March 2, 2016
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In This Email
Council Pinewood Derby
Council Recognition Dinner
Scouting Builds Positive Character
Local Cub Scout Recognized
Camp Cards
Summer Camp
Friends of Scouting
New Boy Scout Handbook
City Scout Shop
2017 National Jamboree Registration
National Jamboree Fundraiser
Wood Badge
NYLT
Area 5 JTE Conference
Unit Commissioners
Internet Advancement
Venturing
Eagle Scout Scholarship
Outstanding Eagle Scout Award
Eagle Scout Fundraiser
Unami Lodge, One
Program Partners
NRA Training Sessions
Catholic Committee
Rechartering

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2016 Council Pinewood Derby
It's time to sign up for the Council Pinewood Derby! 

The Cradle of Liberty is hosting the first Council Pinewood Derby in a very, very long time. The derby is from 9 AM to 3 PM on Saturday 12 March 2016 at Lu Lu Shriners.
 
This derby is open to anyone who builds a pinewood derby car. That means Cub Scouts, siblings, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, etc. There are awards for everyone and, yes, with modern technology we will know who the Cub Scouts are. There will also be some Lego platform cars for those who forget to build a car.
 
Trophies will be award to the top three finishers in each den (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light). Then those finishers will compete for the top five finishes in the council. There are also trophies for categories like most original, most looks like a Scout actually built it, etc.
 
But wait there's more! Some of the districts like Baden-Powell will compete in their District Pinewood Derby right before we start the council derby.
 
And this is important because, wait for it... The top three finishers for each den in a district and/or Council Pinewood Derby race qualify for the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PINEWOOD DERBY held in Times Square, New York on June 25, 2016.
 
This is a chance for Cub Scouts from the hundreds of packs in Montgomery, Delaware and Philadelphia counties to come together and enjoy themselves as they compete. 

More information and registration available at:

Don't miss out -- sign-up today! Registration closes March 9.

2016 Council Annual Recognition Dinner
Join us on Wednesday, April 20, 2016!

2016 Class of Silver Beaver Recipients
 
The Cradle of Liberty Council is pleased to announce that the following individuals have been named to the this year's class of Silver Beaver recipients: 
  • Bob Hartman
  • Rod Henkels
  • Arland Hotchkiss
  • Ernie Scardecchio
  • Gregg Slocum
The Silver Beaver Award is the highest national award that a local council can present, and is reserved for volunteers who have made a transformational impact on the lives of youth through their service to the council. 
 
The awards will be presented at the 2016 Council Recognition Dinner:
 Wednesday, April 20, 2016
6:30 PM Reception | 7:00 PM Dinner
Crowne Plaza Philadelphia - Valley Forge
260 Mall Boulevard, King of Prussia, PA 19406
 
We hope you will join us as we celebrate last year's accomplishments and recognize the distinguished service and achievement of our Scouts and volunteers.  

Keynote Speaker:
Dan Warren
National Council, BSA

Dan, an Eagle Scout, was a member of the research team at Tufts University who conducted the study of Scouting's impact on character development and currently serves on the national evaluation and training team. His unique background creates an exciting context for his remarks about the future of Scouting both in the Cradle of Liberty Council and the nation as a whole.  

Reserve Your Spot Today at:
Scouting Builds Positive Character
A research team from Tufts University worked with the Cradle of Liberty Council to measure the character attributes of both Scouts and non-Scouts. The project, which was funded by the John Templeton Foundation and led by Dr. Richard M. Lerner, surveyed nearly 1,800 Cub Scouts and nearly 400 non-Scouts to better understand character development of Scouts. After a two-and-a-half-year period, the study proved Scouting builds positive character and prepares young people for life.

Watch this great video for a brief summation of the study's findings and please make sure to share on your social networks. It's the perfect recruiting tool to highlight why Scouting is the right choice for any parent seeking valuable experiences for their children.



Local Cub Scout Recognized After Rescuing Drowning Toddlers
When one Cub Scout visited his local swim club last summer, he didn't expect to leave the pool a life-saver. Yet when the Scout spotted two toddlers drowning in the deep end, he sprung into action and rescued the pair in the blink of an eye.

Read more about why Cradle of Liberty Council Cub Scout Robert R. was honored with the BSA's Medal of Merit award.
Camp Card Program
A Great Fundraiser to Earn Money for Summer Camp!

The 2016 Camp Card Program is quickly approaching!  Cradle of Liberty Council is pleased to offer this program for the fifth year to enable Scouts to earn their own way to summer camp and fund Scouting activities with their units. Since the inception of the program, more than $437,000 has been earned by Scout units to support their Scouts' program!
 
Each card has features a combination of single-use and multi-use discounts that can save users $50 or more! Scouts sell the card for $5.00 each, and 50% of the sale remains with the local Scout unit. At the end of the sale, units will be able to return all unsold cards at no cost to them. 
 
The 2016 partnering vendors are:
  • ShopRite
  • Acme
  • Modell's Sporting Goods
  • Philly Pretzel Factory
  • Papa John's Pizza
  • Applebee's
  • Philadelphia Rock Gym *new*
  • Adventure Aquarium
As in past years, two versions of the card will be offered, one featuring a discount from ShopRite and the other from Acme. All other discounts are available on both versions of the card.

District Orientation & Distribution events will be scheduled in late March and the program will run through June. Additional information, including distribution dates, will be shared in upcoming editions of the BSA Today and sent to all units who have signed up for the program.

Is your unit going to participate? Sign-up now!
Provide your unit's contact person and request your initial order of cards.

More information at www.colbsa.org/campcard
 Any questions can be directed to campcards@colbsa.org

Are You Ready for Summer Camp?
Summer is only a few short months away and the Cradle of Liberty Council is excited to offer another great summer of exciting outdoor programs!
Cub Adventures Promo 2016
Cub Adventures Promo 2016
Resica Falls Summer Camp 2016
Resica Falls Summer Camp 2016


Friends of Scouting Campaign
The Family Friends of Scouting Campaign is organized to encourage all parents/guardians of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, and unit volunteers to enroll as financial supporters of the programs and facilities of the Cradle of Liberty Council.

This is a voluntary enrollment and is not a condition of membership in Scouting. Friends of Scouting gifts are above and beyond national registration fees and local dues, which do not directly support the local council.

Instead of charging a fixed cost to support council operations, this campaign gives families the opportunity to contribute at a level of their own choosing according to their interest and ability to give. All that we ask is for 10 minutes at a unit meeting between January and April to tell the story, explain the need, and make the ask.

New for 2016: Families may join the inaugural Liberty Society by making a monthly recurring contribution starting at $15 per month using their credit or debit card. Recurring giving is more convenient for donors, especially those who give year after year, and will provide a more efficient system for processing payments.

Please visit www.colbsa.org/donate for more information about the campaign, including the Unit Leader Guide. If your unit hasn't already, you should consider appointing a unit Friends of Scouting coordinator and schedule your 2016 family presentation. Your unit Friends of Scouting coordinator may schedule a presentation online.

Thank you for your continued support!

New Boy Scout Handbooks Are In! 
City Scout Shop
Special Notice: Due to property access issues, the City Scout Shop is currently closed. We apologize for any inconvenience. 

In the interim, free shipping is available from the Valley Forge Scout Shop.

2017 National Jamboree Registration is Open

 

To view a promotional video click here 

 

Registration is now active for the 2017 National Jamboree which will take place from July 19-28 2017 at The Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, which is the fourth National BSA High Adventure Base. Cradle of Liberty Council intends to take ten contingent troops and one crew to the Jamboree. The cost for youth is $1,545 which includes transportation, food, equipment, and just about everything you will need. There are three sources of campership money for those in need of assistance, information including applications will be posted soon.

 

The two step registration process to sign up for the Jamboree is described below:

 

First, sign up on the National site. This will require a My.Scouting user name and password, go to my.scouting.org to create a password if you do not yet have one. Remember the account needs to be in the name of the person attending the Jamboree, not the parent, and the account has to be linked to the scout's membership id number. Chrome or Firefox may be the best browsers to sign up.

 

Second, after you have signed up on the National System, submit the Request to Attend form to Cradle of Liberty Council, 1485 Valley Forge Road, Wayne, PA 19087, including your Scoutmaster's approval with an initial payment of $245. You will need the Jamboree Registration Code that you receive from National once you sign up on their site. Further payments of $100 per month can be made by credit card through Doubleknot on the council website.

 

For questions please contact John Heiple jambo2017chair@gmail.com or Steve Perrone Sperrone@ppciga.org


COL National Jamboree Fundraiser

This is the 2017 National Jamboree Fundraiser Patch. All proceeds go for camperships for Cradle of Liberty Scouts that need financial assistance to attend the 2017 National Jamboree. Additionally a donation from the sales will be made to support Breast Cancer Research


To purchase one of these flaps you can visit our eBay store, click here or the Valley Forge Service Center in Wayne PA.

2016 Wood Badge Course
The Wood Badge course, Scouting's premier leadership experience, brings together leaders from all areas of Scouting-Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, Sea Scouts, Venturing-and all levels of Boy Scouts of America professional staff. Reflecting the best of over a century of Scouting experience, the course also draws upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country.

2016 Wood Badge Course has been scheduled for this coming spring, the course consists of two - three day weekends, April 29 through May 1st, 2016 and June 4-6, 2016.

More information, click here

2016 National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT)
National Youth Leadership Training is an exciting, action-packed program designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others.

National Youth Leadership Training incorporates the latest leadership ideas and presents fresh, vital and meaningful training for today's Scouts.

The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.
 
Cradle of Liberty Council is offering four National Youth Leadership Training courses in 2016. 

More information, click here

Journey to Excellence Conference - Northeast Region Area 5
Most of us are primarily registered with a unit, attend Roundtable, and get a taste of what goes on at the district level. Some may even do some work at the council level. Ever wonder what goes on at the next levels, Area 5 and the Northeast Region?

Consider attending the Area 5 JTE Conference that is coming up on April 9, 2016 at Bucks County Community College. There will be three Keynote speakers, The NE Region Commissioner, the Central Region Director, and the chair of National Committee on New Unit Organization and Retention.

Additionally there are five break-out sessions aligned with the five components of Journey to Excellence, Finance, Membership, Program, Unit Service, and Governance. Presenters for these sessions are all tops in their field, including Team Leads from National, Volunteers from the Regions, Area 5, and top professional performers from the Area 5 Councils.

To register for this event, Avea 5 JTE, click here

Unit Commissioners Needed

Greetings:

 

My fellow Commissioners and I are seeking a few good men and women to serve with us as Commissioners. This is one of the oldest jobs in BSA, and you just might find fulfillment helping a unit in your district as a member of our Commissioner Corp.

 

The Commissioner Concept:

The Commissioner is the liaison between the local council and Scouting units. The commissioner's mission is to keep units operating at maximum efficiency, maintain regular contact with unit leaders, coach leaders on where to find assistance, note weaknesses in programs, and suggest remedies. The commissioner is successful when units effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting to their members.                                              

--from BSA's Administration of Commissioner Service

 

The NEW Unit Commissioner in Cradle of Liberty Council:

  • A new Commissioner will be welcomed by the Council Commissioner or the District Commissioner and be commissioned into service.
  • You will also be given a "mentor," an experienced Commissioner to help you get going.
  • You will take Commissioner Fast Start online and receive a short training course in the use of the online Commissioner Tools.
  • You will be assigned to one unit for starters.
  • You will visit that unit once a month and get to know the leaders.
  • When your unit needs help or assistance, you will be their friend and "go-to" person.
  • Welcome to Commissioner Service in Cradle of Liberty Council. And, thanks!

Chuck Bolger chuckbolger@aol.com  

Cradle of Liberty Council Commissioner

 

Cradle of Liberty Council Internet Advancement 
The following are excerpts of a letter to all Scout leaders from Arland Hotchkiss on behalf of the Cradle of Liberty Council Advancement Committee. The full letter, which includes a more detailed listed of the benefits of Internet Advancement as well as information on how to access the system and resources for support are available here (PDF) as well as at www.colbsa.org.
The Cradle of Liberty Council Advancement Committee is pleased to see that Internet Advancement is used by many units to record their youth member advancement from any online location.
  • The benefits of BSA Internet Advancement reporting include:
  • Provides straightforward and direct method of reporting.
  • Helps in local council verification of Eagle Scout Rank Applications.
  • Records ranks, badges, and awards in accordance with BSA advancement rules.
  • Consolidates data files to reduce or eliminate record gaps when Scouts transfer to new units.
  • Supports national data analysis for advancement statistics.
  • Assures advancement is counted in the Journey to Excellence.
With these benefits in mind, the Cradle of Liberty Council Advancement Committee has determined that beginning June 1, 2016; it will be council policy to require the use of Internet Advancement for all units to report their Scouts' advancement. 

You can contact your district executive to obtain the unit ID used in Internet Advancement or contact Dianne Campman at 484-654-9214 or email.
 
Yours in Scouting,
 
Arland Hotchkiss
Chairperson,
Council Advancement & Recognition Committee

Cradle of Liberty Council Venturing 2015 - 2016
Many Boy/Girl Scouts join Venturing for the fun, high adventure activities, and the opportunity to grow and learn with an older age group. 14 - 21 year olds work in a COED environment to plan and carry out the activities that they choose. Male and female advisors support these efforts, but the youth decide what they want to do and how they will make it happen.
 
The VOA (Venturing Officers Association) is open to all Venturers. Meetings are held from 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM the first Tuesday of each month at Scout Headquarters in Valley Forge. At these meetings, trip ideas are shared, friends are made, and the VOA Spring Weekend is planned. Venturing Adults are invited to participate in the advisor roundtable meeting across the hall at the same time.

For more information and a list of calendar events, click here

Did you hear? Sea Scouting is the newest independent program in Scouting! From 1998 through this past February, the Sea Scouting program was part of Venturing. For more information about the change, please read this Bryan on Scouting article.
Eagle Scout Scholarship Application
The Eagle Alumni Committee of the Cradle of Liberty Council is pleased to announce the availability of scholarships to Eagle Scouts who will be heading to college or a post-high school technical school in the fall of 2016. Candidates must be an Eagle Scout to be considered, and must be graduating high school in 2016.
 
Click HERE for the application with additional details. Applications are due back to the council office by March 14, 2016.

National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award Nomination
In 2011 the National Eagle Scout Association created the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award as a way to recognize adult Eagle Scouts who have demonstrated
outstanding achievement at the local, state, or regional level. The Cradle of Liberty Council presented their first three awards in May of 2012 and is seeking nominations of worthy Eagle Scouts to be recognized in 2016.
 
Click HERE for more information about nominating worthy Eagle Scouts. Nominations are due by March 14, 2016.

Eagle Scout Fundraiser

The Cradle of Liberty Eagle Alumni Committee has released a new "Once an Eagle Always an Eagle" Council shoulder patch with a striking red, white and blue border. The patches are $10 each plus postage and available by using the attached order form. All proceeds support Eagle Scout Scholarships that are awarded each year at the Eagle Dinner. These patches are a great way to recognize a new Eagle Scout or for adult Eagle Scouts to wear on their uniforms. 

 

Thank you in advance for your support!

 

To order this patch, click here

Unami Lodge, One 
2016 Turtle Pass - 4 Weekends. $20 Savings. 1 Form. For more information, click here

Spring Service Weekend-Musser - April 15-17 - Join us for a weekend of service, inductions and fellowship! For more information and to register, click here

Spring Service Weekend-Resica Falls - May 20-22 - Join us for a weekend of service, inductions and fellowship! For more          information and to register, click here

2016 Dues - Renew Now!
You can purchase any of our Lodge Properties online through our eBay Store or at the Council Office.

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

Program Partners
Our Program Partners offer a variety of opportunities and discounts to Scouting families and are continuous supporters of our council.  
 
Please visit the website to see all the great offers available from our Program Partners!
  

Tickets Only $25 and Include:
  • Lower level ticket to Soul game
  • Special Soul Scout Patch
  • Meet and Greet with Soul players, Soulmates, and/or Soulman
    • Access to Scouting Event from 1-3pm
    • Includes Scouting Demonstrations
    • Hands-on Activities for the Entire Family
    • PinewoodŽ Derby Races
ATTENTION EXISTING CRADLE OF LIBERTY COUNCIL SCOUTS:
Bring a friend(s) to learn about Scouting! If they complete an application that day and attend your unit's meetings, Cradle of Liberty Council will refund your ticket price to you in June!



NRA Training Sessions
The Cradle of Liberty Shooting Sports Committee is excited to present the NRA training schedule for 2016. This training will help leaders become qualified for one of the shooting disciplines. In turn, this will allow more Scouts to enjoy the shooting sports. The training is open to all, but members of the BSA are offered the courses at a reduced rate.
  • BSA BB Course
  • BSA Archery Course
  • NAA Level 1 Archery
  • NRA Basic Pistol Course
  • NRA Basic Rifle Course
  • NRA Range Safety Officer
  • NRA Pistol Instructor Course
  • NRA Rifle Instructor Course
 For more information or to register for one of these sessions, click here

Catholic Committee on Scouting 
Visit the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Committee on Scouting website for more information and details about upcoming events or contact Catholic Committee Chair Bob Gabage.

2016 Scout Mass Patches
available from Catholic Committee On Scouting
in VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES for $4/ea
please contact Bob Gabage or 215-970-3838

Thank you to all of our units that have submitted their charter renewal paperwork for 2016! We realize this process has been especially challenging this year with the addition of complying with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law. Your diligence is very much appreciated.

For units that have not submitted their rechartering paperwork or have key adult leaders that have not completed their PA clearances, it is critical that we receive these items ASAP. 

Please be advised that if your unit has not completed the rechartering process for 2016 prior to the end of this month it will no longer be covered under insurance, access to online tools including tour and activity plans will no longer be available, and access to council resources and facilities will not be allowed.

If your unit needs assistance, please contact your district commissioner or executive, or email membership@colbsa.org.

BSAT Footer Image
Thank you for being a part of the Scouting movement and the Cradle of Liberty Council! If you have news or information you'd like to see in upcoming issues of the BSAT, please don't hesitate to e-mail news@colbsa.org.

 

Sincerely,
Cradle of Liberty Council