Colonial Virginia Council
Boy Scouts of America
December 31, 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.



   Know Your District
Chesapeake Bay:  City of Poquoson and the counties of Gloucester, Matthews, and York
Colonial Trail:  City of Suffolk and Counties of Isle of Wight and Surry
First Colony:  City of Williamsburg and James City County
Monitor Merrimac:  Cities of Hampton and Newport News
Siouan Rivers:  Cities of Emporia and Franklin and counties of Brunswick, Greensville, Southampton, and Sussex


Links

 

National Website 

 
Newsletter Submissions & Join our Mailing List
Next Newsletter Deadline:  
5pm December 30th

Send all submissions and requests to join our newsletter to

cvc595newsletter@gmail.com



Upcoming Council Training
Woodbadge


We have 64 slots for participants.
More information will be out soon
Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)

Upcoming Course Opportunities:
University of Scouting









Date:  January 9th
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 
 
The Council Staff would like to wish all of our Scouts, Leaders, Families, and Friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Thank you for all the good you have done this year in Scouting, and in our local communities.  We look forward to working together to make Scouting in the Colonial Virginia Council stronger in 2016.

Hot This Week
***LOCATION CHANGE:  University of Scouting***
University of Scouting on January 9th will now be held at Peninsula Community Chapel
4209 Big Bethel Rd
Yorktown, VA

Holiday Hours
Thurs DEC 31
New Years Eve
Scout Shop CLOSED--Inventory
Service Center CLOSING at 3pm
Fri JAN 1
New Years Day
Service Center & Scout Shop CLOSED
Sat JAN 2
Scout Shop CLOSED--Inventory

Council Recognition Banquet
The Colonial Virginia Council's recognition event for all Class of 2015 Eagle Scouts and Silver Beaver recipients will be Saturday March 19th at Yorkminster Presbyterian Church.  Registration starts at 5pm, dinner starts at 6pm.
Your invitation will arrive soon! 

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.org  
 
Day Camp 2016 Patch Contest
 
 
Day Camp 2016 is only 6 months away!

One lucky Scout will have his patch design selected to be our camp patch. See the flyer below for entry details




2017 National Scout Jamboree

Registration for the 2017 National Jamboree is now open
Anyone interested must register online to be considered
Follow this link to register online:  CLICK HERE

Our current plan is to assemble 2 Troops (40 Boy Scouts each) and half a Crew (20 Venturers, this is a coed unit).

More information on selection of Adult Leaders, Cost, and forming the Contingent will be coming out over the course of 2016.  Stay Tuned!

Service Opportunity
Great Opportunity for Community Service
The City of Newport News is looking for volunteers for the 2016 ONE CITY MARATHON. The event is on March 13, 2016. Units are encouraged to help where they can as well as show their BSA pride - staff
 at a water station or a relay point bring your troop colors and show the BSA is an active part of our community.
One important note is that currently we do not have group registrations, so each volunteer will need to be registered separately but can comment on the group they are affiliated with. Some of the volunteer stations do have a age requirement, so make sure that you check into that before you commit.
Also one of our own, Tommy Wilkinson with Crew 595 and the Lodge's AIA Advisor is the Safety and Operations Section Chief for the Marathon and he is in need of 200 responsible volunteers to assist him with Traffic Control (must be at least 18 years old). This group is one of the hardest jobs. It is a long sometimes boring job but critical to the safety of the nearly 4,000 anticipated participates. So if you want to help our own, consider this position. If you have a young group, look at the other opportunities to provide community service.


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. 





(Click images to enlarge)
Chesapeake Bay District
Served by District Executive Eric Smith:  eric.smith@scouting.org
Scout Sunday Sunrise Service

When:  Sunday 7 FEB, 7am
Where:  Yorktown Victory Monument
Cost:  TBD, ~$2.50
Breakfast following at the U.S. Coast Guard Yorktown Training Center Dining Hall
Sign Up by 29 JAN
 
Colonial Trail District
Served by District Executive Zach Oman:  zachary.oman@scouting.org
Check out the District's Quarterly Newsletter:  CLICK HERE
Klondike Derby
January 29-31, 2016
Johnson's Garden Center
3201 Holland Rd, Suffolk

Citizenship in the Community
This week City Councilman and Eagle Scout Mike Duman visited Troop 25 in Chuckatuck to discuss citizenship
 
First Colony District
Served by District Executive Eric Smith:  eric.smith@scouting.org
 Please email your news to cvc595newsletter@gmail.com 
Monitor Merrimac District

2016 District Pinewood Derby Rules
 Please see the 2016 Derby rules below.  Registration form will be coming soon.

2016 Cub-o-ree:  Cub Scout Olympics

WHEN:  April 8-10
WHERE:  Gosnold's Hope Park

Event Flyer:  CLICK HERE
Leader's Guide:  CLICK HERE






Conservation Heroes
Congratulations to Troop 99 for receiving the William T. Hornaday Unit Award.  The Hornaday Award program is considered the Eagle Scout of Conservation and takes many dedicated hours of education and stewardship.  CLICK HERE to learn more about the different programs

District Awards
New District Award
The Monitor-Merrimac District is going to have a new award for Scoutmaster of the Year and Cubmaster of the Year. We want Patrol Leader Councils of the Troop to write an essay on why their Scoutmaster shoudl be nominated as Scoutmaster of the Year. Commissoners and Packs can turn in a write up of why their Cubmaster should be Cubmaster of the Year.
Deadline to turn in write ups will be April 1st, 2016. Send them to Tim Ewing at timmyewing@cox.net

Does your Pack, Troop or Crew have someone that needs to be turn in for the District Award of Merit Award, then you need to fill out a form. Please turn all forms into the Shop Shop .Deadline is March 21st, 2016 to have all forms turned in to the Monitor-Merrimac Advancement Committee.

Conservation Service Project Opportunities
I am in charge of organizing conservation service projects for the district.  We will be publishing opportunities for Packs and Troops to participate during the year.  Some of these activities include Clean the Bay Day, Tire-Less James, Walk the City, and tree planting.  We will supply the dates and locations so that units can contact myself to sign up for the events.

We have already had great success in a tree planting last year at Ridgeway Park.  300 trees were planted by Cubs, Scouts, and Girl Scouts assisted by the US Navy and Master Naturalists.  We are looking at a mid-February and mid-March date for a tree planting at Harwoods Mill of 10,000 trees.

Please email me at david.singletary@gmail.com to sign up and get coordination information.
--David Singletary
Siouan Rivers District
Served by District Executive Zach Oman:  zachary.oman@scouting.org
Check out the District's Quarterly Newsletter:  CLICK HERE

Recently Scouts from Troops 17, 125, and 232 completed the God & Country Religious Emblem Program.  Thank you to Mr. Mark Drumheller and Mr. Jamie Weist for guiding these young men.
Council Events & News
Woodbadge Association Reunion Dinner
Date:  Sunday, January 31
Location:  Benns Church, Smithfield, VA
Time:  3:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Opportunities for Scouts at Natural Bridge

At Natural Bridge we have new exciting indoor winter classrooms featuring the Monacan Indian exhibit, archaeology, and naturalist and caverns programs.  We also offer Gem mining. In the spring we will resume our seasonal programs.  I am attaching our Nature's Classroom and a program summary for your review.   We also have the 3 mile Monacan loop trail behind the hotel and 1.2 mile Buck Hill trail located next to the caverns.  Please let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,

American Legion Eagle Scout Scholarship 
The American Legion Nation Eagle Scout Of The Year Scholarship 
This is a annual program put on by The American Legion where a Eagle Scout can earn a $10,000 scholarship towards the college of his choice. All that has to be done is complete the attached application and submit to your local American Legion Post no later than February 1, 2016. Please read nomination form carefully as there are several requirements that have to be met. You can contact Ronald Feracho Sr. at 757-589-1870 or atrferacho13@gmail.com for more information.
Click here to view the form. 

Training
National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience
Philmont Scout Ranch 
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.
Order of the Arrow
Winter Service Weekend
The Winter Service Weekend will be March 11-13
Location is being finalized
Advancement and Registration
If you need to contact the Council Advancement Team, contact your District Advancement Chairman (listed below) or you can reach the team at advancement@cvcboyscouts.org.

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

Did You Know?
Is the Force with you?  
It is well known that Harrison Ford was a Scout as a youth, did you know he was also a Summer Camp Staffer?  
Check out the story:  CLICK HERE
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
Good Day Fellow Scouters,

I have been busy preparing for the upcoming events such as Pinewood Derby, Blue and Gold, and New Year Inventory here at the Hut and I appreciate all of you for continuing to support our store.  

No set-in-stone release date has been given yet for the new 13th Edition of the Boy Scout Handbook.  I was in contact with Supply Group today and I am still unable to place a pre-order, however, if my Boy Scout Troops would be so kind as to drop me a line as to how many books you anticipate needing that will assist me in placing the order properly when I do.  All I need is an approximate count. 

If I don't see you out in the field or in the shop, please let me take the opportunity to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!  Til next time. . .

Yours In Scouting,
Jennifer


Free Stuff
Metal racks and clothes hangers are available.  Various sizes and shapes of the racks are available.  These are first come, first serve; come give these items a new home.  Come up to the Scout Store to check them out.

BSA License Plate

Delegate Randy Minchew from Leesburg, VA will be filing a bill in the Virginia House of Delegates for the upcoming 2016 Session to create a specialized license plate for Scouting.  Mr. Minchew is an Eagle Scout, former Scoutmaster and Silver Beaver Award winner.  He knows this project has been in the works for a few years now but is reaching out to all of the councils that serve Virginia to get on board and promote this license plate.
The final plate design will be similar to the one above but may be altered to reflect the new brand identity "Prepared. For Life."  And perhaps with the action graphic along the bottom.   This is not specific to just one BSA council so all Scouting families in Virginia can use this plate.
The cost of the plate will be $25.00, or $35.00 if you want to personalize it. Please complete the DMV application (form VSA10) and mail it to with your check or credit card # to:
BSA License Plate, Heart of Virginia Council, PO Box 6809, Richmond, VA 23230.
Make checks payable to "BSA" and write "license plate" in the memo section.
Want to pay online? click here.
The Heart of Virginia council will be the collection point for applications.  A custodial account has been established and a record of applicants and fees collected is being kept.
Questions can be directed to Todd Martin 804-204-2613 or Todd.Martin@Scouting.org.
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