| Greetings!
Welcome to the April 2013 issue of our Council newsletter.
If you have an upcoming event, information, or a special scout story you'd like to include in this newsletter, please, email our editor. |
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A Scouting Story
 We know the mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. For parents Ken & Simone Conerly, this mission has been a guiding principal in their household for over 14 years.
One day, first grader Kenneth brought a flyer home from school with pictures of archery, pinewood derby cars, campouts and games! It was his invitation to join the Boy Scouts of America. He brought his parents to that sign-up meeting and together, they took their first steps into the BSA.
Once this family figured out that the BSA values aligned with their own and that the program was going to open up a world of fun experiences, they stuck with it and made it a family experience. Developing friends along the way, these parents have encouraged, guided and supported their son towards his Scouting goals... first becoming an Eagle Scout, and later becoming a Scoutmaster.
 Kenneth worked hard, stayed focused, learned new skills and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout at age 14! After earning the rank of Eagle, he stayed in the program, continued to enjoy all of the fun and life lessons that Scouting has to offer. He also joined a Law Enforcement Exploring Post to explore his interests in the career.
 And today, Kenneth is 21 years old, an Eagle Scout, a Scoutmaster for his troop that he grew up in, and a Deputy with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. When asked, he said he joined the program because of all of the fun things they were going to do, but he stayed in because of the new skills he was developing. "I had a lot of leadership opportunities as a youth and learned skills that help me now, as an adult. I completed the Personal Management Merit Badge as a youth, and now, I know how to create & stick to a budget and can manage my personal finances."
Congratulations to Kenneth and to his parents for all they have accomplished and experienced, together, in the Scouting program!
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When you give to Scouting, you help make heroes...
When you give to Scouting, you help make heroes...
 Will Brabb, a Webelos Scout from Pack 507 in Lake Mary, enjoys volunteering at the Sanford Civic Center to help feed the homeless. At 10-years-old, he was amazed to see classmates from his school there to receive help. He says he "really wants to help a lot of people."
 Jarrett Slade, a First Class Scout with Troop 54 in Holly Hill, has been awarded the BSA Lifesaving Award for heroism. Not too long after earning the First Aid Merit Badge, Jarrett walked into his home and recognized his father was showing signs of a heart attack or a stroke. He immediately called 911 and took his father's blood pressure, relaying the information to the 911 operator. He also helped explain to the fire fighter's his father's medical history. His father was having a heart attack, but survived thanks to his sons' quick actions.
We need your support to help us make more heroes like Will & Jarrett! It's not too late to pledge your gift and help us!
Go online to http://support.cflscouting.org to help make a hero ... My Pledge to Making Heroes
On behalf of the over 25,000 Scouts here in Central Florida, thank you for being a part of this important campaign!! Thank you for making heroes!!
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2012 Central Florida Council Annual Report
Please click here to download the 2012 Central Florida Council Annual Report. |
Central Florida Scout Show
Central Florida Scout Show, April 27th, at UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium
Join your fellow Scouts and Scouters at the Central Florida Council's largest event, Scout Show 2013 on April 27th at UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium. Units from all over Central Florida will showcase Scouting Skills with booths. Make sure your unit is represented with a booth!
We look forward to seeing you on April 27th at UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium for Scout Show 2013. |
Limited Edition Orlando Solar Bears Players Jerseys - now available by Auction!
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Click for a larger image
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The Orlando Solar Bears put on their Scout hockey uniforms to do battle with the Reading Royals on March 2nd at the Amway Center. Each Orlando Solar Bear Hockey player battled on the ice with special Boy Scout jerseys. And now those Jerseys are being auctioned off. You have from now until Thursday, April 4th. Please click here to be taken to the Auction Website and make sure you get your piece of Scouting history with the Orlando Solar Bears!
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Webelos Day Camp
 Parents, are you looking for that perfect day camp for your Webelos Scout to attend this summer? Well, we have got just the day camp for you! The Webelos Day Camp (formerly the Webelos Only Day Camp) is being held June 24-28 and we are looking for eager Webelos Scouts that not only want to have fun, fun, fun at day camp but who want to get that jump start on earning their Webelos Badge and Arrow of Light! The Webelos Scout Day Camp is structured so that the Webelos I Scouts will earn their Citizen, Fitness, Artist and Engineer activity pins while the Webelos II Scouts will earn their Readyman, Forester, Handyman and Craftsman activity pins. Your Webelos Scout will have lots of fun creating "age appropriate" crafts, visiting with our guest speakers (Firemen, K-9, Police, Engineers, etc) and don't forget about BB's and Archery! There's so much to do so make sure YOUR Webelos Scout doesn't miss out on all the fun.
Register him TODAY for the WEBELOS DAY CAMP!
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Ideal Year of Scouting
What is an "Ideal Year of Scouting?" You may have heard that phrase and wondered what it means. Simply put, it's what you think of when you close your eyes and think of your perfect Scouting year. What do your Scouts see when they do that or your other unit leaders? We want to help you find out!
Your District will be holding an "Ideal Year of Scouting" Seminar at your May Roundtable. You won't want to miss this! Every unit will be provided tools to help them plan out their ideal year.
Why is this important? The top reasons families leave Scouting? Lack of communication, lack of planning, unexciting program, no fun. What's the best way to fight that? Communicate, plan and have fun! And the "Ideal Year of Scouting" seminar will help you do that. See you at the May Roundtable!
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National Jamboree Staff Needed!
Boy Scouts of America's 2013 National Jamboree, July 15-24, 2013
What is the national jamboree? Imagine 50,000 Scouts, Venturers, volunteers, and staff from all over the country, all gathered together for one big celebration of Scouting. Held once every four years, the national jamboree is a chance to camp out with friends, meet new friends, try high-adventure activities, learn new skills, and enjoy the outdoors. Over 10 days, there are exhibits, stadium shows with entertainment, opportunities to work on merit badges - there's something for everybody.
Staff Needed! The 2013 National Jamboree is still looking for several thousand volunteers to help staff the event. If you or a fellow adult leader are available to help provide these once in a lifetime experiences for our Scouts please click here to get started in being on Staff for the 2013 National Jamboree.
High adventure like you've never seen. Whitewater, climbing, zip lines, mountain biking, and much, much more. (Not to mention all of the things you've grown to love about the jamboree: patch trading, SCUBA, stadium shows, Technology Quest ... who could ask for more?)
History created by you. This will be the first jamboree at its new permanent home - The Summit, in beautiful West Virginia - and you'll be there for the grand opening.
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Spring into the Spring with events at our Camp!
 Fun with Son Weekends April 5-7, 2013  Experience our camp during the Spring of 2013. Cub Scouts and their families will enjoy great activities that include bb guns, archery, craft building, swimming, hiking our nature trails plus much more! Please click here to register online for Fun with Son (April 5-7) Please click here for the information / registration flyer Tiger Crossing May 10-12, 2013  Bring your entire family to camp to celebrate your Tiger Cub's Graduation! Your graduating Tiger Cub and family will experience activities such as swimming, bb guns, archery, games, crafts, awesome campfire and of course a Graduation Ceremony. Please click here to register online Please click here for the information / registration flyer |
| Safety Weekend April 12-14
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Camp La-No-Che Reunion
When was the last time you were at Camp La-No-Che?
Come and bring your family for an exciting day of fun and activities at place you spent many of your summer nights. Come prepared to canoe / row on Lake Norris, swim at the pool, shoot rifles and bows, visit the Native American Indian Area, check out the new All-Terrain Vehicle and Personal Watercraft programs, hike to Big Stump, or just explore the old camp and see what is old and new. A bag lunch and a sit down dinner with lots of camp staff tales are included. The day will end with an exciting campfire program in the OA Campfire Ring. A full day of fun for you and your family.
Sign up for this one-day event at Camp. Also, share this information with other former camp staff members that you are still in contact with. Which year will have the most Camp Staff members attending the Reunion? Feel free to bring your old camp memorabilia with you.
Activity and meal fee: $20.00 per person (Overnight camping available, but remember, campers arrive Sunday morning!)
Please register at: |
Prepared For ... ADVENTURE
 Why do Scouts join and stay in Scouting - is it for the meetings, the learning experience, or the advancements - No it's for the Adventure. Yes we as Leaders do a fantastic job teaching our Scouts great Leadership Abilities, we give them the knowledge to accomplish Skills they will use throughout their lives, and the need and want for Personal Advancement.
But - Our main focus must always be getting the youth to join the Scouting Program and then we must keep their interest and keep them motivated to stay in the Program. We must provide their want for more.
The best way to accomplish these important and much needed goals is by making Scouting an Adventure. We as Leaders must help the Scouts create and plan Outings and Activities that are exciting and fun. These adventures can be part of the Scout Meeting, they might be day trips for activities within our communities using the local organizations and businesses, be weekend/weeklong outings including camping, or visiting new and exciting lands of opportunity outside our local area.
These Adventures become the Scouting Program. Always remember to include the Scouts in the development and planning, the adventures need to be what interests them - what causes them to be excited. Keep the Scouting Program new and up to date, always keeping in mind that it's a fast changing world the Scouts live in. The Scouting Adventure must also always provide programs that include the wide range of ages of our Scouts, leave no one on the sidelines.
Our Scouts are Prepared for - Adventure, we as the Leaders must be the catalyst to cause the Adventure.
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Cub Scout Day Camp 2013
 Cub Scout Day Camp planning has kicked into full force. The Directors, program directors and other key staff are putting together the best program ever. The theme this year is Cub Scout Day Camp discovers the world. Each camp is discovering different things in the world. From the different types of transportation you can take to discover the world, to all the different countries in the world.
WE are looking for volunteers to work at camp and to help plan it as well. If you are interested contact your camp director on the flier or at cflscouting.org on the Day Camp page.
 We have some great new activities planned, some old favorites (BB's and archery). Day Camp is the opportunity for Cub Scouts, to have fun making new friends, learning scout skills, all while earning rank advancement and other Cub Scout awards. Each camp is different and your son can attend any or as many camps as he wants. Most camps will have BB's, Archery, Crafts and Scout Skills after that every camp is different. You son will earn awards in his new rank Wolf, Bear or Webelos. He will earn a Day Camp patch and receive his camp t-shirt. Camp is all week and all day long. For specific times and dates check out the flier or website.
Congratulations to Cub Scout Jonathan B. for the winning patch design. He and a friend are getting an all-expense paid vacation for two for the Cub Scout Day Camp of his choice. So mark your calendars with the dates and get ready for a wonderful Day Camp filled summer.
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| Summer Camp 2013
Experience Scouting as it should be with high adventure, merit badges galore and the one and only Native American program village plus much more!
 Camp La-No-Che's summer camp adventures for Boy Scouts and Venturing youth include the ATV and Personal Water Craft experiences, a Native American village where scouts learn "hands on" about the Native American culture, High Adventure programs which include the Alpine Tower, high & low courses in COPE plus the Climbing tower, great program areas for scouts to earn merit badges in aquatics, ecology, scoutcraft skills, health fields, shooting sports and trailblazers (designed for new scouts).
 Summer camp 2013 at Camp La-No-Che will be the best ever. We already have over 250 Troops who are attending so please put your reservation in today. Please contact Pam Falconer (352-669-8558 or pam@camplanoche.com) at Camp La-No-Che located in the Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family Scout Reservation to put in your Troop's or Crew's reservation. Weeks 1, 2, and 3 are already full, and weeks 4 - 7 are filling up fast!
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Central Florida Council Awards Banquet
 The Central Florida Council Recognition Banquet will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa. With over 800 attendees expected, this event will celebrate the 2012 Duane Fogg Class of Eagle Scouts and the 2012 Dr. Wes Estey class of Silver Beavers.
In 2012, there were 488 Scouts in Central Florida who earned the rank of Eagle Scout which is the largest total in the history of the Council.
The Silver Beaver is the highest honor a local council can bestow upon an individual. Each year, a selection committee reviews nominations from throughout the council and selects those most worthy of recognition. The council is afforded one Silver Beaver for every 30 units or fraction thereof. Fourteen individuals will be presented with the Silver Beaver at the Council Banquet on June 4th. Each year, a distinguished Silver Beaver is selected to be the class honoree. The honoree is a volunteer who has already received the Silver Beaver and continued their service to Scouting and the Central Florida Council in a way deserving of special recognition.
Registration is now open. Please register as soon as possible on the Central Florida web site.
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Training
 Looking for the latest information on BSA Training Classes being held in the Central Florida Council? The Council Training Calendar is your one-stop shop for all training classes, when they will be held, who is conducting the class, and how to register. |
| April Countdown for Camp Card Achievers
Now that March Madness is behind us, we are looking for April Achievers: Scouts who are earning their way to Day Camp or Summer Camp. Yes - Scouts can earn their way to Camp by participating in the Central Florida Council Discount Camp Card Program.
With only four (4) weeks left to make an impact on our Scouts and the program they can receive through the Camp Card Sales. There is still time to become an April Achiever!
How does a Scout become an April Achiever?
* For every 20 Cards sold (1 package) a Scout is eligible to register for the weekly prize drawing
The winner gets a $100 gift card of their choice from Game Stop, Walmart, Amazon or Scoutstuff.org
* Also, a new added attraction for every 20 Cards sold: a Scout is eligible to register for the weekly prize drawing the winner gets a Free week of Cub Scout Day Camp or a Free week of Summer Camp
* For every 140 Cards sold by a Cub Scout earns a Free week of Cub Day Camp or a $70 gift card of their choice.
* For every 350 Cards sold by a Boy Scout earns a Free week of Summer Camp at La-No-Che or $175 gift card of their choice.
* All Scouts who sell 20 Cards will receive a Scout Show Patch and a gift card value of $5 of their choice.
* Along with the Camp Card Prize system, all units can earn up to 40% commission of their total sales. By:
1) Placing an order for cards - 20%
2) Having a booth at the Scout Show in April - 10%
3) Settling you unit's account by 12 noon on April 27th at the Scout Show - 10%
This year's 2013 Camp Cards are going fast! Many units have already sold and re-ordered additional cards. Get your re-order in while Cards are still available!
Each Scout has an opportunity to become an April Achiever by participating in the Discount Camp Card "No Risk" fundraising campaign! Let's make this the best year ever in Camp Card Sales in the Central Florida Council! We have a great product for all to be April Achievers!
For support, please contact Kirk Clark, Development Director - Central Florida Council at kirk.clark@cflscouting.org - (407) 703-0230. |
What's Going Around: Scabies
What's Going Around - IS ALIVE! Centra Care locations all around Central Florida are seeing lots of patients with Scabies. In fact, the number of cases this month is up 75% from this time last year.
Learn More:
Scabies is an easily spread skin disease caused by a mite. Affecting both children and adults, the microscopic scabies mite burrows into the upper layer of the skin where it lives and lays eggs. Scabies is usually spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has it. Day-care centers, schools and nursing homes are often prone to outbreaks.
Symptoms include:
- Itching, especially at night
- Rashes
- Sores from scratching
- Thin, pencil-like lines on the skin
Common affected areas:
- Between the fingers
- Wrist
- Elbow
- Armpit
- Genitals
The head, face, neck, palms and soles are often affected in infants and young children, but not usually in adults and older kids.
(SOURCE: CDC)
To diagnose, a doctor will examine the skin for signs of scabies. An examination of skin scrapings, under a microscope, may also be done to look for mites.
TREATMENT
Scabies infections are most commonly treated with prescription medicated cream applied all over the body. Itching may continue for up to 2 weeks after treatment begins. The whole family or sexual partners should also be treated, whether or not they have symptoms. Wash underwear, towels and sleepwear in hot water and vacuum carpets and upholstered furniture.
Call or visit a doctor right away if you have symptoms of scabies OR someone you have been in close contact with has scabies.
Did you know ... Centra Care offers discounted physicals for Scouts and Leaders? Scout physicals are available for $25 and Leader physicals are only $40. Check with your local Centra Care for your next annual physical.
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Golden Eagle Dinners
The Scout Law reminds us that a Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent ... and this year, we are learning that a Scout can also be Heroic!
Don't Judge a Hero by the Size of His Cape ... that's the theme for the Central FL Council's 2013 fundraising campaign. But more than a theme, it's a reminder to all of us of the impact Scouting has on so many lives. Here is just one of the heroic Scouts we're meeting this year ...
 While on a Troop hiking adventure in Philmont, New Mexico, one of Brian's Scout leaders had a heart attack on the side of the mountain. Brian and three friends ran four miles down the mountain to a location with a radio, where they called for helicopter support. The leader survived thanks to the heroism of Brian and his Troop mates. Brian, a Life Scout from Troop 6 in Orlando, has been awarded the BSA Lifesaving Award for heroism. Learn more from Brian, and other Scouts across Central FL about what makes them a hero! Join us at one of our upcoming Golden Eagle Dinners. Your financial support helps us make more heroes, just like Brian.Upcoming Golden Eagle Dinner events: * Seminole County on Thursday, April 4th at the Westin Lake Mary, hosted by Rich Guidotti of AT&T, Sheriff Don Eslinger & County Commissioner Brenda Carey * Osceola County on Wednesday, April 10th at Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate, hosted by Ken Smith with the Osceola Education Foundation * Metro Orlando on Tuesday, April 16th at the Amway Center, hosted by Alex Martins of the Orlando Magic * East Volusia County on Tuesday, April 30th at Sunset Harbor Yacht Club, hosted by Charlie Lydecker of Brown & Brown Inc. To find out more about one of these events or how you can participate, please contact Nancy Freeman at Nancy.Freeman@scouting.org or 407.703.0282. You may also click on the community name to RSVP or donate online.
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From the Scout Executive
 "A week of camp life is worth six months of theoretical teaching in the meeting room." - Sir Robert Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell recognized very soon after organizing the first Scout Troops that Scouting would never survive with out adult leaders who could experience Scouting through the eyes of a boy. Many of you joined us late last month for the first ever "All Hands Summit" where Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock and National Commissioner Tico Perez acknowledged how important your dedication is to the future of Scouting by recalling the impressions their Scoutmasters had upon their lives.
Through your work, the Boy Scouts of America remains the foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training that America has to offer. Earlier this year our council awarded more than 900 diplomas at the University of Scouting, the most comprehensive leader training we conduct each year. On April 27 we will gather for the 4th Annual Council Scout Show where more than 500 unit booths and 14,000 guests in attendance will observe Scouts exhibit the skills you have taught them in the past months. Each month at Courts of Honor and Blue & Gold Banquets across the council units will celebrate our Scout's achievements, a direct outcome of your mentorship and guidance.
In the past month I have learned of great successes with "Camp Card" sales from many units. It is important to not lose sight of the overriding objective of encouraging Scouts to participate in product sales. It is the proceeds from these activities that often define a boy's dream of being a Scout and fulfilling the expectations his parents have for his Scouting experience. They directly translate into memorable experiences boys will enjoy at the National Jamboree, Boy Scout Summer Camp or Cub Scout Day Camp. Camp is where what you have taught them will come to life, creating lifelong Scouting memories and of their Scout leader. It may be decades from now or, you may never learn of the impact you had upon the life of that boy, but I can guarantee what you do each day in Scouting will never be forgotten by him.
I salute and thank you for your dedication to Scouting!
Yours in Scouting, Ron Oats Scout Executive |
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