Resident Camp Directors Appointed for 2010 Now that the 2009 Summer Camp season is one for the record books, it is time to announce the apointment of the 2010 Camp Directors. Akelaland will once again be under the longtime leadership of James (Foof) Feuerstein. Foof has already begun to make plans for an enhanced OSC area. Settlers Camp will also be led again by Jim Korcienski for another great year. Jim is in the process of working with his returning staff to develop yet another great program for his Boy Scouts. I am proud to announce that the Camp Minsi Director will be Lisa Empfield. Lisa has been a long time Scouter and on the Camp Minsi Staff for the past five years, most recently as the camps business manager. Lisa brings to camp a great many new ideas as well as thoughts on how to enhance what is already in place at Camp Minsi. Lisa has begun the process of developing the 2010 camp staff as well as integrating some new and exciting programs into the current schedule. All three camps are putting together some exciting promotional materials that they can't wait to deliver to your Pack, Troop or Crew. To schedule a presentation, please contact Todd Heyn at either 610-465-8576 or todd.heyn@scouting.org. 2010 Eagle Scout Scholarship Applications Are Online Applications for Eagle Scout scholarships for 2010 are now available at www.nesa.org. We ask that your Eagle Scouts who apply for a college scholarship use the correct application, which is a mandatory requirement. Incorrect applications from prior years will not be accepted. Here is that URL: http://www.nesa.org/applications.html This year, just over 4,500 applications were received for the 109 scholarships awarded. Of those applicants, 937 used the wrong form and thus were immediately rejected. Please consider the time and effort these applicants took to complete the application and to gather reference letters, and their anticipation as they mailed their application and awaited a response. Yet the rule is that they must use the correct application. None of these applicants ever had a chance. Let's work together to help prevent this from happening again in your Troop. Please help your Eagle Scouts have a chance for a scholarship by linking your Web site to http://www.nesa.org/applications.html. This will give them direct access to the correct applications. http://www.nesa.org/applications.html All Aboard the Cub Scout Express! All Aboard the Cub Scout Express! Attention all Cub Packs in the Minsi Trails Council! Sunday, October 18th is Cub Scout Day on the Delaware River Railroad Excursion. Take a ride in a vintage passenger coach pulled by a steam locomotive along the scenic Delaware River. Midway through the ride you’ll visit a corn maze in the shape of a steam engine! Rides and the Corn Maze are offered at a discounted fare to Cub Packs at $4 for Cubs and other children 3-12; $7 for adults; free for children 2 and under. Please see the attachment for more information and registration details. http://www.minsitrails.com/Newsletter/documents/AllAboardfortheCubExpressflyer2009.pdf 2009 Scouting For Food is Right Around the Corner Scouting For Food: Saturday 11/7 - distribution to homes and Saturday 11/14 - food pick-up from homes. It’s time to get ready for Scouting’s largest community service project of the year … and area food banks are really counting on us this year! Last year Scouting For Food (SFF) collected 250,000 pounds of food to help feed the hungry in our area. This year the need is even greater, so we’re hoping for an even larger turn out and higher food collection totals to help fill our local food banks. So, get your Scouts, parents and volunteers lined up … know your collection routes and your District drop-off point … and, most of all, thanks for your help with this important community service project. All SFF materials will be available in October and each District is coordinating the efforts of their units. Television public service announcements, courtesy of WFMZ TV-69, will again be used to let the public know about this important Scouting service project. Click here for additional information on Scouting for food. http://www.minsitrails.com/Documents/SFFInstructionsandPatchOrder.doc 2010 National Scout Jamboree, July 24 through August 4th The 2010 National Boy Scout Jamboree is approaching fast. There are still a few (3-4) spots available. If you are interested, NOW is the time to act. Click here for more information. http://www.minsitrails.com/Newsletter/documents/2010NationalScoutJamboree.doc Wilderness First Aid Course Information 10-23-09 Attached you will find information regarding the American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid-Basic Course (certification is good for 3 years) to be held at Akelaland, Trexler Scout Reservation on October 23-October 25, 2009. This course is being sponsored by Minsi Trails Council and North Valley District Crew #77. The next course to be scheduled before July 2010 will be in March/April 2010 (date and location to be announced) http://www.minsitrails.com/WildernessFirstAidCourse.asp Parade Safety The following is BSA’s rules about parades. Please read them. They are for everyone’s safety. Parade Floats and Hayrides The BSA rule prohibiting the transportation of passengers in the backs of trucks or on trailers may be tempered for parade floats or hayrides, provided that the following points are strictly followed to prevent injuries: 1. Transportation to and from the parade or hayride site is not allowed on the truck or trailer. 2. Those persons riding, whether seated or standing, must be able to hold on to something stationary. 3. Legs should not hang over the side. 4. Flashing lights must illuminate a vehicle used for a hayride after dark, or the vehicle must be followed by a vehicle with flashing lights. Reference: Health and Safety Guide, No. 34415 Day Camp 2010 For many Scouts and families summer is the best time of the year. It’s what we spend the rest of the year looking forward to….a time to get outside, play games, swim, hike, fish, and take great adventures. For some of us, summer 2010 can’t get here soon enough because that’s the time to go to camp. The time is now to start making plans for a week at one of our Day Camps. These camps are for all Cub Scouts from Tiger Cubs to Webelos Scouts. Day Camp is a great place for Scouts to have fun and as we prepare them for Resident Camp. The camp provides the staff and all the program materials your Scouts will need to have an enjoyable time. Scouts will get a fun t-shirt for attending that they will get to keep to remember their time at camp. The theme this year is Celebrating 100 Year of Scouting and each Scout will receive a patch to wear on their uniform. Scouts will have the opportunity to shoot BB Guns, Bow and Arrow, make a craft project to bring home, play games, and more! Now is the time to schedule your Pack camping promotion. Please let your District Executive know when you will be holding your Pack Camp Promotion so we can get you all the materials needed for a successful summer at camp. We look forward to your Scout attending one of our Day Camps this summer! October Popcorn Rally at Coca Cola Park October 24 Trails End Popcorn and the Minsi Trails Council are sponsoring a Scout Rally Day at Coca Cola Park in Allentown (Home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs). The event is scheduled to start at 1pm and end shortly after 3. All scouts that "Filled a Sheet" with their popcorns sales are asked to attend. They will be given their free Marshmallow Blaster at the conclusion of the event. Other great activities scouts can participate in during this event are photo sessions with Ferrous and FeFe, Home Run Derby, Throw a pitch in the Iron Pigs bullpen and several other exciting events. On top of all the fun activities listed above Ferrous will unveil a popcorn challenge to all scouts that you will not want to miss! A flyer will be mailed to all unit popcorn kernels the first week of October. Don't miss out on all the fun. See you on the 24th! Rechartering and Centennial Unit Awards It is hard to believe that Fall is here again. Over the next few months at roundtable, you will be hearing about the rechartering process. For those of you new to the term rechartering, it is a chance to “ clean and check your roster”, plus make sure everyone is officially registered for the coming year. A few years ago the council adopted “Internet Rechartering”. Later this Fall you will receive information allowing you to go online and complete your paperwork. The Centennial Quality Awards program is designed to recognize units in achieving excellence in providing a quality program to a growing youth population in America at all levels of the Boy Scouts of America. Last winter you may have remembered setting your Centennial Unit goals. If you haven’t’ already, now is the time to pull them out of the filing cabinet and check how you are doing. You still have a few months to make an impact on the goals you set and receive this award. Philmont 2011 - Reservations Now Open Eventhough 2010 is not even here yet, Now is the time to start planning for Philmont 2011. The Minsi Trails Council has just received confirmation of our slots for 2011 treks. The dates to plan for are July 12, 2011 through July 24, 2011. Stay turned for more information in the future. If you have any immediate questions, do not hesitate to contact Todd Heyn, Director of Support Services at either 610-465-8576 or todd.heyn@scouting.org. If you would like to reserve a spot for yourself, your son/daughter, or your Troop/Crew please contact Jane Chase at either 610-465-8568 or jane.chase@scouting.org | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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