NESA Scholarship Information

Every year thousands of dollars are available to Eagle Scouts (both locally and nationally) in college scholarships. Several of the national scholarships are available through NESA for merit and academics. The first of these is the Mabel and Lawrence S. Cooke Scholarship. These annual awards feature (among other scholarships) four $20,000 awards (over four years) and one $48,000 (also over four years) given nationally. There is also the Hall/McEwain Merit Scholarship which is presented regionally in the amounts of $1,000 (number of awards varies). For more information on these, and other, national scholarships go to www.nesa.org/scholarships.html.

Spring Camporee

The Indian Steps Activities committee will be hosting the Spring Camporee (being held April 23-25) at Wizard Ranch.  This Boy Scout event will feature cooking as the theme for the weekend with the morning featuring cooking stations and the afternoon will have camp wide games and patrol competitions including the Chuckwagon parade and competition! The Order of the Arrow chapter will have a call out ceremony that evening at the campfire. The cost for this event will be $5 per participant with the deadline being April 8^th. For more information on this event, head to the Indian Steps page on the council website (www.yaac-bsa.org) and look for details under the activities bar or contact Terri Boyd (terriboyd24@aol.com).

Day Camp

Day Camp will be held July 19-23 at the Issak Walton League Park. The theme for this year is “Space: Reach for the Stars” and will feature activities, games, and events relating to space fun! This year the director will be Amanda Hilfiger and she is looking for parents and leaders who want to help with camp this season. If you are interested in assisting with any of the program areas please contact Amanda at hilfam@verizon.net .

 District Dinner

What is the District Dinner, and who should really attend? The district dinner is not only a celebration of Scouting in the Indian Steps District but a chance to recognize volunteers who have assisted in so many ways throughout the past year. All can come and be a part of the fun – unit leaders, assistants, committee members, and anyone else who feels that Scouting is an important part of a youth’s life! 

The Annual Indian Steps District Dinner will be held on March 26 at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Dallastown. There will be a social gathering at 5:30pm with the dinner being served at 6pm.  The cost is $12 per person. Highlights include district committee and commissioner recognitions, photos of the past year and beyond, fun, fellowship, and the District Award of Merit. Tickets can be purchased at roundtable, the council service center, or by contacting Terri Boyd (terriboyd24@aol.com), Bob Peel (757-5617 or at foxgrace@comcast.net) or Brian Bramble (827-4572 or brian.bramble@scouting.org). 

Additionally, there will be door prizes drawn throughout the evening with one special item being a quilt created from Scouting neckerchiefs crafted by Troop 35 Scoutmaster Jim Jones. There will also be the annual Commissioner Cash Auction for Scouting items featuring art from Dave Hopkins. The commissioner cash earned at roundtables and other events throughout the year will be the currency for this auction, so make sure you bring yours along!

Thanks!

Thank you to the following people who are Friends of Scouting presenters: Tom Olson, Marty Zimmerman, Tom Powers, Lynn Bernhard, Teri Flinchbaugh, Sue Jacobs, Becky Magnani, Matt Blyth, Ann Luciani, and Eric Foust.  Also, welcome to Sue Jacobs as the newest unit commissioner!

Centennial Quality Unit 

Now is the time for units to be setting their 2010 Centennial Quality Unit Goals (due February 26). These goals provide the basis for the units’ 2010 Quality Unit award and helps provide a good set of internal challenges to assist in aiding the unit planning and leader development.  The Quality Unit sheet targets areas of leader training, outdoor activities, parent participation and youth recruitment.  Contact the unit commissioner or District Commissioner Lynn Bernhard (lynnbernhard@zoominternet.net) for more information or to set up an appointment to complete this valuable process.

Life to Eagle Seminar

The next Life to Eagle seminar will be held on Thursday, February 18, at Aldersgate United Methodist beginning at 7pm. This course is for all young men of Life rank who are looking at being an Eagle Scout and helps prepare the young man for the challenge ahead with earning the Eagle rank. Areas covered in this course are the project, the booklet, the board of review and the entire Eagle process! Please RSVP for this event by emailing Brian Bramble at Brian.Bramble@scouting.org .

March Roundtable

Attention new leaders! Want to get caught up with everything happening in the Indian Steps District? Well then, don’t miss the March Roundtable on March 4 at 7PM at the Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Leader Heights. This monthly meeting provides important information about events throughout the Indian Steps district. Some of the many items discussed this month will be the spring camporee, district dinner, and shelter drive.  Come out and meet with fellow Scouters from throughout Indian Steps, share ideas, catch up on these latest details on these upcoming events, earn commissioner cash and take part in a monthly training!

The next Life to Eagle seminar will be held on Thursday, February 18, at Aldersgate United Methodist beginning at 7pm. This course helps guide young men of Life rank who are looking at being an Eagle Scout and helps prepare them for the challenge ahead with earning the Eagle rank. Some areas covered in this course are the project, the booklet, the board of review and the entire Eagle process! Please RSVP for this event by emailing Brian Bramble at Brian.Bramble@scouting.org .

District Dinner

Come celebrate the 100^th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America! The annual Indian Steps District Volunteer Recognition Dinner will be held on Friday March 26, at Bethlehem United Methodist Church. An evening of fellowship, volunteers from throughout our district will be recognized as well as the awarding of the 2010 District Awards of Merit!

Cost for the event is $12 and features a menu of chicken, mashed potatoes, filling ball, gravy, fruit cup, salad, roll, anniversary cake, and ice cream, and beverages.

The reservation deadline is Thursday March 4, 2010. For tickets or more information, contact Bob Peel at foxgrace@comcast.net .

ISN Email List

What in the world is the ISN?  This stands for Indian Steps News – a free service of Scouting news from the Indian Steps District. Simply send your email address of any leaders or parents, their name and unit number to Brian Bramble at brian.bramble@scouting.org to receive the latest information right to your inbox!

Mall Show

Calling all Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, and Venture Crews! It is that time again for the Indian Steps District to show their Scouting Skills and what fun Scouting has to offer at the annual Mall Show! Taking place February 6^th at the Galleria Mall this annual event provides the perfect chance to recruit new members and talk with old friends.

Each unit should bring their unit flags with flag bearers in uniform and report to First Capital/Indian Steps District table (Mall Center Court Area-1st floor) at 9:45AM for the opening ceremony with the uniform of the day being the “class A”.   Any questions please contact Terri Boyd at 717-870-0189 or email terriboyd24@aol.com.

Klondike Derby

The Indian Steps 2010 Klondike is scheduled for Feb. 26-28 and will be held at the Hopewell Fish & Game Club. In keeping with the spirit of the 100^th Anniversary of Scouting the theme will be titled this Klondike “SCOUTING THROUGH THE YEARS.” This will feature stations based on every decade of the century of Scouting.

More information can be found on the District blog site at  http://yaac-bsa.org/filestore-new/districts/indian-steps-blog/?page_id=239 .  To sign up and participate in this annual event, contact Terri Boyd at 717-870-0189 or email terriboyd24@aol.com.

Roundtable

Don’t miss the upcoming Roundtable (January 7 at 7pm) with important information about the Mall Show, the upcoming district dinner, Winter Klondike and much more! The training for this month will be by Charlie Hulse in a combined session for Boy Scout as well as Cub Scout leaders on Scouts with special needs and ADHD behavior. Come out and meet with fellow leaders from throughout Indian Steps, catch up on the latest details on upcoming events, and earn commissioner cash! Roundtables are held monthly at the Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Leader Heights.

Welcome New…..

The Indian Steps District would like to welcome its newest volunteers:

• Jim Anderson                  Good Turn for America Chair
• Rev. Mike Mitchell         District Member at Large
• Tom Powers                      Round Up Chair
• Sue Jacobs                         Unit Commissioner
• Brad Hittie                         District Member at Large

Also, the Indian Steps District would like to welcome the newest units:

• Crew 43 Christ Lutheran Church
• Crew 27 Stewartstown Lions Club

Blood Drive

It is not too late for Scouters to come out and donate blood during the annual Good Turn for America Blood Drive.  This annual campaign of the York-Adams Area Council assists the Red Cross in providing this vital service of life-saving blood to medical facilities throughout the region.  All units are encouraged to participate in this endeavor that could save lives! A list of the sites in the Indian Steps District which are hosting an event can be found on the council website (http://www.yaac-bsa.org/filestore-new/activities/blood-drive.html) under the activities section.

Camp Promotion Presentations

Attention Cub Scouters! Now is the time to line up your unit’s Camp Promotion presentation!  This brief talk is the best way to introduce new parents to the flavor and fun of what Tuckahoe has to offer? Every Scout should experience the fun of summer camp from the waterfront to the ranges, the campfires and trails, and everything in between!  If your pack has not scheduled the Camp Promotion date contact Brian Bramble at 827-4572 or brian.bramble@scouting.org

The Boy Scouts of America is pleased to announce the introduction of 13 new belt loops and pins as part of the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. It has been more than 10 years since new topics have been added to the program, which is supported by the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Guide, No. 34299. Look for the new blue cover on this new edition, available for sale the end of January 2010 in stores and online at www.scoutstuff.org.

 Academics                                                                           Sports

 Disabilities Awareness                                                       Hiking                            

 Family Travel                                                                        Hockey                          

 Good Manners                                                                     Horseback Riding

 Nutrition                                                                                 Kickball

 Pet Care                                                                                Skateboarding

 Photography                                                                        

 Reading and Writing

 Video Games

Belt loops and pins are a great way to help Cub Scouts fulfill the aims of Scouting-building character, developing citizenship, and encouraging mental and physical fitness. Through a variety of subjects, a boy can stretch his mind and abilities by exploring the wonders of science, learning about the world around him, and expanding his skills in new areas.

The belt loops may be worn with the Cub Scout uniform on the Cub Scout belt. Webelos Scouts who have chosen to wear the khaki uniform may still wear the blue Cub Scout belt so as to display the belt loops they have earned. (The pins are not worn on the uniform.)

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program gives leaders and youths a supplemental enrichment opportunity to earn recognition for learning and skills development. Leaders often use this program to enhance den, pack, or family participation and provide more immediate recognition opportunities. For more details, go to:

 www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/Awards/Boys/sanda.aspx

Thursday December 10th will be the Charter Turn-In Night at Pine Grove UM. There will be a lot of information for units to collect and to be collected as well! 

Units in the Spring Grove and Dallastown school districts  please plan on attending between 7 – 7:45

Units in the Southeastern, Southern and Red Lion school districts  please plan on attending between 7:45 – 8:30

(Note: if your unit can not make the recommended time frame but can make the other, that is OK as well!)

To make things as easy as possible please have ready that evening:

• Completed charter with all signatures (Institution head and unit leader)

• Any additional applications with proper signatures

• blank check

• Any completed Centennial Quality Forms

• The units’ Friends of Scouting presentation date

• TROOPS – OA Election Date

• PACKS – Camp Promotion Date

• Any Blood Drive donor information

Scoutmasters,

Starting December 1st the first merit badges in several years will be unrolled: Scuba Diving.  For all the details including the requirements follow the link: Scuba Brochure .

Unit leaders: 

Tonight at your district roundtables, you’ll get to hear a short presentation about the Good Turn for America Blood Drive.  This is a very important community service opportunity for our Scouts, and it is a great way to help our community. 

Your Scouts can earn a special patch and help save people’s lives by participation – and the work that you have to do to make this happen is relatively easy!  There are 6 easy steps; so please read on… 

Step 1)  Pick a Location

Pick a blood drive site in your community that you’d like to support.  The complete list for area drives can be found at the very end of my e-mail. Once you’ve done this, please send an e-mail to Gretchen Weekley that says “Hey, my unit (tell us your unit number) would like to work on getting blood donors for (whichever site you pick).”  It is important you tell us upfront which site you’re working on, just so we can tell if each site is being covered.  

Step 2) Take Note of Time, Date, Location…

Now that you’ve picked a site, you’ll be able to tell what date and times that particular drive will be conducted.  Not every drive is on a weekend. 

Step 3) Share the Info

At your next unit meeting, you’ll want to let your Scouts and families know that you’re working on donors for the site you picked.  Explain the goal is to get each Scout to get a few people to donate blood at that site.  They should ask their parents, teachers, neighbors, or adult friends.  They don’t need to go nuts knocking on doors in their neighborhood.  (This isn’t like selling popcorn!)  They should just ask a couple of people they know. 

Step 4) Scouts Get Donors

As mentioned above, Scouts should ask some folks they know to donate.  There is an official form that the Scouts should use.  It is downloadable here and lots of copies will be available at roundtable tonight.  When Scouts ask people to donate, they should ask the perspective donor for 3 possible times.  Appointments may be taken in 15 minute intervals.  (For example, a donor may request 8:00am, 8:15am, 8:30am.)  Prior to the blood drive, the Red Cross will call the donor, remind them of their appointment, and confirm the finalize time. 

Step 5) Collect Results

So that a schedule can be made, the unit leadership needs to collect all of the Scouts’ donation forms at a unit meeting before December 11.  Then, send all the forms – you don’t have to total anything – to Gretchen Weekley by December 11.  It is critical that these forms be submitted.  Otherwise, we can’t make a schedule and the Red Cross can’t remind donors of their appointments. (Gretchen’s fax number is 717845-6338 and her e-mail is gretchen.weekley@scouting.org.) 

Step 6) Order Patches

Use the participation form to list which of your Scouts participated by recruiting donors.  Submit that to Gretchen by February 4 to get your patches. 

If You Need Help…

There is a more detailed guidebook.  You may download it here.  There is also a Good Turn for America blood drive section to the council’s website where additional resources are available.  

There are some great district volunteers available to help you.  Please feel free to contact them.

• Indian Steps: Kevin Arthur kjarthur@msn.com

Thanks for your work on this project!  It will definitely make a difference in our communities,

Mike

Do you think you have everything to be able to plan a safe outdoor camping program for your Cub Scouts and Pack Family?    

All pack leaders and parents are invited to participate in BALOO Training on December 5, 2009 to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church at 129 Charles St, Hanover, to learn what it takes to provide the opportunity for your pack to enjoy overnight camping in the great outdoors. 

This is an energetic training that covers everything you need to know to plan and run a pack overnighter. It’s more than just camping – it includes ideas for outdoor activities, games and ceremonies; information on selecting and using camping equipment; how to run a campfire program; and hands-on Cub Scout cooking demonstrations! In short, everything you need to know to make your pack overnighter a fun, successful event!

Please note that BSA rules require at least one adult to be BALOO trained in order to obtain a tour permit for pack camping.  But, it is a good idea to have more than one adult from your pack trained in case your primary leader cannot attend your camping weekend.

Please register by December 1, 2009 in order for us to have enough handouts and food on hand.  (There is a cooking demonstration!)

To register for any training program, contact Gretchen Weekley at the York-Adams Area Council Service Center at 717-827-4508 or by email gretchen.weekley@scouting.org by December 1, 2009.

On Saturday, December 5, check-in will start at 7:30am; Sessions start at 8:00am and run until 4:00pm. (Lunch is provided.)

 

If you have any questions, please contact Teri Flinchbaugh at soaringeagle172@aol.com.

PLEASE NOTE: MAY 2010 IS THE NEXT TIME THIS TRAINING IS OFFERED. IF YOUR PACK IS CAMPING THIS SUMMER, PLAN AHEAD!

On the evening of the 15th of October, 12 potential Eagle Scouts from 7 different units attended a Life to Eagle Seminar at St. Paul’s Chapel in Red Lion.  This presentation touched on all aspects on becoming an Eagle, the project, the paperwork and everything in between!

Upcoming Life to Eagle Seminars:

October 26                        First Capitol

November 17                   Blue and Gray

February 18                      Indian Steps

If your troop would be interested in hosting the next Indian Steps seminar please contact Brian at brian.bramble@scouting.org

Special thanks goes to out Ronnie Erdman of Troop 48 for his dedication and time into putting together this project!

  

10 reasons why a Boy Scout Troop should consider working with a Venture Crew

1. Venturing can keep older boys, ages 14-18, engaged in the troop longer.
2. Venturing’s new advancement program offers Scouts new challenges.
3. Venturing offers older Scouts challenging activities with boys and girls their own age.
4. Venturing offers additional leadership experience and training that can benefit the troop.
5. Venturing advancement requires Venturers to teach what they have learned to other groups.
6. Scouts ages 14 to 18 and adult leaders can be members of both a Boy Scout troop and a Venturing crew.
7. Older Scouts in the troop, especially troop leaders, are expected to participate in both units.
8. Venturers who are First Class and above can continue to work on Eagle Scout rank requirements.
9. A Venturing crew associated with the troop gives Scouts something to anticipate as they get older.
10. Venturing can help solve many of the Scoutmaster’s challenges:
    • Challenging older Scouts while continuing to attract and retain younger Scouts
    • Competing with older Scout’s growing interests: cars, girls, and high school
    • Giving leadership/role model opportunities to all older Scouts