BSA Reaches Out With New Alumni Association
The BSA has launched the Scouting Alumni Association, giving former Scouts an opportunity to reconnect with the organization that has helped shape the lives of America’s youth. For more than 100 years, nearly 200 million men and women have been positively influenced by their experiences with the BSA.
In addition to being open to former and current Scouts, the association is open to anyone who has been positively and personally affected by the BSA, including former and current volunteers and their family members.
The first 100 charter members from each council to sign up for the Scouting Alumni Association will receive an embroidered certificate. Banners for your website, newsletters, and more are available from the Office of Alumni Relations by sending an email to Bill Steele.
To learn more about the application process and the benefits of joining, visit the Scouting Alumni Association website.
Free Online Course Shows Scouts, Leaders How to Program Robots
An online class has been set up for Scouts and adult leaders interested in learning how to program LEGO and VEX robots as part of the Robotics merit badge. The course can be taken any time, 24-7: your Scouts or leaders can sign in whenever it is convenient for them. There also are links to robotics resources, as well as a forum where Scouts and leaders can ask questions.In the class, participants will learn how to program LEGO and VEX robots using a simulation world.
The required course software is available as a 60-day free download, which should allow plenty of time to complete this training and for Scouts to complete the programming portion of their merit badge.
To sign up, register at the Computer Science Student Network: www.cs2n.org/partners/boy-scouts.
A newly revised Safety Afloat online training program is now live on MyScouting.org in English. A Spanish version will be available soon. Any unit participating in an on-the-water boating activity must be supervised by at least one adult currently trained in Safety Afloat.
Any adult or older youth who takes the training may print a card that is valid for two years. Registered adults who establish a MyScouting account with their member ID will have their training record updated automatically. They also may print the card at the conclusion of the online training and take it to the council office for posting to their training record. Please note that anyone may establish a MyScouting account without a member ID and take Safety Afloat and other BSA training modules.
In the next couple of months, a DVD will be available in English and Spanish for local trainers to use during face-to-face training sessions. Councils and districts are encouraged to provide this training at least annually through roundtables, special training sessions, and at resident camp during the summer. Once the DVD is available, details of the catalog number will be made available to allow units, districts, and councils to order from the Supply Group, through local council Scout shops, and at www.scoutstuff.org.
Coming to the 2013 Jamboree: Venturing Crews
Beginning in 2013, Venturing members are eligible to participate in the jamboree. There has been an overlap between this policy being established and the recent publishing of an updated version of the Guide to Safe Scouting, which states that only Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts can participate. The electronic version of the guide will be updated to reflect the correct information. The hard copy version will be updated at the next printing. Venturing members are eligible and encouraged to participate in the jamboree.
New Outdoor Program Guide Available
Camping Guide Featured
The National Camping Task Force has completed a revision of the former Camping Committee Guide. The new Camping and Outdoor Program Committee Guide, SKU 611014/No. 34786, is designed to help councils and districts offer a balanced outdoor program that delivers the promise of Scouting from Cub Scouting to Venturing and Sea Scouting.
The new publication emphasizes integration of partner committees (Conservation, COPE/Climbing, Aquatics, Shooting, Properties, Maintenance, Risk Management, and Health and Safety) to achieve the program goals of the council. The appendix includes a self-assessment tool to help councils identify areas for improvement.
Download a copy or pick one up at your local Scout shop.
New Alumni Award Announcement
The national Alumni Relations Committee is pleased to announce a newly created award: the Alumni Award. The requirements are available at www.BSAalumni.org for registered alumni. If you or someone you know is not registered, it only takes a few minutes.
The BSA's definition of alumni is, "everyone positively and personally impacted by the Boy Scouts of America-former Scouts, family members of Scouts past and present, volunteers past and present, community leaders, and the millions of Americans who benefit from Scouting in their communities every day."
The recognition items for the Alumni Award include a very nice-looking square knot AND lapel pin, which will be sold by Supply Group as restricted inventory items. Recipients of the award must show an approved application by both their council alumni committee AND the national Alumni Relations office before they purchase their square knot and/or lapel pin.
Religious Emblems Coordinator Page now "LIVE" on scouting.org!
The PowerPoint explaining the new position of religious emblems coordinator is now "live" on Scouting.org. You can access the new BSA page through the new REC page by clicking here. You can also read about this new position in the latest Boy Scout Bulletin from PRAY. Here's the link to find it on PRAY's website