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Friends of Scouting is the Colonial Virginia Council's annual giving campaign and is the largest and most important source of funding. Your support enables Scouting's programs and outdoor adventures to prepare young people for a lifetime of character and leadership.
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In this Issue... 
The Bayport Scout Reservation weather rock never lies. Ranger Joe is reporting at least 6+ inches of fresh snow on top of the 5+ inches we got last storm. For everyone's safety he wants to remind folks that Bayport is temporarily closed due to the weather.
The Scout Strong Challenge is underway again! Back by popular demand, we will hold a spring and a fall edition - annually. Walk, run, swim or get moving in your own unique way. This virtual distance race covers 1 mile to 50 miles! Your choice. Open to Scouts, Scouters, and the general public. You will be rewarded with a custom medal - different for each season we hold the event.
Medals from the 2014 Scout Strong Challenge are in the Scout Shop available for pickup!
Order of the Arrow Beaver Days
The Order of the Arrow Beaver Days are now listed as: March 28, April 4, April 11, and April 18.
Please click the below documents to see the jobs needed:
Webelos and Cub Scout Resident Camp
Breaking News from the NYLT Staff
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NYLT Promotional Video - Watch Now!
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2015 Lumberjack
Date: March 13-15 Cost: $10/15 Location: Bayport Scout Reservation
Day Camp - Save the Date
  We have a new blog post up this week and a guest blogger! Check it out!
The following local units have signed up to camp at Bayport Scout Reservation in the summer of 2015:Troops:
10, 16, 17, 27, 29, 43, 75, 94, 96, 124, 132, 103, 414, 501
To register your unit for 2015 Summer Camp or High Adventure Programs, click here.
Information in our newsletter is organized geographically.
Although events across the Council are open to all units, most units participate in events close to home. Each local territory has a specific service area and a name. Find your District below:
- Chesapeake Bay: Mathews, Gloucester, and York Counties and the City of Poquoson
- Colonial Trail: Surry and Isle of Wight Counties and the City of Suffolk
- First Colony: James City County and the City of Williamsburg.
- Heritage: The City of Hampton
- James River: The City of Newport News
- Siouan Rivers: Sussex, Southampton, Greenville and Brunswick Counties as well as the Cities of Franklin and Emporia
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Scouting for Food
Save the Date! April 25th from 9 am to 5pm at Food Lion in Poquoson, Tabb, Grafton, York, Gloucester, and Hayes.
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Colonial Trail District Cub Scout Roundatable
We would like to invite you to the monthly Colonial Trail District Cub Scout Roundtable. A Cub Scout roundtable is a form of commissioner service and supplemental training for volunteers at the unit level. The objectives of the roundtable are to provide leaders with program ideas, information on policy and events, and training opportunities. The roundtable is a forum for sharing experiences and enjoying fun and fellowship with other Scout leaders. The roundtable experience will inspire, motivate, and enable all types of unit leaders to provide a stronger program for their Cub Scouts. Come join us every second Wednesday of the month at 7:30 pm at Oakland Christian United Church of Christ located at 5641 Godwin Boulevard in Suffolk, VA. We'll see you there! Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner: Eric Landreth (eclclandreth@gmail.com)
Did You Know?
Did you know that that about 70 percent of BSA units nationwide are chartered by faith-based organizations? The various Religious Emblems (RE) programs encourage a stronger relationship with your unit's Charter Organization (CO) and helps develop more of a two-way street with regard to involvement and communication. Research also shows that Scouts that work on their religious emblems remain in Scouting longer. In fact, use of the RE programs can also be used as a recruitment tool for your Unit.
Consider the number of kids that may be new to your CO that aren't in Scouts! Think of the kids in your unit and all of the possible different faiths that are assembled there that may not even know about the various RE programs available to them. RE programs are available for Baha'i to Baptist, Morovian to Methodist, and many more in between. You don't have to teach all of them, you just need to let the Scouts know that they are there for them to use! Additionally, use of the RE program by those Scouts who do not claim a particular faith may just spark an interest in learning more about their Creator. Remember, Lord Baden Powell said, "No man is much good unless he believes in God and obeys his law. So every Scout should have a religion." Use of the RE programs could help those Scouts grow into one.
Unit RECs (RE Coordinators), as well as the District RECs, help educate, motivate, evaluate, and facilitate the RE program. Does your Unit have a REC? Need help getting a RE program started? Plenty of good help can be found at www.praypub.org. Want to know if there is a REC for your District and how to contact them; talk to your District Program Coordinator or the Council REC (Yep! We got one of them too!). I would also be willing to assist by answering questions, sharing Lessons Learned or making a presentation to your Unit or CO, regardless of district. I can be reached via email at d.j.willis533@gmail.com.
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2015 Piankatank Nekut Yahakin First Colony Camporee
Date: March 6-8th
Location: Bayport Scout Reservation
Cost: $10
Click here to learn more.
Troop 103 Begins 2015 with Eagle Scout Ceremonies
Troop 103 convenes Eagle Court of Honor for Four Local Scouts.
Four Boy Scouts from Troop 103 in Williamsburg were awarded their Eagle Scout Medals during two Court of Honor ceremonies at Williamsburg United Methodist Church on January 5th and at the Kingsmill Recreation Center on January 17th.
Dalton M., Will F., Chris M., and Chris C. earned Scouting's highest honor, receiving plaudits from
friends, family and dignitaries for their achievements. To achieve the rank of Eagle, the young men were required to earn at least 21 merit badges (13 are Eagle-required merit badges), while demonstrating Scouting ideals of service and leadership, attaining all the Boy Scout ranks, holding positions of responsibility within their troop, volunteering in the community and participating in scouting events. In addition, each Eagle scout must organize and lead a community service project.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its introduction in 1911, only 5% of all Boy Scouts rise to the Eagle Scout rank, which has been earned by more than two million young men.
The four scouts completed separate Eagle Scout service projects that all contributed to the community:
* Mitchell's project was refurbishing an unused room at the Heritage Humane Society and turning it into a pet food pantry.
* Friedrich's project was renovating trail and mile markers along the trails of the Powhatan Secondary neighborhood.
* Monahan led a group of scouts in demolishing and replacing three dilapidated walking trail bridges on the Powhatan Secondary walking trail.
* Cordasco built four benches (three of which were replacements and one new bench) for use along the James City Mid-County Park walking trail.
Dalton M. held the positions of Quartermaster, Instructor, Patrol Leader, and Guide Patrol Leader. He earned Scouting's distinction of the Triple Crown - attending all three National Boy Scout High Adventure Bases: Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, Northern Tier National High Adventure Base in Northern Minnesota and Florida Seabase in the Florida Keys. In addition, Mitchell attended two BSA National Jamborees. Dalton graduated from Bruton High School in 2014 and is a freshman at Hampton-Sydney College in Virginia. He is the proud son of Sheila and Brian Mitchell of Williamsburg.
William MacWhorter F. held positions of Patrol Leader, Troop Guide and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader in the troop. He went on a canoe expedition at the Northern Tier High Adventure Base and will be backpacking with a Troop 103 crew at the Philmont Scout Ranch this summer. He was awarded Troop 103's David Nunn Camping Award and the Sandy Kelley Leadership Award for scouts demonstrating exemplary leadership and camping/outdoor skills. He is a junior at Jamestown High School and is the proud son of Marjy and Carl Friedrichs of Williamsburg.
Christopher J. M. held positions of Guide Patrol Leader and Patrol Leader and is the current Senior Patrol Leader of the troop. He attended the 2013 National Scout Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia and will be backpacking at the Philmont Scout Ranch this summer. Christopher earned Troop 103's James A. Fuller Scoutmaster Award, Sandy Kelly Leadership Award, and David L. Nunn Camping Award. Under his leadership, his patrol earned the Troop's inaugural CEO Patrol Achievement Award. He is a sophomore at Jamestown High School and is the proud son of Jennifer and Richard Monahan of Williamsburg.
Christopher Carlo C. served as Patrol Leader Historian and Senior Patrol Leader in Troop 135 prior to joining Troop 103. In Troop 103 he held the position of Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. He attended the BSA National Jamboree in West Virginia in 2013 as is a member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society. He is a senior at Jamestown High School is the proud son of Heather and Carlo Cordasco of Williamsburg.
Boy Scout Troop 103 is one of the oldest troops in Virginia, continuously chartered in Historic Williamsburg since 1924.  Troop 103 celebrated Court of Honor ceremony for three of it's recent Eagle Scouts. Pictured (l-r): Assistant Scoutmaster Jimmy Etchberger, Eagle Scouts - Will F., Dalton M., and Chris M. and Troop 103 Scoutmaster Doug Marty.  Eagle Scout Chris C. was honored with the attendance local and state leaders. Pictured (l-r): Former Delegate representing the 93rd district in the Virginia House of Delegates - Michael Watson, James City County Board of Supervisors, Jamestown District - Kevin Onizuk, WJCC School Board Chair - Jim Kelly, Virginia Delegate for the 96th District - Brenda Pogge, WJCC School Vice-Chair - Heather Cordasco, Eagle Scout Chris C. and his father Carlo, Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia 1st District - Robert Wittman, WJCC School Board members - Joe Fuentes and Ruth Larson, and Majority Leader in the Senate, Virginia General Assembly, 3rd district - Senator Tommy Norment. (not in the picture, James City County Board of Supervisors, Berkeley District - Mary Jones)
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Cub Gold Rush - Cub-O-Ree
Date: April 10-12th
Click here to learn more.
Guide to building your covered wagon.
Click here to view the Leader's Guide.
STEM Activity Day
Date: March 21st
Location: Virginia Air and Space Museum
Cost: $16.00
Click here to learn more
God and CountryReligious Awards Program for Youth
Date: Sundays 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., February 15-April 26 (except Easter)
Location: First United Methodist Church Fox Hill
Who: Open to all Scouts
Cost: $30.00
Click here to view the flyer. 10 Commandments Hike
Date: March 21
Time: 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Where: First United Methodist Church Fox Hill
What: A Ten Commandment Hike visits several religious faiths and discusses the com-mandments at each location along with learning about each faith.
Cost: $5.00
Want to learn more? Come to the informational ice cream social on February 15th.
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James River District Pinewood Derby
Date: March 28th
Location: Christ United Methodist Church
Cost: $6.00
Newport News One City Marathon & 8K
4th Annual BSA Campsite Cleanup
Date: March 7
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| Send us your news! Email amanda.wroten@scouting.org so we can feature the great things your units, Scouts and Scouters are doing! |
Council Events & News
Environmentally Focused Merit Badges
Date: March 2 and March 16
Bird Study: 5:30 p.m. until 6:15 p.m.
Forestry: 6:15 p.m. until 6:55 p.m.
Location: Tabernacle United Methodist Church - 831 Poquoson Avenue in Poquoson
Contact: Dave Lauther - Davemmc2000@yahoo.com or 757-753-8309.
All requirements can be completed at the Walk in the Forest (See flyer in Newsletter) 21 March 2015. Camping is available 20 March - 22 March 2015 at no cost.
2015 Lumberjack
Date: March 13-15
Cost: $10/15
Location: Bayport Scout Reservation
Visit Your National Parks for Free
Visit Your National Parks for Free
America's national parks are offering free admission to all visitors on the following dates: April 18-19, August 25, September 26, November 11: Veterans Day
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Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills
Date: April 17-19
Location: Bayport, with pre-meeting at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Hampton
Cost: $20/$30
Click here to view the registration form.
Leave No Trace - Walk in the Forrest
Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Location: New Kent Forestry Center
Click here to learn more.
NYLT
| | Breaking News from NYLT! Watch our Video! |
Training of the youth leaders in a troop is important in helping the individual Scout and the troop grow. The boy Scouts of America have developed a training experience that has proven very valuable in the training of youth leaders; it is called National Youth Leader Training.
The purpose of NYLT is to assist you in training your youth leaders. The NYLT Troop works as an ideal troop using the patrol method and rotating leadership responsibility. NYLT is not designed to teach basic Scout skills, which participants should already have, it strives to develope in a scout the leadership techniques to "keep the patrol together and get the job done right". Please help us make this training more effective by recommending scouts who are prepared and in need of this special leadership training.
This year we will hold NYLT at Bayport Scout Reservation over two weekends: March 6-8 and March 20-22. The total cost is $180. Details are available on the flyer and registration form.
Click here to view the NYLT flyer.
Click here to view the registration form.
BALOO Orientation
2015 Commissioner Conference
Date: March 7
Time: 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Click here to view the flyer.
CONFERENCE VENUE AND COST CHANGE
The conference will be held at the Scout Service Center. Coffee, juice, doughnuts and muffins will be provided. Cost to attendees is $0. Please pass the word. Let Mike Fry (mivanfry@gmail.com) know approximate attendees for your district by March 5th for planning purposes.
2015 College of Commissioner Science
The FUNdamentals of Training - Train the Trainer
Date: March 14 (date changed)
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Cost: $5.00/$10.00
Location: Magnolia United Methodist Church, Suffolk
Click here to view the flyer
Training Awards
Your youth work hard to earn advancements and awards AND so do your adult leaders. Be sure they are recognized appropriately. Please remember to use the Progress Record Forms with the 2012 requirements for the Adult Leader Training Awards. The old forms will no longer be accepted.
CPR and Basic First Aid
This course covers adult and child/infant CPR with AED, how to respond in an emergency, and render basic first aid. This meets and exceeds the requirements for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Level 1 Provider.
Click here to view dates, times, and locations.
Contact: Al Materia, sales@emta.net or toll free at 1-877-235-3682
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Advancement and Registration
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Keeping your Scouts' Records current has never been easier with Internet Advancement Reporting!
Units that are using it love that their scouts' records are up to date immediately and that Packmaster and Troopmaster are easily uploaded to Scoutnet when they use the myscouting.org porthole and click submit.
Did you know? Only ONE copy is needed to be turned into council. Keep a copy for unit records. Please do not turn in another report because you were not able to purchase all your awards the first go-round. The Scout Shop Manager will mark your copy of the report annotating which items were issued. Bring the report back in to purchase the awards you were lacking. Reporting the awards again only causes confusion, especially when the award has a different date earned for the same Scout.
Did you know? Reporting advancements is the primary responsibility of your unit Advancement Coordinator. Your Advancement Coordinator is the "processor" on the Internet Advancement Report (IAR).
The Pack Adv Coord collects the pack advancement and awards from the dens to enter, then signs report.
The Troop Adv Coord collects awards from the scouts verifying requirements are signed off, enters data, signs report, and obtains the two additional signatures required from Board/committee members for rank advancement, as has been the rule with the past reports. (The acceptable variant to the three signatures are: Option1) Complete a fillable advancement report for BORs to obtain the signatures the day of the Board of Review, then attach it to their Internet Advancement report. www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34403.pdf Option 2) Attach a signed Troopmaster Advancement Report with the three committee signatures to the IAR. Option 3) Attach EACH Troopmaster BOR sheet that has the Board members' signatures.) SM/ASMs should NOT be a board member nor
sign for BORs as their responsibility is the Scoutmaster Conference.
Did you know? Award Applications must accompany the IAR- e.g. Eagle Palm Applications - must have the three required BOR members signatures- middle of right column. SM signs bottom left. Use this form http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/58-709_WB.pdf or you can use the Palm Application that Troopmaster generates. Boy Scouts world_conservation_application.pdf or Cub Scout World Conservation Award LNT, CS Outdoor Activity, Nat'l Outdoors Awards, to list a few more. Be sure all requirements are completed, dated, and the required unit leaders' signatures are on the form before submitting to council for executives' signatures. For the 50-Miler Award Application ; please include an advancement report with the scouts' and leaders' names attached to it with the full date earned.
Most everything the scout earns, with the exception of small things like Tiger beads, compass points, arrows points past 9 arrows, can be recorded. Most of the NOVA awards are even listed. Be attentive to awards that are similar - e.g. Communications belt loop vs communicator activity pin; Geology vs Geologist pin; Geology MB; Geocaching MB; Genealogy MB; Woodworking vs Woodcarving.
A few award that you are not able to enter - religious knot, recruiter, Natl Honor Patrol, Natl Outdoor Badge-Gold. The Religious Knot and Recruiter can be entered in Scoutnet using a different area of the program at the office. So report the Religious knot, and the specific award earn. (God and Life Light of Christ, God and Country, etc.) For these awards that are not available for you to enter online, Please submit a report http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34403.pdf orprint a report from your Scout Management program so we have all awards earned in your unit file.
Advancement Reports that are turned in at to Heart of Virginia Council (Richmond) or Tidewater Council (VA Beach) have a high probability of not getting to YOUR council and if it is NOT a IAR may not ever be entered. So remember to turn in your reports to your council shop on Jefferson in Newport News.
Log on. Try it out. Start using it. CVC Goal is to have every unit on line by March 31, 2015.
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Monday through Friday: 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
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Next Newsletter Deadline: March 4th
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