shop or http://www.scoutstuff.org. For questions regarding this program or other scouting safety issues, contact Don Kubik Jr. (dkubikjr@comcast.net), the council's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Chair.
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The gift of the great outdoors for Cub Scout families in 2014
Warmer weather is just a short time away, and it will be a good opportunity to experience the Bay Area natural sites as a family. Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, insisted that "three-quarters of Scouting is outing" in using the woods as the classroom for his character-building youth program.
The Mt. Diablo Silverado Council has a number of overnight camping opportunities for Cub Scouts hosted at our three camp properties-Camp Herms in the El Cerrito hills overlooking San Francisco Bay, Camp Lindblad in the coastal redwood forest above Santa Cruz, and Camp Wolfeboro in the Sierra Nevada gold rush country.
Family Camp is a relaxed outing at Camp Lindblad where the a little bit of advancement is available along with a lot of fun activities for the whole family. BB gun shooting, archery, wood crafts, nature hikes, and learning how to use and carry a knife safely are part of the round-robin activity stations. Everyone has a chance to participate in songs, skits, and s'mores at the campwide campfire. Memorial Day Weekend, May 23-26 has an Olympic games theme for Monday morning. Our two available fall weekends --October 10-12 and October 17-19 have a Halloween theme that will give kids a chance to try out their costumes (and a chance to make modifications before the big night). Details will be posted at: http://bsa-mdsc.org/events/cub-scouts/cub-scout-family-camp . Resident Camp at Camp Herms is by den and will feature the new BSA STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) NOVA program, http://www.scouting.org/stem/Awards/CubScout.aspx. Cub Scouts will camp overnight by dens, and minimal leadership is required. Completing belt loops in Mathematics, Science, BB gun, Archery, as well as NOVA awards are on tap. A field trip to the Lawrence Hall of Science is planned for the week of July 21-26, and a special Tiger overnight is available July 25-26 for new Cub Scouts who joined during spring recruiting as graduating kindergarteners. A special set of sessions for Webelos will also be available either June 23-25 or June 26-28. For those Webelos who camp the whole week, a field trip to the Exploratorium is planned. The NOVA awards, Engineer, and Scientist activity badges along with BB gun shooting and archery are the featured program elements. Ongoing information appears at: http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/events/cub-scouts/cub-scout-resident-camp. Once again, only Den Leaders are required for supervision. Boys do not need to be paired up with parents/guardians.
Webelos Weekend at Wolfeboro gives a Webelos Scout and parent a chance to see what it's like to attend a Boy Scout summer camp. Program areas like nature, Scout skills, swimming, air rifle, archery, and handicraft will all be open. The friendly staff at Camp Wolfeboro will ensure that you have a good time in this picturesque granite valley that has been carved by the Stanislaus River. It's just like the Yosemite Valley, without the crowds! This is a great escape from the city for a weekend-your choice of either July 4-6 or July 25-27. More information is on the council website: http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/events/cub-scouts/webelos-weekend. Webeloree is a one-night weekend event at Camp Herms for parent and Webelos Scout. The emphases are work on activity badges and preparing for bridging into a Boy Scout troop. This popular outing fills up quickly, so keep checking the information page for updates: http://www.bsa-mdsc.org/events/cub-scouts/webeloree.
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- Week at a Glance
Upcoming Schedule of Events
3/15 - Council Annual Meeting
3/15 - Annual Recognition Dinner
3/19 - Basic Backpacking Awareness
3/21-3/23 - Spring Linblad Ordeal
3/22 - Tread Lightly! Trainer
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Special Deals at the Scout Shop
Check out all that the Pleasant Hill Scout Shop has to offer at www.scoutstuff.org!
See you at the Shop!
Store Address:
800 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phone: (925) 674-8500
Store Hours:
Mon-Tues: 9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Thurs-Fri: 9:00am-6:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Click on the Link Below to Check out New Items!
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Thank you very much for taking the time to catch up with our weekly newsletter. Sincerely,
Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, Boy Scouts of America |
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