One afternoon in November, Webelos Scout, Jonathan & his siblings were playing in the sand next to their backyard swimming pool.  Suddenly three year-old Jesse slipped on the wet cement and fell in!  He had started swim lessons earlier that summer but still required a flotation device and quickly began struggling for air under the weight of his wet clothing. 

Jonathan heard the splash and realized right away that something was wrong.  He was a new Webelos Scout and hadn't gone through much training or even completed his Aquanaut activity badge, but he knew he needed to help!  His Scout spirit kicked in and he dove headfirst into the cold water, grabbed his brother by the arm and swam him to the side of the pool.  He held him there while calling to his Sister to get Mom.  Mom was nearby and quickly arrived at the pool.  She found Jesse sitting in Jonathan's lap coughing, but safe. 

Jonathan recalls the incident, "I had a lot of things going through my mind at the time, mostly I was scared, but I had a feeling that I needed to jump in... he didn't have his floaties on.  I was happy to help my little brother."

Jonathan's family & fellow Scouts are so proud of his quick thinking and ability to rescue his brother from harm!  Since that time Jonathan has gone on to earn 5 activity badges, his Faith in God award and qualify for his Webelos badge all in a short 3 months.  Keep up the great work, Jonathan!   

It is Our Scouting Program and we need to Make Our Voices Heard!

Voice of the Scout is the first time in Scouting's hundred plus year history that the Scouts, Scouters, and Parents have been given that opportunity to voice their opinions on Scouting.

We the Scouting Membership are challenged to make a difference and to cause Scouting's success. The Scouting Mission is fluid and change is continually needed to keep Scouting current. Scouting future needs to advance in ways never contemplated in Scouting's past.

The Voice of the Scout is an E-Mail Survey sent out by BSA National twice a year. It is sent to every Scout (under 14 it is sent to the parent to assist in filling it out), every Registered Adult Scouter, and every Scout's Parent. Multiple questions are asked concerning how Scouting is run, it's Membership, its Finance, its Program, and it's Leadership. Scouting's Membership scores each question with a 1 to 10 rating. The responses to the surveys are then collected by BSA National and sent back to every Council coordinated by the respondent's category in Scouting.

From this information the Council's Scouting Program is rated. First the Council is rated on how many contacts are available to survey in relationship to what the total possible is, second the Council is rated on the percentage of responses in relationship to the number of surveys sent out, and third it is rated on its Scouting Program quality by what is called its NPS Score. All of these scores are part of the Council's JTE - Journey to Excellence. For 2013 the Central Florida Council received a JTE rating of Silver.

To reach gold and better the Scouting Program we need to let everyone know how important it is to get their input - to hear their voice and then we need to receive their actual responses - how can we make things better in Scouting without knowing what our Membership wants. Scouting is our Program, our Movement to lead, to plan, and to change. We need to let the Membership know this and make them understand we need them.

Some responses that stood out were - a need for better communications, needed improvement in Volunteer Leadership abilities, more available training opportunities, Council Professional customer service needs to improve, and the new BSA Membership Policy. Overall we beat BSA National in every category but that's not good enough, we want to have the best possible Scouting Program. It belongs to our youth and to us. What can we do to be the best - Change - Change - Change! Make the Scouting Program what we want, what we need, and get everyone involved in the Scouting Program.

Good things have come out of the Voice of the Scout to date - Yes Change! A Council Strategic Plan has been developed to be used by the Council's Leadership. A new Council & Camp website has been created and social media venues - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumbler, and Instagram information flow was increased. More Training opportunities have been created along with better communication concerning these training opportunities -The Morning Training Briefing. The membership's Bring a Friend Program was started, better Camp Cards have been developed, and more Popcorn Choices were added. Increases in the Scouting Program include a second Camp Pool which is under construction. The Council's Customer Service Area has been redesigned, more Go To Meeting opportunities are available, and new Webinar Trainings were presented. These are only a few of the changes that have been made from the responses collected.

The biggest change of all is that changes are being made, Scouting is advancing, and our membership is getting what it asks for in a timely manner. We've opened Scouting's Eyes to the future. Scouting's Leadership both Volunteer and Professionals have been informed and they have been charged to make changes.

Dates: March 28-30, 2014 

Location: Camp La-No-Che

Who: Adult Leaders & Youth (14+)

Cost: $125

Powder Horn is a resource course designed to introduce Scouting's adult leaders and youth to the exciting program possibilities for their unit. After completing this course, the participants should have sufficient introductory information to: 

• Provide a robust outdoor program using a variety of resources 
• Identify local resources & consultants for high-adventure activities 
• Apply the health & safety requirements of the BSA to outdoor programs 
• Apply the rules & regulations of the BSA as they apply to outdoor programs 

Participants will be exposed to resources & programming in the following areas:

Archery, Shooting Sports, Leave No Trace, Water Sports, Canoeing, Fishing, Orienteering, Geocaching, COPE, Climbing, Caving and much more!

Click for: flyer - registration 

The Cub Scout Day Camp for the summer of 2014 will be here in less than 7 months!  The 2014 Day Camp Directors, Program Directors and other key staff are putting together the best program ever. The theme this year is Cubstruction.  Each camp will be Cubstructing great innovative activities for Cub Scouts.  More details of when and where the Cub Scout Day Camps will be delivered during the month of December.  

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. 

 Locations for the 2014 Cub Day Camps:

Keep your eye out for more information for this great week of Cub Scouting fun during the summer!

The 2014 Camp Card is here and purchasing a Camp Card is a great way to support Scouts in Central Florida! 

A Scout in your neighborhood will be selling cards soon... keep a look out! 

Scout Leaders & Unit Camp Card Chairs - don't miss the February Round Table Mtg. in your district.  During the meeting the Camp Cards you've already ordered will be available for pick-up and your Booth Commitment Forms will be DUE. More details will also be updated soon on the Council website at scoutshow.cflscouting.org. 

Have questions about your Unit's Sale?  Contact your District Camp Card Chair:

NEW facilities, programs, and troop times are coming to Camp La-No-Che at the Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family Scout Reservation in the summer of 2014. 

This summer our Camp La-No-Che Staff are proud to be bringing you all new facilities out NEW Aquatics Complex (complete with two Olympic swimming pools, diving board, water-slide, and bath house) and NEW Adventure Tower (complete with 3 stages of rappelling, and zip-line).

New programs include Horsemanship, Search and Rescue, Sustainability, and Search and Rescue Merit Badges, and a whole new week of Special Programs from July 27th - August 2nd.  

New programs are also coming to Scouts in the form of Troop Times: La-No-Che Scramble obstacle course race, horse back riding, and man-hunt competitions, and additional troop swims in our new pool are sure to keep your scouts on the go all day long.

 Those Scouts that are looking for a little bit more out of there Summer Camp experience Camp La-No-Che brings you Special Programs Week #8 with eight new programs that give your scouts the ability to dive deeper into the programs they love at Camp La-No-Che!

Make sure you check out the NEW 2014 Leaders Guide on www.camplanoche.com for more information and additional programs. 

Do not delay summer will be here before you know it, reservations open January 1st, 2014 at www.camplanoche.com.

Do you have what it takes to join the best Summer Camp Staff in the South East? - or - Do you know someone that is up to the challenge? Well now is your chance... Camp La-No-Che is looking for leadership driven men and women of all ages (YOUTH & ADULTS), to join their Summer Camp Staff for an unforgettable summer!

Top 5 reasons to apply to be on Camp La-No-Che Summer Camp Staff 2014:

1. Free room and board in air-conditioned facilities at beautiful Camp La-No-Che
2. Get paid to do what comes naturally being a leader, teacher, and friend
3. Get away from home, and learn self-reliance while having fun in the process!
4. Earn merit badges in your free time at no additional cost!
5. Spend the summer doing what you love, Being a Scout!

The requirements are simple:

• Be at least 14 years of age by June 1st, 2014 (CIT, unpaid volunteer)
• Be at least 15 years of age by June 1st, 2014 (Staff Member)
• Be a registered Scout or Scouter with the Boy Scouts of America
• Fill out a Camp La-No-Che 2014 Staff Application, and turn it in!
• Pass an interview and be selected as a Staff Member

Currently Accepting Applications for:

• Counselors in Training (14 years of age, unpaid volunteers)
• Program Counselors (15-16 years of age)
• Adventure Counselor (16 years of age)
• Senior Program Counselors (17 years of age)
• Senior Adventure Counselor (18 years of age)
• Assistant Area Directors (18 years of age)
• Area Directors (18 years of age)
• Aquatics Assistant Area Director (18 years of age)
• Adventure Camp A.T.V. Instructor (18 years of age)
• Shooting Sports Range Officers (18 years of age)
• Aquatics Director (21 years of age)
• Adventure Area Director (21 years of age)
• COPE Director (21 years of age)
• Assistant Provo Scoutmaster (18 years of age)
• Provisional Scoutmaster (21 years of age)

 (Click here for Summer Camp Staff 2014 Application)

Camp La-No-Che will be extending the application deadline to February 15th, 2014. Please, do not delay and miss out on this great opportunity, join one of greatest teams ever assembled, be a Staff Member of Camp La-No-Che!

The Central Florida Council is proud to announce a NEW event coming September 12th-14th, 2014 to Camp La-No-Che, Scout Strong Weekend! This new event's mission is "Fit, Fuel, Fun" and is designed for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers, Explorers, and the entire family. Compete as some of your favorite superheroes in downtown Metropolis while having fun and staying active. Events such as spider maze, hammer strike, mud pits, model rocketry and much, much more! Older Scouts, Venturers, Explorers, and the public will also have the opportunity to run the Second Annual X5K Black Bear Challenge and learn about healthy eating, and give your Scouts the opportunity to experience the new program focus on physical fitness.