2015 Cradle of Liberty Council

Annual Recognition Dinner

Monday, April 20, 2015

6:30 PM Reception | 7:00 PM Dinner

Crowne Plaza Philadelphia - Valley Forge

260 Mall Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA 19406   

Please join us as we celebrate last year's accomplishments and recognize the distinguished service and achievements of some special Scouts and volunteers, including this year's class of Silver Beaver recipients: 

For more information and to register online, go to www.colbsa.org/dinner 

Something Big is Getting Ready to Launch... 

BUILD AN ADVENTURE.

ROCKET INTO SCOUTING.

 

A coordinated fall recruitment plan is in the works that is being designed to: 

• Simplify the sign-up process for families and leaders,
• Develop and implement a balanced approach to membership and marketing,
• Provide consistency in programming across the council, and
• Build excitement in healthy units to drive retention.

Why is this something we need to do? 

• Youth membership has been declining for years and was down 8% last year.
• The leadership of our council and its districts recognizes the need to better support our units, specifically as it relates to providing training and planning resources so volunteers have all the necessary tools to provide high-quality programs.
• Youth and families need Scouting now more than ever and this plan represents an opportunity we can all get behind to ensure that we're getting the word out about joining our great programs.

What's in it for our unit?

• Council-wide marketing efforts to reinforce local promotions.
• Large council financial investment.
• Campaign Blast-Off slated for April with seminars for calendar, budget and promotion planning.
• Personal meetings with Cub Scout pack leadership to listen to your needs and develop a plan.
• Simplified sign-up event with less work for the unit.
• Turn-key den, pack, troop, and crew meeting plans based around a rocket theme that will incorporate new program updates and STEM.
• Camp events supporting the recruitment theme and providing excitement and program.
• More program = More FUN!

Stay tuned at roundtables and colbsa.org over the next several months for more details!

Build An Adventure: Rocketman

Save the Date for the Rocket Into Scouting "Blast-Off" Event:

If you currently are involved in website development, database creation and maintenance, website hosting, or graphic design and would like to be on our task force, please email webmaster@colbsa.org to find out about our next meeting.

The Cradle of Liberty Council is pleased to announce that the Annual Eagle Scout Reunion and Recognition Dinner will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the Union League of Philadelphia starting at 6:00 PM. This dinner recognizes the Class of 2014 Eagle Scouts from the Cradle of Liberty Council.

One of the additional highlights of the evening will be the induction of Pat Gillick, President, Philadelphia Phillies into the Cradle of Liberty Eagle Scout Hall of Fame. Pat earned the rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 30 in California. This will be the second Hall of Fame that Pat has been inducted into; Pat was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame on July 24, 2011, along with Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven.

The Cradle of Liberty Council will also be presenting the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award at the dinner. This award is presented to adult Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated outstanding achievement at the local, state, or regional level. This can include exemplary volunteer service to Scouting and/or in the community, achievement in their professional field, distinguished military service, or other accomplishments over an extended period of time. The nominee must currently live within the boundaries of the council, but does not have to have earned his Eagle Scout Award as a member of our council. The council is currently accepting nominations for this award, click here for more information.

The dinner is open to all Eagle Scouts, Scouters, family and friends. There are opportunities to sponsor and/or mentor an Eagle Scout from the Class of 2014. For more information about the dinner or nominating an adult Eagle Scout for the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award, please contact Bob Hayes at robert.hayes@scouting.org or (484) 654-9244.

On a warm summer night on July 16, 1915 young Scouts were inducted into a unique organization that has grown to more than one million members. Today we call this organization the Order of the Arrow. It was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll A. Edson at Treasure Island Scout Camp on the Delaware River, which is in our council. This year on July 16, 2015, Unami Lodge will celebrate 100 years of service the Cradle of Liberty Council, BSA.

Northeast Region Area 5 will hold their JTE Conference - The Tools for your Journey this weekend 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. 

Registration closes tomorrow (March 5)!

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!

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 

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.

April 11-12, Musser Scout Reservation

The APEX: Wilderness Cooking and Survival Challenge is a Saturday-Sunday event that promises to be a delicious mix of learning wilderness cooking and survival skills and putting them to the test! Scouts will spend Saturday during the day learning these skills, and then spend Saturday night and Sunday Morning putting the skills to use as they cook their dinner and breakfast, and stay overnight in a shelter they build! This is a rain or shine event!  Registration open at colbsa.org/musserevents

Bait and Bull's-Eye: May 2

Bait and Bulls-Eye is a fun event for the whole family! Cub Scouts and their siblings can participate in a Fishing Demo, practice fishing along our creek and lake, learn how to cook fish over a fire, and enjoy Shooting Sports activities like BB Shooting, Archery and Slingshots! Don't miss out on this day of fun!

Cub Carnival: June 13

The Cub Carnival is all about having fun in camp! We don't structure the day, so the Cubs and their siblings can go around camp at your leisure to the stations you enjoy the most! Stations will include a bounce house, Handicrafts, Nature, Fishing, Archery, BB Shooting, Gaga and Lassoing! 

Webelos Woods Weekend: September 26-27

This weekend trip is the perfect activity to kick-off the Fall for current Bears and 4th-grade Webelos! Scouts will get to enjoy a weekend at camp that will prepare them to be Boy Scouts and feel more comfortable in the outdoors. Throughout the weekend Scouts will participate in different activities that work on the new adventure tracks! Give your scouts a head-start with this fun event.

Save the Date:

Fall Fest will be October 17,18, 24, 25, 31 and Nov 1

Please visit www.colbsa.org/musserevents for more details and to register for these great events! 
 

Do you enjoy COPE and want to help others to have a great COPE experience? 

Then join us on April 10-12 for the COPE Instructor Training at Resica Falls. 

For more information and to download an event flier, click here 

Trainings available include BB and Archery Rangemaster certifications, Range Safety Officer, Rifle Instructor, and more!

The New Cub Scouting Program:

A new Cub Scouting program is 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, orientation videos are available:

Cubmaster New Program Orientation	Den Leader New Program Orientation
LDS New Program Orientation	History of Cub Scouting

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.

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.

The Cradle of Liberty Council Eagle Scout Alumni Association is pleased to announce the guidelines and application for the 2015 Eagle Scout Scholarship. The Alumni Association will once again distribute at least $5,000 in scholarships to Eagle Scouts headed to college or post-high school technical school in the Fall of 2015. Completed applications must be received at the Council Resource Center by noon on April 5, 2015.

To download the scholarship form and more information, click here

For more information please contact Mark Chilutti at chilutti2000@aol.com or Bob Hayes at robert.hayes@scouting.org.

"Halloween in April"

• Tomahawk Throwing
• Rifle Shooting, Pistol Shooting, Archery,  
• Camp Fire, Costume Contest, Bobbing for Apples  
• and MORE!

WHEN:

WHERE:

CAMP HART

INFORMATION:

Because of the Halloween theme, we ask that everyone wear a costume all weekend!  

REGISTRATION:

Register now, click here 

Venturers, Adults, and Scouts 14 years old and up are invited!

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!

Effective Sept. 1, 2015, the use of 15-passenger vans manufactured before 2005 will no longer be allowed in connection with Scouting programs and activities. 15-passenger vans manufactured in 2005 or later may be used, as long as they are equipped with Electronic Stability Control and seat belts for all passengers and the driver. This applies to all vehicles, regardless of ownership (privately owned, owned by chartered organization, rentals, etc.).   CLICK HERE to go to the full article in "Bryan on Scouting."