Conservation Good Turn

The purpose of this award is to encourage Packs, Troops, Teams, and Crews to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, county, local, or private) to carry out a Conservation Good Turn in their home communities. 

The award is earned by any youth and adult members.

Once a unit has completed a meaningful conservation project, unit leadership fills out an application form and submits it to Council.  

Participants earn a Conservation Good Turn patch (00149) and the unit receives a Conservation Good Turn Award certificate (21-389).  The patch is a temporary patch and is worn centered on the right pocket of the uniform.

Conservation Good Turn Info

http://scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/Resources/Conservation%20Good%20Turn.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards_Central/ConservationGoodTurnAward.aspx

Insignia: www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Media/InsigniaGuide/06F.aspx

Conservation Good Turn Certificate Application

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/GTFApplication.pdf

Red Cedar District – Area County Parks

http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Linn/Parks.aspx

http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Benton/Parks.aspx

Wickiup Hill Learning Center

http://www.mycountyparks.com/county/Linn/Park/Wickiup-Hill-Learning-Center-Area.aspx

Wickiup Hill is likely the best Linn County site for Cub Scouts, as it is designed with young children in mind.

Removing invasive garlic mustard is an on-going project in many sites in Iowa, including at Wickiup Hill.

Garlic Mustard photos and explanation of threat

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/alpe1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliaria_petiolata

City of Cedar Rapids – Parks

http://www.cedar-rapids.org/resident-resources/parks-recreation/parks/pages/default.aspx

Please contact the Parks Department first, rather than just showing up and cleaning a park.

• The City will provide black garbage bags at the site and will pick up the bags afterwards if they are left in an agreed-upon location, especially for Saturday projects.
• Parks staff will be able to match their project needs to your Pack’s range of ages and number of participants.
• The Parks Department tracks the number of volunteer hours each year served in city parks, for their records.
• If any park neighbors call about your Pack’s “suspicious behavior” in the park, the Parks Department will have a record of your presence.

Indian Creek Nature Center

http://www.indiancreeknaturecenter.org/

Contact Jean Wiedenheft, who will have a wish list of ICNC projects available.  She can discuss your Pack’s abilities and match them to a project.  She is also open to ideas your Scouts have in mind

NEW! Guide to Advancement 2011

Click here to view BSA's Guide to Advancement 2011:
http://scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf

Chock full of everything a leader needs to know from Tiger through Eagle and on to Sea Scouts and Venturing, this publication is a must have for every leader.

Click here to download your own copy:

https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=1248434208&email=aa3b5cf4b81427d26dabf4562825f940

Unit Finances

Fundraising Guidelines

http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Fundraising

The Pack Committee - Treasurer

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/AboutCubScouts/ThePack/pcomm.aspx

Budget Worksheets from National

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/CubScouts/resources/packbudget.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/13-273.pdf

Other budget helps

http://www.cubroundtable.com/assets/pdf-sundry/Annual-Program-Planning.pdf

http://cubmaster.org/Administration/Pack.Finances/Budget.pdf

http://www.cubroundtable.com/assets/pdf-sundry/2006-Pack-Cost-%20Analyst.pdf

The chart of finances at each level of Scouting, members to National

http://cubmaster.org/Administration/Pack.Finances/WhoPays.pdf

Planning

http://usscouts.org/profbvr/pack_admin/

http://usscouts.org/cubscouts/planning.html

Pack Example

http://www.scoutlander.com/publicsite/unitcustom.aspx?UID=4071&CUSTOMID=13585

Troop Guidebook for Finances (a Wood Badge ticket)

http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_67/8290000/8290673/1/print/8290673.pdf

Troop Finances

http://www.iup.edu/page.aspx?id=17249

http://boyscoutfun.org/Guidebook/troop.finances.html

http://www.troop141.com/bylaws.html

http://www.bsatroop780.org/troop/committee/TroopTreasurer.html

http://www.shac.org/leader_resources/unit_finance/faq

Third party collection service (not an endorsement)

https://www.wepay.com/landing/troop

Winter Camping

Just because the snow falls doesn't mean that camping season is over.  Winter camping requires more preparation, but also presents new opportunities for growth and FUN!  Make sure that your Scouts and leaders are prepared, then have some activities on hand:  Snowshoe hikes, sledding, ice fishing.  Klondike Derby games can be fun on a campout, perhaps some patrol competition.

Winter Camping Tips

http://www.thedump.scoutscan.com/winter%20scouting.pdf

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss12.aspx

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/library/wintercampingtips.asp

http://www.ehow.com/list_6495668_overnight-packing-list-young-scouts.html

http://univmail.mcmaster.ca/~outdoor/docs/winter-3.pdf

http://www.macscouter.com/keepwarm/

http://www.scoutingpages.org/us/ca/troop451/Forms/Winter%20Camping%20Manual-short%20version.pdf

http://www.scoutscan.com/resources/winter.html

http://www.scoutscan.com/resources/wintcamp.html

Checklist

http://www.troop2ithaca.org/Winter_Camping_Equipment.pdf

One troop in Canada approaches snow camping as “Hobbit” camping in this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y2PIIEIfQQ

Encouragement

http://www.wintercampers.com/_articles/2008/Winter%20camping%20teaches%20Scouts%20survival.pdf

Klondike Derby ideas

http://www.netwoods.com/d-activity.html

http://www.netwoods.com/document/klontxt.html

Other winter camping activities

http://www.netwoods.com/document/winter%20active.html

High Adventure

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/content/NorthernTier/Adventures/WinterAdventures.aspx

Camp opportunities for Scouts in MN and WI

http://www.northernstarbsa.org/Camping/BoyScout/Winter/

http://www.scouting.org/northerntier.aspx

More links

http://insanescouter.org/c/80/winter_camping.html

High Adventure How-Tos – Troops and Crews

High Adventures take a lot of foresight and planning.  Reservations are made over a year in advance and myriad details must be discussed and decided.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/OutdoorProgram/olderboyadventure.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/OutdoorProgram/Boy%20Scout%20Outdoor%20Program.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss03.aspx

Camping and Outdoor Committee Guide http://www.scouting.org/filestore/Outdoor%20Program/pdf/34786_WB.pdf

http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/High-Adventure/Sports_Program_Adviser

http://www.troop494.org/committee-resources/high_adventure_planning_guidelines

http://www.troop116.org/philmont/phl11Expectations.pdf

http://www.boyscouttroop151.com/forms/HighAdvPlanner.pdf

http://www.crventuring-bsa.org/Other/Where_To_Go_Venturing

http://www.wrventuring-bsa.org/activities.html

http://scoutmaster.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/03/high-adventure.html

http://www.rockymountaincouncil.org/forms/RMHAB/2011/2011_RMHAB_Leader_guide_%28updated%29.pdf

Philmont

http://philmontscoutranch.org/Camping.aspx

http://philmontscoutranch.org/filestore/Philmont/pdf/2011CouncilUnitPlanningGuide.pdf

http://philmontscoutranch.org/filestore/Philmont/pdf/CouncilUnitPlanningGuide.pdf (2012)

Northern Tier

http://www.scouting.org/northerntier.aspx

http://troop409.tripod.com/2010ERPG.pdf

Sea Base

http://troop79chicago.org/forms/seabase%20guide.pdf

http://www.bsa-troop328.org/high_adventure/seabaseguide.pdf

Meal planning

http://vcrew.org/index.php/venturing-officers-association/venturing-officers-assoc/129-high-adventures-8-simple-rules-for-successful-meal-planning

Other ideas

http://www.slideshare.net/swtrekker/bsa-high-adventure-primer-11-08-09

http://www.fiverivers.org/venturing/health/h14-venturing_program_safety_overview.pdf

http://www.trcbsa.org/trc_outdoor_programs/highadv/trc_high_adventure.htm

http://www.memphisgeology.org/65_super.html

October Roundtable PowerPoint Slides

Tracy's Roundtable PowerPoint slides for October are now posted on the Red Cedar District web page.  Thanks for the requests to make the announcements available for reference.

http://www.hawkeyebsa.org/volunteers/districts/red-cedar/

Keep asking questions!

Youth Protection for Mixed Male and Female Groups

Venturing Crews are often co-ed and that presents more challenges to Youth Protection education.  All must be vigilant to inappropriate behaviors both between Scout and Adult, and between Scouts.  

National and Regional leadership has materials to assist in the training.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/ypt/pdf/25-026.pdf

http://www.crventuring.org/Training/Youth_Protection/

http://www.scouting.org/training/youthprotection.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection/Venturing.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss03.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/gss01.aspx

Recruiting Teen Youth

Recruiting for Venturing Crews targets middle school and high school teens, which takes a different approach than attracting Cub Scouts.

This is a 10-page Word document guiding crew leaders about recruiting methods

http://www.bccbsa.org/sites/default/files/How%20to%20Recruit%20Venturers.doc

National provides a Recruiting plan for Venturing Crews and for Sea Scouts Ships.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/pdf/Venturing_Recruitment.pdf

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/membership/doc/Venturing_Recruitment_Plan.doc

Others are willing to share what worked for their area.

http://usscouts.org/venturing/Recruitment.pdf

http://www.crventuring.org/document2.php?s=1&id=111

http://www.sageventure.com/venturing/tips/StartingNewVenturingCrews.pdf

The Mid-America Council has some ideas as well.

http://www.mac-bsa.org/venturing_recruiting.aspx

http://www.mac-bsa.org/Post/sections/99/Files/2011_Venture_Crews_New_Family_Packet.pdf

Coe College Playground of Science

Thursday, October 27 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm will be the Ninth Annual Playground of Science at Coe College, FREE for all ages.  Three floors of the science building with DOZENS of hands-on activities and demonstrations from students and faculty.  Please follow the link and RSVP so there will be plenty of ingredients on hand to make enough liquid nitrogen ice cream for everybody!

Coe College Playground of Science

SCOUTStrong Challenge

Are you old enough, or young enough, to remember the President's Physical Fitness Challenge during your school days?  Gym classes tracked progress in categories such as sit-ups, push-ups, shuttle run, 12-minute walk/run, and pull-ups for boys and bent-arm hang for girls.

Kids today can still do that at school, but NEW this fall is a nationwide program for ALL ages, called the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award or PALA. 

The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition is promoting a healthy lifestyle by encouraging us all to get more active. To earn the PALA, kids have to engage in 60 minutes of activity, five to six days a week, for six weeks. Adults need only 30 minutes a day for the same time frame.  The minutes do not have to be all at once.  Three 10-minute walks would qualify an adult for one day.

http://www.presidentschallenge.org

Boy Scouts of America is encouraging everyone associated to participate: Scouts, Venturers, Parents, Volunteers, Council Staff, Board Members, Friends of Scouting, and BSA Alumni.

http://www.scouting.org/SCOUTStrongPALA.aspx

Choose your state and your council, then create an account to track your progress as part of your council's team. (As of now, Hawkeye Area has only two on the team, and one of them is me.)

Over 90 activities are listed within the program, including canoeing, yoga, Nintento Wii, home repairs, unicycling, and juggling, among the more traditional activities.  Participants can also track pedometer steps each day.

Those without convenient Internet access can track their progress on paper, using the form found here:

www.presidentschallenge.org/tools-resources/docs/PALA_log.pdf

 

Those looking for a greater challenge, or who already surpass these requirements are invted to try the President's Challenge program instead.

http://www.presidentschallenge.org/challenge/champions/index.shtml

Patches and more for the PALA are available for purchase.

https://www.presidentschallenge.org/shop/index.php

Journey to Excellence

Both Boy Scout and Cub Scout breakouts discussed the new Journey to Excellence program for evaluating units.  The new school year brings new leadership to many Packs and so this month's refresher was a good introduction for them.

Journey to Excellence evaluates a Scouting unit over a calendar year, currently January 2011 - December 2011 and is expected to be completed and turned in with the unit rechartering packet. 

Units earn points in eleven to thirteen categories.  Most categories have three levels of points to earn, based on commitment to those categories.  For example, Packs are encouraged to have multiple activities in the outdoors throughout the year.  Packs with three outdoor activities will earn 75 points, packs with four will earn 150 points, and packs with five will earn 300 points.

Packs must complete at least the minimum requirements in 10 of the 13 categories, troops must complete at least 11 of 13 catagories, and crews must complete 9 of their 11 categories.

When all the unit points are tallied, a minimum of 700 points earns the bronze level, 1000 points earned the silver level, and 1600 points earns the gold level. 

Units will be able to purchase Journey to Excellence patches for their earned level, for all registered Scouts and Scouters.

At the October Roundtable, recharter packets will include spreadsheets for each unit, with Council-known data already included, such as percentage of Scouts advancing.
 
Journey to Excellence

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/JTE_Pack_Requirements.pdf

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/JTE_Troop_Requirements.pdf

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/mission/JTE_Crew_Requirements.pdf