We are pleased to announce that our local Mazda dealers have donated a 2014 CX-5 to the Central Florida Council, BSA.  This is how you can participate:

1. If your 2013 gift was less than $300, increase your 2014 gift to a minimum of $300 and at least $75 more than your 2013 gift.
2. If your 2013 gift was $300 or more, increase your 2014 gift by a minimum of $75.
3. If your 2014 gift is your first year contributing, make a minimum gift of $300.
4. If you have already made your 2014 gift and meet one of the criteria above you have automatically qualified for the CX-5.  If you would like to increase your 2014 gift in order to qualify please contact Bill Gosselin, bill.gosselin@cflscouting.org.

Meet one of the criteria above and pay your gift in full by August 10, 2014, and you will be eligible for the Mazda CX-5.   The new owner will be announced later this year at the 2014 Travel, Sports and Entertainment Auction.  You do not need to be present to participate.

Feel free to make your gift online at http://support.cflscouting.org

If you have any questions, please contact Bill Gosselin, bill.gosselin@cflscouting.org

Opportunities to Create Success:

• Working directly with the Scouts or developing the Scouting Adventure
• Be a Unit Leader (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Adviser or Assistant) or a Member of the Unit Committee
• Be a Member of your District Committee or District's Commissioner Staff
• Attend your District's Roundtable Meetings
• Be an Event Leader for a District or Council Event (Day Camp, Camporee, University of Scouting, etc.)
• Help financially through Friends of Scouting or a Golden Eagle Dinner
• Participate in the Voice of the Scout Program
• Be a member of a Council Committee (Finance, Membership, Camping, etc.)
• Attend a Council Event (Golf Tournament, Sporting Clay Shoot, Sports & Entertainment Auction, etc.)
• Volunteer through the Council's Legacy Quest Program (Campmaster, Blackshirt, C4, CAMP, or S3)
• Be part of your Scout's Scouting (Meetings, Camping, etc.)

Register as a Scouter and BE INVOLDED!

The Cinematography merit badge is now being offered at the Microsoft Store at the Mall at Millenia! Along with Photography and Robotics, these are three great merit badges earned at a great place. The merit badge classes are still being offered from 6-9pm every Friday night at the Microsoft Store for FREE, and you only have to attend one class session.

For the Cub Scouts, the belt loop classes are still happening Saturday mornings from 9-12, working on Computers, Photography, and Video Games. Not only do they get the opportunity to earn their Belt loop, but they also cover requirements for the pin! You can sign up individually for the classes, or if you're a den leader looking for a pre-planned den meeting where the scouts earn a belt loop and pin, this is for you.

Class size is limited to 12 scouts, and you must register to attend. Classes are filling up quick, some with the earliest availability in May! To find the class schedule and registration instructions, visit www.sandlakedistrict.org and download the PDF flyers, or send an email to Mark Spencer, Sand Lake District Executive at Mark.Spencer@cflscouting.org.

We need assistance from Troops/Crews/Posts/Ships and their Scouts and Scouters to help with our upcoming Cub Adventure Weekends. Scouts can earn valuable volunteer community service hours while giving back to their fellow scouts, and having fun in the process

Individuals who volunteer can look forward to these added bonuses:

• 24 volunteer hours
• Free camping for the weekend
• 4 free meals in the dining hall (Saturday and Sunday Breakfast)
• Free weekend patch
• Access to La-No-Che amenities during time off (If available & arranged prior)

Please email Mac Griffith at mac@camplanoche.com or Pam Falconer at pam@camplanoche.com if your unit would like to volunteer for the below weekends with the following information:

• Fun With Son Weekend-              April    4-6, 2014
• Tiger Crossing Weekend-             May 2-4, 2014
• Cub Halloween Weekends-          Oct. 3-5, Oct. 10-12, Oct. 17-19, Oct. 24-26, 2014
• Tiger Growl Weekend-                 Nov. 14-16, Nov. 21-23, 2014
• Cub Holiday Weekend-                Dec. 12-14, 2014

Click here for a Summer Camp Staff Application

Do you have what it takes to join the best 2014 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 age 18 and beyond, to join their Summer Camp Staff for an unforgettable summer!

Top 3 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 and mentor
3. Spend the summer doing what you love, Being a Scout Leader!

The requirements are simple:

• Be a registered 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:

• 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)
• Aquatics Director (21 years of age)
• Aquatics Assistant Director (18 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)

Camp La-No-Che will be extending the application deadline until all positions with an age restriction are filled. 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!

• Movie
• Nature Hike
• Cracker Barrel
• Water Slides
• Swimming
• Games
• Archery
• BB Guns
• Crafts
• Campfire
• Graduation Ceremony

Please click here to download the information / registration flyer.

In order for a boy to be a participant in the 2014 Cub Scout Day Camps he must be a Cub Scout. (Please note that if your son is not currently registered in Cub Scouting we will provide steps to get him registered in Cub Scouts.)  

To get more information on where to attend Day Camp, Registration, and Flyers, please check out:
http://daycamp.cflscouting.org/ 

Camp La-No-Che is back, and better than ever! New facilities, programs, troop times, and merchandise are waiting for one important factor, YOU! Campsite reservations have already begun, so do not miss out on this exciting opportunity!

REGISTER NOW!!!

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).

Merit Badges have also been given a make-over and Camp La-No-Che is now featuring Horsemanship, Sustainability, and Search and Rescue 

New programs are also coming to Scouts in the form of Troop Times: La-No-Che Scramble Obstacle Course, Horseback Riding, 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! 

Wait there's more ... check out our completely redesigned:

Don't miss out on all the fun and excitement that is coming to Camp La-No-Che this summer. More information on these programs and registration is online at:  www.camplanoche.com.

The Central Florida Council is proud to announce a NEW event coming September 12th - 14th 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. Be on the lookout for more information and registration opening on May 1st!

According to Advancement records recorded by National BSA through your input in 2013, 58% of the registered Cub Scouts and 47% Boy Scouts in Central Florida Council advanced at least one rank. 

If these numbers seem low to some of you, and they probably are, it is because some units are not recording their advancements in Internet Advancement.  If your Unit is not reporting, please make every effort to start submitting reports.  If you do not know how, send me an email at mdeliz@cfl.rr.com.

Merit Badge News

In 2013, over 2,110,800 merit badges were earned by Scouts.  Here are some trivia questions:

What was the most earned merit badge?

What was the most earned non-Eagle merit badge?

What was the least earned merit badge (not in Sustainability and Programming which were released in the summer)?

We know about the number of merit badges earned because Scouters report their advancements in Internet Advancement.  Please join their ranks!

Important Eagle Scout Information

All Eagle Scout candidates should contact Lynette Dukes, Eagle Registrar, prior to beginning to fill out their Eagle Scout Application.  Her email address is:  Lynette.Dukes@cflscouting.org

She can provide pertinent information in aiding in the correct filling out of the Application.  Current candidates must use the 2014 version of the Eagle Scout Application (Form 512-728).

There has been an inordinate amount of Eagle Scout candidates submitting their Eagle Scout Applications, for verification by Council, several months beyond their 18th birthday.  Scouts must take the responsibility that goes along with the rank and submit their Eagle Scout Applications in a timely fashion.  An Eagle Scout Board of Review is required to take place within 90 days of the candidates 18th birthday.  Therefore, the Central Florida Council Advancement Committee voted to require Eagle Scouts to submit their completed applications to Lynette Dukes upon their 18th birthday for verification.  Scouts should make every effort to have their application filled out in its entirety through Requirement 5, when they conduct their Eagle Scout unit leader conference.  The Scoutmaster/Coach/Advisor/or Skipper should then sign it upon successful completion of the conference and the unit Committee Chair's signature can be obtained shortly thereafter.  The Eagle Scout candidate should remember that planning is a large part of their Service Project and they should plan the submission of their Eagle Scout Application accordingly.

Yours in Scouting,

Mike Deliz

Central Florida Council Advancement Chair

The Central Florida Council is pleased to announce that Monique Yeager has accepted the opportunity to, once again, Chair the Boy Scout Travel, Sports & Entertainment Auction, presented by Wayne M. Densch Charities, Inc.  Monique is the VP of Marketing for Tijuana Flats and has served as a member of the Central FL Council Board for many years.  

Monique's dedication for Scouting comes from the positive impact she's witnessed as her son has been involved in the program, "A once extremely shy child, who wouldn't look at you to say hello, good-bye or anything else, is now a thriving Scout with lots of friends."

The Travel, Sports & Entertainment Auction is in its 18th year and is sure to be a night full of fun, fellowship, and great travel deals!  Look for details coming soon - the auction will be held in mid-August 2014.

To stay up to date, or donate an item for auction, contact Nancy.Freeman@scouting.org or call 407-703-0282. You may also check out details online at auction.cflscouting.org.

Your donation, auctioned to the highest bidder, will ensure that we are prepared to respond to the young boy who has the dream of being a Scout and to the expectations his parents have for his Scouting experience!

Thank you, Monique for leading our team this year!  

If you are a leader involved in the Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturing programs, you should be interested in looking at a PDF entitled "2014 - 2016 Program Change Overview" on the national website at http://goo.gl/wJYySz

A better document focusing on Cub Scout and Boy Scout program changes is available at  http://goo.gl/LiSISP to get an overview of changes coming our way in 2015 and 2016.

The first changes will be in the Venturing program this year. A PDF document entitled "The Road Map to Venturing" released at the national meeting in Grapevine, TX in 2013 by the National Venturing Task Force can be found at http://goo.gl/OpC5aD . Changes in the Venturing program are expected to be implemented after the BSA national meeting in Nashville, TN in May. Both adult leader and youth Venturing training is being updated and will be released in close proximity to the Venturing program changes.

For a more in-depth look at the new program model for Cub Scouts, which will begin at the start of the 2015 school year nationally, copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://goo.gl/xiuMe8 . Core adventures for Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos are summarized in this document. Visit this site today to see how the three aims and two strong methods of Scouting will be incorporated into the new Cub Scout adventures : *Character development *Participatory citizenship *Personal fitness *Outdoor skills and awareness *Leadership and life skills, as well as the ideals of the Scout Oath, the Scout Law, the Scout motto and slogan. New training to reflect changes in the Cub Scout program will begin near the time Cub Scout handbooks and new "Cub Scout Leader" books are published.

For those of you who may not be aware of what "411" means in relation to BSA, it is Pillar 4, Objective 1, Goal 1 of the National Strategic Plan 2011 - 2015. A progress report completed in February 2014 is posted online at http://goo.gl/Ifxu8J for those of you interested in reading it.

More information about the changes in the Boy Scout program will be released by national in the future.