BSA TODAY eNewsletter November 2011

WEBELOS WOODS NOVEMBER 4-6
All Webelos I and II and parents are invited to participate in this outdoor experience which is designed to introduce Webelos and their parents to a variety of Scouting adventures that lay ahead. It helps make the transition into Boy Scouting more exciting. The weekend is filled with fun activities, intriguing demonstrations, and plenty of outdoor excitement. Boy Scout Troops are also highly encouraged to attend, staff a program area, and host a Camp Site. For more information on this wonderful event and to register, please go to the following link: Webelos Woods 2011

13TH ANNUAL CHILI COOK OFF
All Packs, Troops, and Venture Crews are invited to attend the 13th Annual Chili Cook Off at Camp Phillips Winter Camp on Saturday, December 3rd, 2011. Judging is at 12 noon; arrive whenever needed to make your best batch of chili.  All the details are available here: 2011 Chili Cook Off

ADDING TOOLS TO YOUR KIT PROGRAM WORKSHOP - DECEMBER 10
All adults active in any capacity in Packs, Troops, or Crews should plan to attend the "Adding Tools to Your Kit" program workshop on Saturday, December 10th at Bloomer Middle School. A variety of program sessions will be offered in one or two-hour blocks. All sessions will contribute to skills or techniques that allow you as a unit leader to enhance the programming offered to youth in your Pack, Troop, or Crew. You will learn something new and you will have fun!
See the following for a schedule; registration form; and description of sessions being offered:
Adding Tools to Your Kit Schedule
Registration Form
Session Descriptions

NEW PROGRAM: CAREER EXPLORING
All youth age 14 – 20 are invited to join a new program taking place in Eau Claire: Career Exploring. By joining a career explorer post, students are able to interact with professionals in a specific field with the goal of learning more about that career and others like it.  The program meets monthly for one hour each session where a different guest speaker is featured. Programs include: Medical Exploring sponsored by Mayo Clinic Health System – Eau Claire; Law Enforcement Exploring sponsored by the Eau Claire Police Department; and Architecture and Engineering Exploring sponsored by Lien and Peterson, Inc.
Participants do not have to be from the Eau Claire area and do not have to be Scouts to participate. See the following letter for all the details: Career Exploring

NEW LIFE TO EAGLE WORKBOOK
A new Life to Eagle Workbook has been produced by National BSA for the usage of Scouts and families. The new workbook is available here: Life to Eagle Workbook
Scouts who have begun to use the previous version of the workbook may continue to use that book until the completion of their project. After January 1, all projects being started will need to use the new workbook. Scouts starting their project before January 1 have the option to use either workbook, although they are encouraged to use the new version. Signatures must be obtained before December 31st if using the old version.
Stay tuned as well for a new Advancement Guide for Pack, Troops, and Crews. Details on this important new resource will be available next month.

TEAM BUILDING TOTES
Tote boxes featuring team-building activities for Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, and Venture Crews are now available for check-out at the Scout Service Center. This great resource provides for hands-on “fun with a purpose” at your Den, Pack, Troop, or Crew meetings. Contact Catherine Keys (715-832-6671) at the Scout Service Center to arrange for use of this great resource!

SCOUTSTRONG PALA CHALLENGE
The SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge is a Scout-specific PALA challenge. PALA stands for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, an activity challenge of the President's Challenge program. To earn the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge Award, you are required to meet a daily activity goal of 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for kids under 18 for at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. Stick with the program and you'll earn an award in less than two months! You can enroll and track your progress either online or on the paper Active Lifestyle Activity Log, both found at the following link: www.scouting.org/SCOUTStrongPALA

2013 NATIONAL JAMBOREE
The Chippewa Valley Council Jamboree is currently accepting youth applications for the 2013 National Jamboree.
All interested Boy Scouts and Venturers who will be between age 14 and 20 by July 15, 2013 are invited to sign up as members of the Chippewa Valley Council Venture Crew that will be attending the Jamboree. This group will camp with other Venturers from throughout the U.S. at the Jamboree and participate in advanced programming. You do not need to currently be a Venturer to sign up for this option.
Or you can add your name to the waiting list for the Council's Troop which will attend the Jamboree. If the waiting list gets long enough, the Council may be eligible for a second National Jamboree Troop.
To reserve your spot for either of these opportunities, submit your fee of $100 to the Scout Service Center.
Find all of our Council’s information here: 2013 National Jamboree

2013 NATIONAL JAMBOREE ADULT STAFF
There are many openings to serve on adult staff at the 2013 National Jamboree in July 2013.  Staff commitments are structured differently this year with shorter time frames, which may make being a staff member an option for some who have not been able to commit to the full Jamboree in the past. For more information, check out the staff portion of the Summit website: https://summit.scouting.org/en/Jamboree2013/Pages/Staff.aspx

EMPLOYEE GIVING PROGRAMS
Many area employers support non-profits through matching gifts and some will make donations to non-profits based on the number of hours that their employees volunteer. Below is a list of area companies that we know participate in these types of programs. Please take a few moments to check with your own employer to see if they offer Matching Gift or Employee Volunteerism programs. This is a great way to maximize the support that you are already giving to the Scouting program.
 -3M (Matching Gifts Program, Volunteer Match Program)
 -Allstate (Agency Hands in the Community Program)
 -BP (Matching Gifts Program)
 -ConAgra Foods (Matching Gifts Program)
 -Gap, Inc. (Money for Time Program, Matching Gifts Program)
 -Macy’s (Matching Gifts Program)
 -MetLife (Volunteer Ventures Program)
 -Nestle USA (Matching Gifts Program)
 -PepsiCo (Matching Gifts Program)
 -Shopko (Teammate Community Service Grant Program, Matching Gifts Program)
 -State Farm (Good Neighbor Volunteer Grant Program)
 -Toys “R” Us (Matching Gifts Program)
 -United Health Group (Dollars for Doers Program)
 -U.S. Bancorp (Matching Gifts Program)
 -Verizon (Matching Gifts Program)
 -Walmart (Volunteer Match Program)
 -Xcel Energy (Matching Gifts Program, Dollars for Doing Program

2011 GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING
The 2011 Guide to Safe Scouting is available online: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx
Keep this information in mind as you make plans for your upcoming year of Scouting.

LEAVE YOUR MARK AT CAMP L.E. PHILLIPS
Purchase your personalized brick on the Camp Phillips Walkway. Your participation in this fundraiser allows you to commemorate an individual Scouter or a Scout unit with an engraved brick, on display at Camp L.E. Phillips. Your gift will be used for campsite improvements so that we can continue to offer high-quality facilities to our youth. Please click on the following to view the brochure: Brick Brochure

2011 EAGLES' NEST
Congratulations to all of our Scouts who have achieved the Eagle Award in 2011. Please take a look at our Eagles' Nest page by going to the following link: 2011 Eagles' Nest

CVC SCOUT SHOP
CVC Scout Shop News: November Update
Chippewa Valley Council Scout Shop
710 S. Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-832-6671
Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.


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