Who Runs Scouting in Your District?

Who Do I Call for Help?

New Staff Structure Provides Greater Support for Districts

Who runs Scouting in your district?  In short, your District Committee made up of volunteers and chaired by a volunteer District Chairman.  Each District Chairman also sits as a voting member of the Inland Northwest Council's Executive Board. 

Your district committee is a group of volunteers that organize district activities, trainings, membership drives, fundraisers (like the popcorn sale and Friends of Scouting campaigns), day camps, Eagle Scout Boards of Review and more.  Districts have anywhere from 10 to 30 volunteers that help with the various subcommittees  including Commissioners, Training, Advancement & Recognition, Activities & Civic Service, Camp Promotion, Membership, and Finance.

On April 1^st, the council changed its staff structure.  There are four "professional Scouters" assigned to advise and support the various committees in your district:  a Unit Service Executive, Program Executive, Associate Development Executive, and Membership Executive.  Each of these executives works with four districts.  For details on what staff members to call for assistance and for more information on the new staff structure, click here.

Super Star Popcorn Specialist Michael Beck Returning in May!

If you attended last year's Popcorn University in Spokane Valley, you had the opportunity to attend a highly energetic and very informative seminar called "Fundraising for the Future."

This year, there will be three special opportunities from May 20th-22nd throughout the Inland Northwest Council.  Special Advisor to Campmaster Popcorn, Michael Beck from Philadephia, PA will teach you and your Scouts how to raise all the money you need with only one fundraiser.  In fact Inland Northwest Council units that adopted these methods during last year's popcorn campaign sold 15% more popcorn on average over the previous year!

There are three seminars you have the opportunity to attend and they are listed below:

Tuesday, May 20th Silver Lake Mall (200 W. Hanley Avenue, Coeur d Alene, ID)

Wednesday, May 21st (Crosspoint Alliance Church, 1330 Powers Ave., Lewiston, ID)

Thursday, May 22nd (St. Patricks Parish Hall., 5021 N Nelson St., Spokane, WA)

Agenda at each location

Food/fellowship/check-in            6:00pm to 6:30pm

Sneak Preview of 2014 Sale      6:30pm to 6:45pm

"Fundraising for the Future"        6:45pm to 8:30pm

Look for more information coming out shortly!

• Free rank and cloth advancements (Bobcat-Life when submitted online via advancement website)
• 10% discount for summer camp fees
• Free unit tent camping at any Inland Northwest Council property.

Spring Program Planning Kickoffs is in May

Essential to a Great Program

Plan to attend your District's May Roundtable to get a jump start on planning for the next Scouting year.  At your District Spring Program Planning Kickoff you will get the following great resources:

• Learn more about My Scouting Tools and how this new platform can help your unit function better through increased communication.
• Find out more about your unit's Journey to Excellence.
• Meet the key district volunteers who will answer your questions on activities, training, camping, advancement, finances, growing your unit, and how to reach out when things don't go as planned.
• Meet your Unit Commissioner and find out what resources they have available to help.
• Enter for a chance to win a Scouting gift basket with a $25.00 Scout Shop gift card.
• Get a sneak preview on this fall's popcorn sale.
• Find out about program updates in later 2014 and 2015

*Be sure to attend your local Spring Program Planning Kickoff at these locations:

District                                 Date                                Time                           Location

What a BLAST!

"FULL Speed Ahead" for action and fun! Let Blast Cars show 'em how Boy Scouts rev-up for summer and a fun year of activities and adventures! We've got everything you need to set up a fast-paced, exciting get together! This is a great way to grow your Troop by having Scouts invite friends to come for fun! This is the Pinewood Derby they loved...on steroids!

• Simply contact the Spokane Service Center (509-325-4562) to reserve one of our Blast Car Sets. Sets are checked out for 2 weeks at a time, starting April 4^th.
• The first week, try it out- watch the sample cars BLAST off with ROCKET action using co2 cartridges. The boys will LOVE it! Then let them build their own to race the following week! The kits are available at discounted prices! And any new Scouts who join your Troop won't be charged for the cars when the new application is turned in!
• The second week- let the races begin (and the fun!) Check it out for yourself by going to YouTube and watching BSA Blast Cars! Then, let us know when you'd like your kit!

Tree Planting Renewal Project Flocks Hundreds of Volunteers to Plant 4,200 Ponderosa Pines along the new North/South Freeway

Thank you to the 530 Scouting families, community members and volunteers who joined us in planting 4,200 Ponderosa Pines along the new North/South Freeway on April 12, 2014.  Everyone enjoyed the weather and had a great time learning about trees!

Groups from the Fairchild Airforce Survival School, Spokane Edible Tree Project, North Central AVID, Sterling Bank, EWU's Sigma Lambda Beta and Victory House were also some of the organizations who participated.  

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY! 

If you would like to view your unit's service hours, CLICK HERE.

Seeking Experienced Scout Leaders

Are you a Cub Scout leader?  Would you like to earn extra income?

Our council office is looking to hire YOU!

Position Description: implementing the Cub Scouting program at low-income neighborhoods to Cub Scout packs in Spokane Public Schools, community centers and churches in the Spokane area.

To apply email resume to Robert.beer@scouting.org

Spring and Summer Positions Available!  Apply today!

One Night for Scouting

Thursday, September 18th

Now is the time for strong, successful Units to be making plans for next Fall! Because our "One Night for Scouting" campaign was so successful, we will be holding it again- this time on Thursday, September 18, 2014! We need your help in reserving your location and staffing your event (and remember Boy Scouts are amazing helpers and inspire Cubbies!) A few fun games, a DVD of pack activities running in the background, and an inspirational leader is all it takes to make all the difference in the lives of these "potential Scouts"!

• There will be news and media promotion!
• New materials for the New Scout packets- ready and made up for you!
• Help in organizing your event and materials available to help you and make it FUN!

Please reserve a place at your local elementary school now!  This is our greatest opportunity to get the word out to potential new Scouts and their families- to offer them the chance to join the adventure of a lifetime, one that will help their son to a brighter future and create wonderful memories, life skills, and friendships along the way!

Questions?  For Service Area A (Old Missions, Lewis Clark Trails, Chief Kamiakin & David Thompson) contact your Membership Executive, Chris Petersen or call 208-772-2455. For Service Area B (Grizzly, Chinook, Stevens and Thunderbird) contact your Membership Executive, Crystal Loomis or call 509-325-4562.

Camp Service Weekends

Help Improve our Camps!

Come support Camp Easton, Grizzly, or Cowles Scout Reservation at one of the service weekends.   Projects include painting, tent platform repair, or working to build a new program area for one our camps.  You can come as an individual, unit, or even patrol!  Each camp will provide free camping for the weekend and facilities usage for your service to the camp.  See the list of opportunities and register online at www.nwscouts.org.

Camp Grizzly

May 16^th -17^th, 2014

Lunch will be provided on Saturday

Questions, contact Charley Gaskins at 509-592-0826

Camp Easton

Service Weekend: May 16^th- 18^th, 2014

Dinner will be provided on Saturday at 5:45 PM

Questions, contact Ranger Jeff at 208-659-8747 or email at eastonranger@gmail.com

Service Weekend: June 6^th - 8^th

Lunch will be provided on Saturday

Questions, contact Ranger Jack at 509-671-2394

Please register online at www.nwscouts.org, this will help us with a food count for each weekend. If you have general questions about service weekends contact Camping Director Bill Beaumont at 509-325-4562 or email at bill.beaumont@scouting.org

Love all of the fun of camp, but just can't get away? Day Camp is the answer! Day Camp offers a variety of activities like archery, BB guns, fishing, arts and crafts, hiking, water rockets, even guest speakers, skits, and songs- everything you love about going to camp without leaving town for days.

Day Camps:

• Are offered all summer long in different areas, at different times, and even offer different themes for fun adventures!
• "Day Camps" allow you to get out and enjoy all the fun, and still be home in time for dinner,
• And our "Twilight Camps" give you an afternoon of adventure while still getting you home to sleep in your own bed!
• Day Camp usually runs 2-3 days, and best of all...it is very affordable! Space is limited and you can sign up now. For more information about this year's Day Camps and Twilight Camps, just go to www.nwscouts.org!  

For questions about Day Camp, contact Crystal Loomis at crystal.loomis@scouting.org or call   509-242-8240. 

NEW Junior Counselor Program

Extended Deadline to May 15th!

The Junior Camp Staff program is a stepping stone for 14-15 year old Scouts who want to gain skills that will turn them into the best camp staff members our council has to offer.  As a Junior Camp Staff member, participants will also receive valuable work skills that will enhance their future ability for employment outside of camp.

• Week one: Junior Camp Staff will work together to become a team and learn the skills of effective staff members. 
• Weeks two and three: participants will be put in the field with a staff mentor. This mentor will help to further develop their skills.
• Adventure Experience:  Once these weeks are completed, each participant will be invited to an adventure experience at Cowles Scout Reservation that will end with a graduation from the Junior Camp Staff Program.

Extended Deadline to register for this great opportunity is May 15^th, 2014.    

Click Here for more information to apply.

Questions?  Please contact Bill Beaumont at bill.beaumont@scouting.org or call 509-325-4562.

Family Camp at Camp Grizzly has a great tradition of Cub Scout camp.  In 2014 Cub Scout Camp at Camp Grizzly will be June 29th - July 1st.  Family Camp at Camp Grizzly is for Scouts and Siblings (1st - 5th grade).  That is three days and two nights of great fun!  Activities at Camp Grizzly include: swimming, fishing, BB-gun shooting, archery, nature, crafts and so much more.  Camp Grizzly is located 14 miles east of Potlatch, ID near Laird State Park.  Don't miss out on three days and two nights of great fun!

Click Here for more information about Cub Scout Camp at Camp Grizzly

Click Here to download the 2014 Camp Grizzly reservation form.

-Packs, Dens, and Individuals are able to make a $50 dollar deposit to secure their unit's session of choice!

2015 Reservations for Camp Easton & Camp Grizzly

Inland Northwest Council Units are already able to make reservations for 2015 summer camp at Camp Easton and Camp Grizzly!  Out-of-Council units will be able to begin making reservations for 2014 camp beginning July 16, 2014.  That is nearly a six-month head start for Inland Northwest Council units.  In order to make a camp reservation, units will need to mail or bring the $150 deposit and a reservation form to your local service center.  Camp Easton and Grizzly will fill up fast so take advantage of the opportunity to reserve the week of camp your troop wants.

Click here to download the 2015 Boy Scout Camp Reservation Form.

1. Volunteer to be a merit badge counselor in your vocation or avocation.  Contact Colette Erickson, Registrar, at 1-800-945-4390.
2. Volunteer on a district or council committee.  Contact Gerry Granum, Director of Field Services, at 1-800-945-4390.
3. Send a Scout to camp by donating a campership.  Click this link to make an online donation or mail your gift to Campership Fund, 411 West Boy Scout Way, Spokane, WA 99201.
4. Donate gently used uniforms to our uniform bank so we can provide uniforms to families with financial hardships.  Drop off at any of our three Scout Service Centers.
5. Support One Scout for One Year as part of our iSupport1 campaign.  Click this link to support one or more Scouts this year for $182 each.  Your gift will provide volunteer training, programs and activities, camps, leader support and more for one or more Scouts.
6. Donate your Car to Support Scouting-whether it runs or not!  We'll even haul it away! Click the link above for more details.
7. Support the future of Scouting with a gift to the Inland Northwest Council Endowment Foundation.  Make a Memorial Gift in memory of a friend or family member, a Tribute gift in honor of an Eagle Scout or other outstanding individual or join the James E. West Society with a gift of $1,000 or more.
8. Support improvements at one or more of our camps by clicking here.