Help us "Light the Way" for Scouting in 2015! The annual Friends of Scouting campaign provides Scouters, parents, alumni, businesses, and community members with an opportunity to support the programs and facilities of the Cradle of Liberty Council. 

Does your unit have a family presentation scheduled?

Units that schedule their presentation to occur prior to the end of April and achieve their goal will receive a $50 gift card to the Scout Shop/ScoutStuff.org in addition to recognition in the council newsletter and on the council website. Ask your district's Family Friends of Scouting chair or district professional for your unit's goal.

If your unit hasn't scheduled a presentation yet, please firm-up a date so district volunteers have enough time to plan. Your unit Friends of Scouting coordinator may schedule a presentation by contacting your district Family Friends of Scouting chair or your district professional, or may schedule your unit's presentation online by completing a short form.

Families that pledge any amount to the Friends of Scouting Campaign will receive this self-powered LED flashlight at their unit's presentation. 

Want to find out more about the 2015 Family Friends of Scouting Campaign? 

Please download the Unit Leader Guide and visit www.colbsa.org/donate. 

Thank you for your support!

Are you and your Cubs looking forward to another exciting summer of activities? Look no further than the Cradle of Liberty Council camping opportunities. We offer everything from a week of day camp in your local area to a half or full-week resident camp where the boys can sleepover at camp!

Schedule a promotion night and our trained promotion team will come to your meeting with updated information about camp, fliers and plenty of camp excitement. The presentation only takes about 10-15 minutes, and is sure to get your Cubs excited about attending camp! 

Contact John Bickel to schedule your camp promotion! If you loved your experience at camp last summer, we hope you will join us in spreading the good word about camp by helping as a camp promoter! If you want to help spread the word, contact John Bickel.

The New Cub Scouting Program:

A new Cub Scouting program is to launching June 1, 2015, that will be more fun and exciting for boys, and easier to implement for unit leaders. To ensure you are ready to make the transition, a number of webcasts to outline the coming changes, how to prepare, and when resources are available.

Cubmaster Webcasts

Den Leader Webcasts

Help spread the word about the webcasts to ensure others are ready for the new Cub Scouting program!

There are lots of questions regarding the Venturing program with the release of new program updates effective January 1. Here are a few answers to the most commonly asked queries:

Training

There is now training for Crew advisors and the Crew committee. Training syllabi can be found at www.scouting.org/training/adult. (Venturing Advisor Position Specific and Crew Committee Challenge).

In the new award structure, Venturers are to complete some new training courses. They can be found at www.scouting.org/training/youth. These trainings are:

• Goal Setting/Time Management
• Mentoring
• Project Management (coming soon)

Our Program Partners offer a variety of opportunities and discounts to Scouting families and are continuous supporters of our council.  

colbsa.org/programpartners

Please visit the website to see all the great offers available from our Program Partners!

 Click here for more information >

Northeast Region Area V will hold their JTE Conference - The Tools for your Journey on March 7, 2015 at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg New Jersey. For registration click here. National, Region and Area speakers will discuss the five components of Journey to Excellence and how your unit, district and council can improve in areas such as membership and finance.

Check-in Begins at 8:00 AM

Firestone Scouting Resource Center, 1485 Valley Forge Road, Wayne, PA 19087

$20 per person; includes continental breakfast and hot lunch 

   

Hold the dates as Cradle of Liberty Council presents its second Merit Badge College on Saturdays April 11 and May 2, 2015 at the Valley Forge Military Academy & College in Wayne. A Scout will be able to earn up to four Merit Badges by completing prerequisites in advance of the first session, completing additional requirements between the two sessions, and of course by attending and participating in the two Saturday class events.

Fifty badges are being offered including seven Eagle-required badges, many STEM badges, and other seldom-offered badges. There will be a limit of 500 Scouts and registration opens at colbsa.org/mbc on February 1. The cost is $26 per Scout which will include lunch for both days and a patch.

Calling all Merit Badge Counselors: 

We are need of MB Counselors to staff our upcoming MB College (see announcement above). If you are free those two Saturdays and can teach a badge on those days please contact Steve Perrone (sperrone@ppciga.org) with your name and the badge.

Service Weekends...  April 17-19, 2015 Spring Service 1 - Musser Scout Reservation, 

                                     to register click here 

                                     May 15-17, 2015 - Spring Service 2 -Resica Falls Scout Reservation,                                      to register click here 

Online Store... want to purchase special 100th Anniversary Unami Lodge properties, like the this flap and Pre-order items , then click here

Go to www.unamilodge.org for more information about these events and any Lodge information.

Pinewood Derby Workshop

 Saturday, January 24, 2015

9 AM - 12 PM: workshop with test track

New Hours

Monday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Wednesday: 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Sunday: Closed

2015 Annual Cradle of Liberty Council

Recognition Dinner 
 

Monday, April 20, 2015

6:30 PM Reception

7:00 PM Dinner

Crowne Plaza Valley Forge

260 Mall Boulevard

King of Prussia, PA 19406

The Cradle of Liberty Council is looking for the most enthusiastic and friendly Scouts to help us staff our summer camp operations at Musser and Resica Falls! Camp staff gives young people the opportunity to meet new friends, learn skills and teach the future generation of leaders! This is a great opportunity to spend your summer with great people in a fun, outdoor atmosphere! Interviews have started, so be sure to put in your application ASAP!

If you or a Scout you know is interested, go to www.colbsa.org/campstaffapp to fill out an application or email John Bickel for more information.

The Cradle of Liberty Council is exploring the possibility of starting a council Scout band. The band would meet periodically to rehearse in preparation to play at Scouting and community events. The band would be open to all registered Scouts and Scouters age 14 and up. Musicians would need to play at a high school level or better. The band is not intended to replace or reduce a Scout's participation in their home unit.

Additionally, there is a need for adults who play and can help with organizational duties. To express your interest in participating in a council band, please send an email to the band director George Pinchock with your age and instrument(s) played.