Colonial Virginia Council
Boy Scouts of America
October 9, 2015 Newsletter
Table of Contents
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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...

9th Annual Punkin' Chunkin'
Date:  November 13-15
Location: Endview Plantation, Newport News, Virginia

Help Wanted
The Colonial Virginia Council is in need of a volunteer to help with lawn maintenance on a routine basis.  This will help to reduce our operational expenses.  Your support is greatly appreciated.  Please email Amanda.Wroten@Scouting.org if you can assist.

Silver Beaver
The Colonial Virginia Council is currently accepting nominations for Silver Beaver.  The form must be completed by December 1, 2015 and submitted to Amanda Wroten at the Council office or amanda.wroten@scouting.org.  Click here to view the form.

Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award
The Colonial Virginia Council is now accepting applications for the Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year.  The form must be completed by January 1, 2016 
and submitted to Amanda Wroten at the Council office oramanda.wroten@scouting.or

Colonial Williamsburg Boy Scout Day
October 17, 2015 - Colonial Williamsburg welcomes Boy Scouts from across Virginia and North Carolina to come and see the Revolutionary City! Come see our historic sites, listen to the colonial Fife and Drums, experience the Revolution in the Streets, and work on merit badge requirements individually or with your Troop/Pack.
Start your visit at the Group Arrivals Buildingnear the Visitor's Center. There you can purchase tickets for the reduced rate of $9.50 each (including BSA families). Walk over to the Visitor's Center to watchThe Story of a Patriotand board a shuttle bus to the Revolutionary City.

Colonial Williamsburg encompasses more than 300 acres and contains 88 original buildings from the eighteenth century. The Duke of Gloucester Street, one of the most historic streets in the country, is one mile long and is the center of the Historic Area. A visit to Colonial Williamsburg is a perfect place for Boy Scouts to hike, explore, and learn about our American heritage.

For more information or to schedule a customized group tour for a BSA Troop or Pack: Call 1-800-228-8878 or email groupsales@cwf.org.

TO SEE
Washington's Headquarters: George Washington slept here (and planned the siege of Yorktown here)! Come and see the George Wythe House like you've never seen it before. The house has been restored to look as it did in the fall of 1781 when General Washington used the house as his military headquarters during the Yorktown campaign. Learn about military strategy, our French allies, the structure of the Continental Army, and George Washington's most trusted advisors.
Public Armoury: To support the revolutionary war effort, the government of Virginia turned James Anderson's blacksmith shop into a full-fledged public armoury where military supplies could be manufactured and repaired. You can learn about supplying the army while watching blacksmiths, tinsmiths, and other tradespeople hard at work.
Public Gaol: Experience what it was like to be imprisoned while waiting for your trial. Join the ranks of pirates, thieves, murderers, (as well as the wrongly accused) as you explore the cells and exercise yards of the Public Gaol.

Capitol: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Patrick Henry, and other colonial leaders worked in the Capitol as they governed the colony of Virginia-and began the process of Revolution. Learn about colonial government, famous leaders, and the troubles with Great Britain as you tour the Capitol.

Magazine: Every free man in colonial Virginia was required to keep a firearm at home. The colonial government kept many, many, and more at the Public Magazine in Williamsburg. Come and see the pistols, muskets, swords, and other weapons of the past.

Trade Shops: Throughout the town there are many trade shops where you can see tradespeople making items the same way that they were made in the eighteenth-century. Learn about tools, technology, and about how boys were made apprentices in order to learn the "arts and mysteries" of the trade.

TO EARN
You can work on Merit Badge Requirements while touring Colonial Williamsburg! Many of the things that you see and learn while visiting us will help you meet the requirements for certain Merit Badges, such as: Citizenship in the Nation, American Heritage, Archeology, and Architecture.

TO HEAR
Fifes and Drums March at 1:00. The Fifes and Drums provided both music and communication for the military. Colonial Williamsburg's Fife and Drum Corp will parade down Duke of Gloucester-feel free to march behind them!

TO EXPERIENCE
Revolution in the Streets: Immerse yourself in the American Revolution and meet the men and women who lived through these extraordinary times.
An Officer's Message to the People & Recruitment: The Continental Army is encamped around the city and preparing to march to Yorktown. Is this the beginning of the end for the British?

On to Yorktown and Victory! As the army prepares to march to Yorktown, the general addresses the citizens of Williamsburg as the soldiers march in review, with cannon salutes and a fife and drum fanfare.

TO PLAY
RevQuest! Save the Revolution-The King's Advance: Your countrymen need your help! As the British Army bears down on Virginia, Governor Jefferson must craft a strategy for defense. Will Jefferson's network of secret agents help him gain the advantage to thwart Britain's attack? Or is it checkmate for the Revolution?

Storm Drain Medallion Project
About five (5) years ago, communities in Hampton Roads came together to initiate an effort to make the public aware that waters down the storm water drains flow to the Chesapeake Bay. HR Green received a grant from the EPA to attach medallions to existing storm drains throughout the area. However, this required community involvement.
 
The Master Naturalist were recruited to install the Storm Drain Medallions (SDM). They installed about half of those needed and moved on to other projects, hoping that others would pick up the project. No one stepped up till the Boy Scouts in Hampton did so. Troop 29 and 99 divided the remaining SDM's locations in half and planned efforts on Saturdays.
Troop 99 started each project Saturday with background training included history, reason for the need, and installation techniques. Teams were formed and the Scouts proceeded to install. The requirement of properly preparing the surface is critical and the Scouts and Scouters insured that they took great care to do so. The tasks of surface preparation, gluing and placement were rotated so that all Scouts got the opportunity to participate.

Over 50 SDM's were installed to two different neighborhoods with over 60% of the Scouts taking part. Cub Scouts accompanied the Scouts and learned about the need and helped install the SDM's.

In addition, the Scouts got the opportunity to explain to the neighbors who inquired, about the program and the consequences of trash, fertilizers and other items traveling from the neighborhood. Many expressed appreciation to the Scouts for their efforts. One family invited them to a cookout.

Overall, this proved educational about the environment, a chance for team building, leadership and public relations for Scouting.
Family Friends of Scouting Patches 
 
Friends of Scouting Patches
The Colonial Virginia Council, Boy Scouts of America has a limited number of patches from the 15 patch set - "12 Points of the Scout Law" to rerelease.  Each individual patch is available for a $75 donation and a limited number of 6 full sets are available for a donation of $1,000 (includes 15 patches).  You may shop our online storefront and pay online or contact Amanda Wroten at 757-595-3356, ext. 209 to pay via cash, check, or credit card over the phone.  We ask that all donations be above and beyond your current Friends of Scouting gift. 

 
  
Know Your District

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 - Served by Eric Smith, District Executive
  • Colonial Trail:  Surry and Isle of Wight Counties and the City of Suffolk - Served by Zach Oman, District Executive
  • First Colony:  James City County and the City of Williamsburg - Served by Eric Smith, District Executive
  • Monitor Merrimac:  The City of Hampton and The City of Newport News - Served by Amanda Wroten, Field Director
  • Siouan Rivers:  Sussex, Southampton, Greenville and Brunswick Counties as well as the Cities of Franklin and Emporia - Served by Zach Oman, District Executive
Chesapeake Bay District
Quilt Fundraiser

For more information email Amanda.Wroten@Scouting.org

Chesapeake Bay Cub Scout Roundtable  
New Ches. Bay Cub Scout Roundtable with new starting time 7 pm.

Pictured are Cub Scout Leaders playing x game that can be used in their Pack or Den Meeting.

Also pictured the  Ches. Bay Roundtable staff from left: Claudia Clifton, Sonya Boyd, Tyrone Simmons and Libby Perdue. Agenda for Nov. coming soon please join the fun on Nov. have a happy and safe Halloween!! 

Colonial Trail District
Tiger Fun Day - Postponed Due to Weather 
We are waiting on confirmation of the suggested date of October 31, 2015. 
First Colony District
Lafayette High School Graduate Rises to Eagle - Troop 103 convenes Eagle Court of Honor for Lafayette High School Graduate
BSA Troop 103 in Williamsburg honored the advancement of one their Boy Scouts to the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank of the Boy Scouts of America. Donald J. Gray was awarded an Eagle Scout Medal during a Court of Honor convened for him on September 27th, 2015 at Williamsburg United Methodist Church on Jamestown Road, the Troop's charter organization.

The requirements for the Eagle rank include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating the Scouting ideals of service and leadership, including organizing and leading a community service project. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than two million young men. Many other outstanding American citizens have become Eagle Scouts, among them: Astronaut Neil Armstrong, Academy Award director Steven Spielberg, TV personality Mike Rowe, and former Secretary of Defense and current BSA President, Robert Gates. Gray joins over 200 Scouts that have earned their Eagle rank in Troop 103.

Gray has held leadership positions within the troop including Patrol Leader, Scribe and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. He is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society and served as his unit's Chapter Chief. He was awarded the Troop's James A. Fuller Scoutmaster Award as well as the Troop's Walker Mulligan Scouting Spirit Award, which memorializes the enthusiasm and positive attitude towards scouting inspired by the memory of a former Troop 103 Eagle Scout.

For his Eagle project, Gray built, with the help of family and scouts from his troop, three raised garden beds for Waller Mill Park which were designed to attract butterflies for Monarch Watch and to provide an attractive backdrop for park near the paddleboat and canoe area.
Gray is a recent graduate of Lafayette High School and was active in the school band, where he played the baritone horn and was an exemplary student in his school's National Latin Honor Society. He currently attends Thomas Nelson Community College and is the proud son of Erin and Don L. Gray of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Jeans for Teens

Adam Godwin always had a place in his heart for helping others. He knew FISH was one of many organizations in the community that made a difference in people's lives. So when the time came to select a project for his Eagle Scout rank, Adam chose FISH. 

Adam named his project Jeans for Teens. Working with the Colonial Virginia Scout Council and local school officials, Adam organized a collection effort in 14 schools, prepared collection bins, designed publicity flyers, and enlisted fellow scouts to help. His personal goal was to collect 500 pairs of jeans in good condition because, as Adam said, "Every kid deserves a good pair of jeans."

Jeans for Teens hit a chord with his fellow students. During the two-week collection period, the bins filled... and refilled! Adam and his fellow scouts emptied the bins regularly, and before long his home was overflowing with jeans, and then the sorting, sizing, folding, and repacking for delivery to FISH began.

Adam's goal of 500 pairs of jeans was exceeded by double: over 1,000 pairs of jeans were delivered to FISH!  Adam completed all requirements for his Eagle Scout and received the January 2015 "Kids Make a Difference" award as well.

Perhaps it is no surprise that he presented his award check to FISH.

Adam knows his project introduced many teens to the work of our local food pantry/clothes closet and he hopes that other teens will be inspired to bring their own great ideas to life to help others!

Monitor Merrimac District
International Coastal Cleanup

On September 19, 2015 with partnership with Cub Scout pack 184 and Hampton Girl Scout troops, 48 volunteers participated in the International Coastal Cleanup at Buckroe Beach, Hampton. This program was established by the Hampton clean city commission to reduce impact of trash in public areas that affect animal life and waste. 

Fundraising Opportunity
Race 13.1 is looking for a minimum of 10 volunteers to serve at waters stations during a half marathon on October 18th.  The company will make a $250 donation for the service.  More information is available here:  https://race131.com/races/race-13-1-newport-news-va/volunteer

Holiday in the Woods 
Date:  December 5
Time:  7:00 p.m.
Location:  Endview Plantation
Click here to view the flyer. 

Southeast Community Fest 
Date:  Saturday, October 31
Time:  1:00 -3:00 p.m.

Monitor Merrimac Patch Design Contest - DEADLINE EXTENDED 
It is time to design a Monitor Merrimac District patch!  Adults and Scouts alike, send in your ideas, concepts, and sketches for consideration.  Submit a detailed written description of what the patch should look like, or submit an image in .JPG or .PDF format before November 1st.  Send submissions to Dennis Camp at bczoo@cox.net. 
T
he district committee will vote on which design to use.  The Scout or adult with the winning idea will receive special recognition and the very first of the patches to be produced, and of course, the honor of having his or her patch design worn on the uniforms of Scouts and leaders across the district!
 
The Patch Must Include: A solid BSA Fleur-de-lis as well as the text "Monitor Merrimac District" and "Colonial Virginia Council".  Please do not use any more than nine colors.
 
Limited to Scouts and Scouters of Monitor Merrimac District


Rifle Merit Badge
Superior Pawn and Gun is excited to offer the opportunity for Boy Scouts to earn their rifle shooting merit badge. Our professionally trained staff includes several former scouts, Eagle Scouts, scout leaders, and merit badge counselors that love helping the scouting community. For more information or to set up a class contact Steve at 757-723-6033 or HamptonSuperior@gmail.com      
Siouan Rivers District
First Place at the Peanut Festival

At this year's Virginia Peanut Festival in Emporia Pack 209, Chartered to Monumental United Methodist Church, won First Place in the Parade Float Competition.  Congratulations Scouts!
Council Events & News
Sons of the American Revolution Essay Contest  

The Gathering - Merit Badge Clinic
There are 29 of the 100 Boy Scout merit badges available to work on during The Gathering Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville, Va.  This is one of those 'once in a life-time' opportunities for youth in our community. 
Training
Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader!
If you had a magic wand, would you use it to  make the Scouting program better and more fun for youth so they stayed in Scouting longer, so it had a larger impact on their lives? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier, more rewarding, and led to better retention among adult leaders? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?

Well, such a magic wand does exist-in the form of the learning programs for leaders in the Boy Scouts of America.  The Colonial Virginia Council has a policy that all direct contact leaders must be trained in their position. If you still require any training to be considered "Trained" in your position, we encourage you to complete the training as soon as possible.
 
Common sense tells us training is important, and research shows the importance of trained leaders. A trained leader  is knowledgeable and more confident  in the role being performed. Trained leaders exhibit a knowledge and confidence that is picked  up by people around them. Trained leaders impact the quality of programs, leader tenure, youth tenure, safety, and a whole lot more. A trained leader is better prepared to make the Scouting program  all it can be!

Den Chief Training
Date:  October 17 
Time:  9:00 a.m. until 12:00 pm 
Location:  Magnolia United Methodist Church 
Cost:  $5 
Click here to register. 
 
Training Awards Update
Effective August 17th a new policy concerning training awards will be implemented.  Any request for a training award will be checked by the council office for completion of all requirements.  If all requirements are met, the council will issue a certificate but it will be up to the unit to buy the medal, device, and knot.  Currently the cost for all three is $13.99.  Please see the attached document for the current prices for the various training awards.  A copy of the certificate will need to be presented to Scout Shop to buy the items.
 
Any training award that does not meet the requirements will be returned to the unit, through the District Executive, with a note of which requirement(s) have not been met.
 
As a reminder, the Scout Shop does not keep a large number of awards on hand and they may need to be ordered.
 
   

BALOO/OWL - POSTPONED 
Due to the weather forecast, BALOO and OWL will be rescheduled.
 
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.
Contact:  Al Materia, sales@emta.net or  toll free at 1-877-235-3682   
Order of the Arrow
Wahunsenakah Lodge is actively working to schedule an opportunity for our Ordeal brothers to seal their membership with a Brotherhood ceremony. When a date, time and location are set, we will let all Brotherhood eligible members know.

Pipsico Fall Fellowship 
Blue Heron Lodge has invited our lodge to enjoy their Fall Fellowship October 23-25.

Click here to register. 
Advancement and Registration
The Council has created a new email address for Advancements.  If you need to email us you can reach us at advancement@cvcboyscouts.org.
For general questions about advancement, please contact your district advancement chair:
Chesapeake Bay
Vacant
 
Colonial Trail
Jim O'Briant
First Colony
G Riesbeck
Heritage
Gary Bergtholdt
James River
Tim Ewing
Siouan Rivers
Mark Drumheller
Council Advancement Chair
Rob Kutz

Internet Advancement Reporting - Which option are you using?

UNIT Advancements and Awards Coordinators -
Myscouting.org has changed. Internet Advancement Reporting- IAR  is no longer accessible through the myscouting.org website.  IAR is now located on https://my.scouting.org/  website. Log in using your same user ID and password; you will be asked to update your profile. Do so. Then click Home to view a drop down menu. Click on Legacy Web Tools. Click on Internet Advancement. Continue as normal for some. OR start using itfor other units.
Great News - The supported browsers are Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer 9, 10, and 11. In Internet Advancement, units may choose Option 1: Enter information manually or Option 2: Upload advancement files generated from PackMaster�, TroopMaster�, or ScoutSoft�.
You need to have your Unit ID and your unit number handy. (The number you use for recharter IS NOT the same number you use to set up your internet advancement profile.)  email your DE or advancement@cvcboyscouts.org if you don't know what your number is.
Option 1.  Click download council files from scoutnet.
This temporarily allows you access to your unit file while you are logged onto this site. The data you'll see is what is currently in scoutnet. It either has been input manually at the office or it was previously  "submitted" to scoutnet by your unit advancement processor.  Awards are entered manually by your processor with this option.
What this option doesn't do by clicking download: it does NOT download the scoutnet records to your unit's program whether it be troopmaster, packmaster or scoutbook. It does not track camping nights, service hours, nor individual requirements toward ranks and merit badges.
Option 2.Click upload from your browser.
Before doing this, you MUST input new advancement data into your unit's program - troopmaster, packmaster or scoutbook. Then generate your normal  advancement report; but instead of just printing it, you need to additionally save it on your computer. It MUST be saved as an ADVxxxx.cvs file.  (The xxxxs are your unit.)  You can find  instructions on how to save a troopmaster file at http://www.troopmaster.com/scoutnet.html .    View your report.If a scout does not upload, enter his data manually then find out why - his name, birthdate, etc. must match exactly with what was on the application when he/she registered.  Avoid using nicknames. One wrong entry with personal information fromeither side of the fence will cause a mismatch.
Your session is not complete and will not update into council's Scoutnet system until you confirm your entries by clicking "Submit to Council".  Please print your copy and a copy to turn into Council to enable you to purchase the awards. If your printout has "DRAFT"on ityou have not completed the process.
Please remember required signatures.

Did You Know?
Scout Shop
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:  October 7th
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