Sell the new $5 Camp Card as a fundraiser this spring.  The card includes a $5 off $50+ purchase at local supermarkets!

HOW THE CAMP CARD SALE WORKS:

·        The New 2013 Camp Card is designed to help youth fund their way to 2013 Camp programs

·        This is a Risk Free Unit Sales project where all Scouts can earn their way to Camp, Philmont, Jamboree, other activities or simply support unit program or supply needs

·        Each Camp Card will sell for only $5.00 to the general public and will have multiple food, service and grocery store discounts for the customer to use throughout the year.  With the $5.00 Rosauers or Super 1 Foods discount, the Camp Card PAYS FOR ITSELF!

·        The participating unit will keep $2.00 commission of the sales for each Camp Card sold!  The Council will receive $2.00 for each card sold plus $1.00 for card expenses and prizes

·        Commissions from the sales are encouraged to be applied toward directly sending youth to Summer Camp programs, but they may be used as the unit committee sees fit

Click here for more details.

The Inland Northwest Council will host a new and improved commissioner college on Saturday, March 23rd, location to be announced. The purpose of the college is to advance Commissioner skills by learning through science degrees meeting national requirements and recognition. This program is for all Scouters in commissioner service. Please contact Chancellor Chris Kaplan at (509)251-3796 or Gerry Granum, Director of Field Service (509)242-8248 if you would like to assist in any way.

Richard Brown and his mother were attending the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Merit Badge University this past fall at Gonzaga University.  During a lunchtime presentation they learned about the new Nova Awards of the Boy Scouts of America's STEM Initiative.  They immediately came up to the presenter and asked to learn more about these fascinating awards.  After getting the information they needed they went home that weekend and worked hard on the awards.   

Richard's mother, JoAnn, has a degree in Science Education so this was right up her alley.  The day after learning about the new award and having participated in the STEM Merit Badge University and earning a merit badge that would fulfill requirements, they wrapped up the Whoosh! Nova Award. By earning it on November 18, 2012 Richard became the first of many from the Inland Northwest Council who have now earned this fun STEM award.   

STEM is an important initiative here in the Inland Northwest Council.  We are encouraging unit leaders to incorporate STEM related activities in unit activities.  Look for STEM activities at Cub Scout Day Camp, Cub Country and Camp Easton and Camp Grizzly this summer.  Richard has started something great and we look forward to see where we go from here.  Perhaps even to the stars!

Plan Ahead for Your Unit's Journey to Excellence at the Spring Program Planning Kickoff! 

Now that 2012 is behind us, it is time to start looking ahead on your unit's Journey to Excellence. We all want to be excellent at something, so why not take your unit on its own Journey to Excellence. Whether your unit reached bronze, silver or gold status, it's all about the quality of program the youth are getting in your Pack, Troop or Crew.

If you haven't seen the 2013 Journey to Excellence criteria, go to www.scouting.org/jte and find your unit worksheet.

The month of May will be here before you know it, so be sure to put your May Roundtable date on the calendar as a don't miss opportunity. Plus, get a chance to win cool Scouting stuff!

Voice of the Scout is coming your way soon!    

Voice of the Scout (VOS) is the BSA's first nation - wide effort to directly to engage, you, our volunteers!   VOS is a system of continuous surveys and reports that will capture the value our members, parents and volunteers are associating with Scouting. Through these experiences we can understand what is driving word- of-mouth referrals to Scouting and loyalty to our program. Your response to our surveys, which are sent out twice a year, will help to identify what we can do better as an organization. 

 Please Help us Welcome Our New Staff!   

John was born and raised in Palm Springs, California and spent most of my free time as a Boy Scout, Law Enforcement Explorer, and on a summer camp staff at Mataguay Scout Reservation. In 1999, he earned his Eagle Scout with Troop 199 and my Explorer GOLD Award with Post 466 and had the unique experience of being one of the first in the Venturing program to earn the Silver and the Ranger awards while in Crew 2402.  During his adult life he spent seven years as an infantryman in the Army.  In 2010 he hiked the first 1727 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, returned to school, and finished a bachelor degree in political science at UC Santa Barbara in 2011. He returned to Pacific Crest Trail and hiked all 2668 miles continuously from Mexico to Canada.  While in Washington during that hike, he decided to make Washington state his home and returned to his favorite employer-The Boy Scout of America.

Nicole DeSart, Communication and Administrative Assistant

Nicole DeSart was born in Seattle and raised on the Big Island of Hawaii where she learned to play the ukulele, surf, and cook traditional Hawaiian meals. She graduated from Eastern Washington University in 2008 with a Bachelor's of Science in Applied Developmental Psychology and also in 2012 with a M.Ed. in Counseling from Whitworth University. She has experience working with youth of all ages in the community and in District 81 Schools. Last May she began her journey working with The Boy Scouts of America in their Scoutreach program. She thoroughly enjoys working for the council and looks forward to the opportunities Scouting will bring to her future.  

Upcoming "Outdoor Leadership Skills" Training Opportunity

Outdoor Leadership Skills is REQUIRED outdoor training for all Scoutmasters, assistant Scoutmasters, and Varsity Scout Coaches and assistant Varsity Coaches. The skills taught are based on the outdoor skills found in The Boy Scout Handbook.

This Friday-Saturday training is $20 for all participants. Participating in this training is required for all untrained Scoutmasters & assistants, Varsity Coaches & assistants as part of the Inland Northwest Council mandatory training policy.