The Conestoga Express!

All Scout leaders are welcome to attend Roundtable. Every Unit should have at least one leader attend Roundtable. It doesn't need to be the same representative every month, all are welcome.

Yours in Scouting,

Dave Zimmerman

ADC for Roundtable

District Camporee/Cookoree/Crossover

Come and join the 2014 Conestoga Camporee

April 25 thru 27 at Camp Hart
$8 pre-registered Scouts & Adults, $10 day of.

Camporee Flyer: Click Here

Cookoree Rules: Click Here

Webelos Crossover All 5th grade Webelos are invited to participate in the District Crossover Ceremony whether crossed over within their unit already or not. This ceremony is the official welcome to Boy Scouts by the district and will be run by our Order of the Arrow Ceremonies team

Questions, comments and registration email: Jetriderfitz66@yahoo.com

Jim Fitzgerald
Camporee chairman

Spring Recruiting

Thursday, May 15, the Cradle of Liberty Council will be hosting a council-wide Join Cub Scouts Night at different locations throughout the district. There will be giveaways for boys who sign up that night and they will also have the opportunity to attend the Cub Scout Carnival for half price!

Saturday, May 17, Conestoga District will hold our annual Cub Scout Spring Recruiting Event. There will be games and giveaways for new Scouts and each Cub Pack will have a table set up to promote their Pack to new families.

Leaders: Make sure these dates are in your calendar! Stay tuned for more details!

Questions or details, contact BettyAnn Atkinson

District Dinner

The District Dinner is scheduled for

Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

More details to come...Save the Date!

During our District Dinner we present a number of awards. Nominate a deserving volunteer. District Awards

District Dinner Coordinator:

Judy Nieman at 610-328-3023 or jsnieman@verizon.net

District Award of Merit

The District Award of Merit is for service provided at the District Level and will be presented at the District Dinner June 10, 2014.

Each District is entitled to one award for every 25 units they charter. Typically the nominee is dual registered and a member of the District Committee. They are recognized for service above what they may contribute at the Unit Level. The nominee might be someone who works at or runs a District event such as The Cub Olympics, The District Camporee, or District Dinner. They could be someone who works with the District Order of the Arrow youth, or someone who is an FOS presenter. Other District operations for which you might look for a nominee might be in the training, membership, or advancement committees.

In summary this award is for District service, not Unit service. The Nomination Form can be located by Goggling District Award of Merit or can be picked up at the next District Roundtable meeting. All submissions should be given to Josh Nay or Steve Perrone by April 15, 2014.

Friends of Scouting (FOS)

There are many companies and corporations that are part of a "Dollars for Doers" program. If you work for any of the companies found at the below link, then your efforts can result in a corporate contribution to our Friends of Scouting campaign. Please review the below link and contact your Human Resources representative if you work for any of the eligible companies.

http://www.colbsa.org/fundraising/funding/dollars-for-doers.html

Please reach out to Matthew.Fernandes@scouting.org if you have any questions or work for a company that participates

We are already close to 50% of our $28,000 goal for our family campaign! Thank you to all those that have given or signed up to give.

If you still need to schedule an FOS presentation to your unit, please contact the Conestoga District Friends of Scouting Chairman at m.crater2@gmail.com

Camp Cards

Is your Scout going to camp for free?

Even if your Pack/Troop/Crew isn't participating,

YOU can!

Camp Cards - No Scout left inside!

The goal of Camp Cards is to cover the cost of camp for every Scout without the parents paying a penny.

More cards can be ordered at any time, picked up at weekly Card Swap locations or at Roundtable.

Strive for 25

For every 25 cards a Scout sells, they receive one entry into Council's weekly drawing. Scouts can be entered multiple times each week. At the end of the sale all entries will be combined in the Super Drawing.

Entries for upcoming drawings are due to the council office each Wednesday by 5 pm. Drop off at Clifton Deli on Wednesdays from 8-10 am and they will be entered into that week's drawing! For other locations and times go to www.colbsa.org/campcard.

Please remember to check in weekly with your Scouts to track sales. Keeping track of their sales will help you identify Strive for 25 possibilities and if you need additional cards.

Key Dates

Wednesdays 8-10am Clifton Deli - Weekly Swap

June 1 - Sale ends

June 13 - 50% commission payment due

Information about the Camp Card Program is available online at www.colbsa.org/campcard.

If you have questions about the Camp Card Program, please contact our District Camp Card Coach, Dave Zimmerman, at dave1zimm@aol.com.

Spring Cub Camp Events

Cub Scout Bait & Bull's-Eye: May 3 or 4

These one-day events are for Cub Scouts and siblings that want to experience camp for a day. Scouts will go from station to station in a structured group and participate in activities like BB and Archery Shooting, Nature, Handicraft, fun games and Outdoor Skills.

Webelos Woods Weekend: June 6 - 8

This full weekend event is targeting current Bears and First-Year Webelos as they prepare for the excitement of Webelos and Boy Scouting. Scouts will sleep in a tent all weekend and learn how to cook food, set-up a campsite, hike, and enjoy many other outdoor activities.

Cub Scout Carnival: June 7 or 8

These one-days events are for Cub Scouts and their siblings that want to experience camp in a more relaxed, unstructured atmosphere. Scouts will go to the stations that they wish, and activities will include Fishing, BB and Archery Shooting, Boating, inflatables and other fun activities.

Visit www.colbsa.org/musserevents for more details and to register.

Questions on these events can be directed to Cradle of Liberty Council Camping, 610-654-9213.

Summer Camp

Sign up NOW, Don't miss the Early Bird Rates!

Day Camp at Smedley Park July 28 - Aug 1, 2014

Geared for those new to Scouting and camping, spend the day doing fun activities and go home at night.

Cub Scout Resident Camp at Camp Hart

Cubs and their pack will have the opportunity to attend camp for half-week resident session, full week day camp, or stay the whole week as part of our full week resident program! Our prices this summer make it hard to find a better value. Register and pay early to save! Get more information at www.colbsa.org/cubadventures

Leader's Guide - For all Cub Leaders attending camp!

SIGN-UP ONLINE TODAY! Early Bird Deadline is April 15th.

Resica Falls Summer Camp 2014

With over 60 merit badges in more than 12 program areas, and a High Adventure program second to none, Resica offers something for everyone! New this year will be a program area for welding merit badge and other Mr. fix-it badges.

Sign-up today at www.colbsa.org/camping

Boy Scout & Venturing Specialty Camps

Are your Boy Scouts and Venturers looking for more excitement this summer? Have they been to summer camp, but want to try something new? Make sure you get them signed-up for one of our Specialty Programs. Sign-up today at www.colbsa.org/camping

- Enjoy a week working on Merit Badges or exploring career opportunities in the Medical and STEM Fields. Boy Scouts will have the opportunity to earn four merit badges, and Venturers can explore four career paths.
Provisional Week at Resica Falls - Can't attend camp with your troop? Want to go for a second week to have more fun and earn more badges? Attend Resica Falls as provisional Scout and meet new friends!
Fawn Run at Resica Falls - Enjoy a week of hiking in the beautiful Pocono Mountains and participating in exciting program along the trail.
Paddlerama at Resica Falls - Enjoy a week of Canoeing on the picturesque Delaware River. The Trip is approximately 70 miles, and the Scouts will have the opportunity to earn parts of Whitewater Merit Badge.

Order of the Arrow

First I would like to thank Dave Benedict (Chapter Chief), Chris Quattro (Chapter Secretary), Joey Fitzgerald (Lodge Inductions), and Max Fitzgerald for stepping up and preforming at the Eagle Court of Honor for fellow Arrowmen Tom Johnson of Troop 32. (You guys did an awesome job!!!)

I also would like to Congratulate Tom for achieving Scouting's highest achievement and thank him for allowing the Chapter to shine on his Special Day. This was the first Ceremony performed by our Chapter in nearly 10 Years and I hope that it won't be the last...which brings me to the next topic:

Service: Our Chapter is in need of some Arrowmen willing to step up and join our Chapters ceremony team and to help with our district's Webelos Crossover Ceremony to be held at the District Camporee on April 25-27. This is an excellent opportunity for Youth Arrowmen interested in getting involved with OA activities and helping our little brothers in blue.

Dues: In order for us to achieve our membership goals and to achieve gold ranking in the Journey to Excellence Program we need our fellow brothers in the Conestoga Chapter to get involved and become active Arrowmen, so that we can become a Strong service arm to our district and its members.

I'd like to remind everyone that when you took the oath of our Order at the conclusion of your Ordeal, you promised on your honor as a Scout to "faithfully observe and preserve the traditions of the Order of the Arrow". Participation is one of these traditions, and the very basic way of participating is by paying your yearly dues.

Unami Lodge assesses annual dues of $15.00 for both youth and adult members. Annual lodge dues help cover the cost of the day to day operation of the lodge and its activities. It also covers the annual Regional and National fees assessed to the lodge for each registered member of the lodge. We also make a monetary contribution to the Council for needed items and for Camperships so everyone can experience camping. So we hope you can see how important the paying of yearly dues really is.

You can pay your dues at any lodge function, or online at: http://unamilodge.org/dues-card

Members who did not pay their dues in previous years can reactivate their membership by paying this year's dues plus a $5.00 reinstatement Fee

I'd also would like to remind everyone that wearing an OA lodge flap signifies active dues paid membership in a local lodge

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope to see you at an upcoming OA Event!

In Brotherhood,

Jamie Flick
Conestoga OA Chapter Advisor
484-885-5459

conestoga@unamilodge.org

Unit News

Pack 339 is having a fundraising Craft Fair and Flea Market on May 10th at Leedom Elementary school. Here is a link to our website.

Pack 37 The 2nd year webelos from Cub Scouts Pack 37 took a walk across the bridge at our Blue and Gold circus theme celebration. Leaders Tiffany and Laureen are so proud of them and wanted to say congrats, we are proud of you Webelos you rock!

Submit your unit news too!

District Chairman's Minute

Hello Conestoga,

It's finally spring, and we might finally be able to put away our snow shovels...maybe. Last month we had a great First Aid event where Scouts learned about how to recognize an emergency situation and respond. Thank you to all who volunteered, and helped to make the First Aid meet happen. And thank you to all of the parents and unit leaders who brought their Scouts to the event.

This month, we're headed to Camp Hart on April 25 - 27 for our Conestoga District Camporee. There's still time to sign up on the COLBSA.org website, and we're planning lots of fun activities for our Scouts and Webelos. If you don't know what a camporee is, or if you have any questions about what your Scouts will do there, come to Roundtable on April 8 at Drexel Hill United Methodist Church and find out.

Roundtable is a meeting for parents and leaders involved in the Scouting program in all 41 units in our District...everyone is welcome. The meeting starts out with a general session for all, and then there are breakouts for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, and the Order of the Arrow. District Roundtable happens every second Tuesday of the month starting at 7:30PM. It would be great to have every unit represented.

It's the time of year for Pinewood Derby's and Blue & Gold banquets, please remember to schedule a Friends of Scouting presentation at a time that you can reach most of the parents in your unit.

It's also time to start getting ready for summer camp. Our Cubs have lots of opportunities for outdoor fun and camping with Bait and Bull's-eye and resident camp at our own Musser Scout Reservation, only a little over an hour north of us. And our Boy Scouts should be picking out what merit badges they want to work on, or looking forward to checking out the COPE course at Resica Falls or one of the other great summer camps nearby.

And on May 15 and May 17, we will have several Cub Scout membership recruitment events to help you start the summer with some new families. Everyone is welcome to come and show those new Cubs and parents why your Pack is the best. Come to Roundtable to find out more!

And save the date, our annual Conestoga District Dinner will be held on June 10. Nominations for the District Award of Merit, Spark Plug awards, and Leader Training knots can still be submitted. We'll have the on-line registration for the Dinner set up very soon.

Yours in Scouting,

Bob Booth