Gateway TodayGateway TodayGateway TodayGateway TodayGateway TodayGateway TodayGateway TodayGateway Today

April-May 2006

Gateway Area CouncilGateway Area Council Boy Scouts of America

2600 Quarry Road

La Crosse, WI 54601

Council News 2

Webelos Camp 3

Camp Decorah 4

Training 5

Activities 6-7

Order of the Arrow 8

Seven Rivers District 9

Soaring Eagle District 10

Winding Trails District 11

What’s

Inside

2006 Silver Beaver Recipients

The Silver Beaver is the highest award a council can bestow on a volunteer. The Gateway Area Council is proud to have these four incredible adult volunteers working with the Scouts in our council. Thank you for all you do.

Dr. Rodney Erickson

With more than 35 years of service and leadership to Scouting, Dr. Erickson has done just about everything. He’s been a Scoutmaster, a Tiger Cub Coach, a den leader, pack committee chairman, member of the council executive board, and is currently the advisor to Crew 5. His Venture Crew is the first in the council to complete the Bronze in outdoors, sports and hobbies, the Venturing Ranger, Quest, Gold and Silver Awards. The young people he leads have the greatest respect for him. In addition to Scouting, Dr. Erickson is a volunteer instructor for the Wilderness Medicine Course, an active member of the Tomah United Methodist Church, and past president of the Kiwanis Club. He is a staff physician at the Tomah Memorial Hospital and has been recognized with the National Health Award for community involvement.

Gordon Powell Jr.

Eagle Scout Gordy Powell currently chairs the Eagle Scout Review Committee. Active in Troop 22’s leadership, Gordy serves as unit commissioner, advancement chair and charter representative. A highly respected engineer at Trane Company, he is an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

G. William Hoel

There are those who share their talents in Scouting by leading a trail hike or teaching Scouts to pitch a tent. And there are those who share their talents by offering their expertise on council committees or by dedicating their life to shaping our communities

to become a positive culture for all youth. Bill Hoel is the kind of person who continues to invest countless hours to area communities and to the council because he believes in the youth of today and the youth of tomorrow. As a Scouter, Bill has served this council as a district committee member, member of the executive board and MC of our council recognition dinner for 15 years. In addition, he is active with Rotary Lights, the La Crosse Dubna Friendship program, La Crosse Rotary Club, La Crosse Public Education Foundation and the local MS Walk.

Paul Stuhr

Eagle Scout Paul Stuhr began his adult involvement in Scouting as a Den leader and has worked his way up through the ranks of Cubmaster and currently Scoutmaster of Troop 15, La Crosse. He is Wood Badge trained, serves as a merit badge counselor and has coordinated the merit badge camp at Camp Decorah. He served as Scoutmaster for our National Jamboree contingent in 2005. Captain for the city of La Crosse Fire Department, Paul finds time to be a Little League baseball coach, a climbing wall instructor at the Children’s Museum and a Hunter’s Safety Instructor..

EYES ON EAGLES

During the months of February and March, the following Scouts successfully completed the requirements for the rank of Eagle and passed the Eagle Board of Review:

Joshua J. Winscher

Troop 7, Sparta

David J. Linhart Troop 11, La Crosse

Jordan K. Olson

Troop 15, La Crosse

Anthony C. Easterday Troop 17, La Crosse

Paul W. Klug

Troop 22, La Crosse

Andrew J. White Troop 24, La Crosse

Andrew W. Krage

Troop 33, La Crescent

Nicholas D. Springer Troop 39, La Crosse

Andrew M. Notsch Troop 48, Onalaska

Matthew D. Kildahl Troop 53, Houston

Andrew C. Rebhan

Troop 119, Wonewoc

For questions, Email:Gordon Powell Eagle Board of Review Chairman

E-mail:g_and_s_powell@yahoo.com.

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Local Tour Permits Protection for Everyone

As the spring and summer camping season approaches, many units will be preparing for spring campouts, summer camp trips and other recreational outings as part of the unit’s year round program plan. One of the most important pieces of paper the adult in charge must remember to complete is the Local Tour Permit (#34428C) The local tour permit was designed to ensure unit leadership was following proper B.S.A. safety standards as it relates to travel, aquatics activities and parental permission for Scouts to participate in the activity. It is also a protection mechanism for unit leaders, parents who serve as drivers to and from an activity as well as the Gateway Area Council and the Boy Scouts of America. Here are just a few tips on making the “paperwork” challenge of filling out and filing the form a little easier:

• As in many other unit functions, assign a parent to be responsible for the filling out and filing of the permit. That can be his or her sole responsibility for the unit.

• Review the unit’s year round program and determine what outings will require a tour permit. Normally, anytime youth are traveling outside of the community proper and less than 500 miles, a local tour permit should be filed. Any trip over 500 miles requires the completion of the national tour permit.

• Backdate the timeliness of getting the permit to the Council Service Center so it may be reviewed, approved and sent back to the unit leader in charge (at least two weeks in advance).

• Copy the car insurance information portion of the tour permit off of the form. Begin the process of obtaining car insurance information from all of the parents of the Scouts. Create a spreadsheet from the form that can be kept on file and renewed each year at membership (charter) renewal time. The completed sheet can then be attached to each tour permit that is submitted, which should cover all drivers all of the time.

• Lack of complete car insurance information is the most common cause of delaying tour permit approval. The council cannot approve a tour permit without that information.

If you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to contact the Gateway Area Council Field Director at the Council Service Center. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this important and necessary safety issue.

YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE The Gateway Area Council is happy to offer you “Youth Protection Training” on-line. This is a simple way for all Scout leaders to complete the Youth Protection Training requirements at your leisure. Simply go to our Council website (gatewayareacouncil.org) and click on the training icon. After that you will be offered several on-line training courses and print out a completion certificate which acts as your trained card. We are also looking forward to offering “Safe Swim Defense” and “Safety Afloat” trainings on-line in the near future. Keep checking the website for more information.

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Experience EgyptExperience EgyptExperience EgyptExperience Egypt Ready to step back in time where Mummies wander the sands of the

desert? Do you want to explore the ancient and mysterious pyramids of Egypt? Or maybe you just want to wrap your Den Leader in toilet paper… This year our Webelos Resident Camp program is taking you deep into the Sahara for an adventure you won’t soon forget!

We will be offering two sections of Webelos Camp this year. Section one will run from July 30th-August 2nd. The following section will start the afternoon of the 2nd, ending the 5th. The cost will be 90 dollars per boy; two free adults will be permitted. After the initial two free adult spots are filled each addition adult will be charges 45 dollars.

We will be offering a wide range of activities such as Archery, Air-Powered Rifles, and Slingshot. In addition to our traditional activities we will be offering each boy the chance to navigate an ancient pyramid in search of King Tut’s treasure, decoding hieroglyphics, and even working an archaeological dig site. Hope we see you under the hot desert sun.

We will be offering the following activity pins: Outdoorsman Aquanaut Sportsman Craftsman Geologist Readyman Artist Forester Citizen

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Greetings from the Camp Director

Well, it’s March and summer camp is starting to creep up on us. A large part of preparing for camp is recruiting the right people to staff the many areas of camp. We really have some great people lined up to instruct classes; those of you who are on the camp staff will be receiving contracts via the US Mail shortly. There are still a few director positions available and we still need some solid lifeguards. If you are interested or know of anyone who would enjoy spending their summer in the great outdoors, please let me know. I look forward to a great summer camp program; maybe you can be a part of it! Give me a call at (608) 784-4040. Chris Schabow

BEAVER DAY

Preparing camp for the summer program entails a great deal of work, setting up tents, building platforms and spreading woodchips are just a few of the things that need to be completed before the summer camp program is off and running. This year we will be hosting our annual Beaver Day at Camp. The goal for this Beaver Day is to roundup a large core of volunteers and give Camp Decorah a little TLC. The date is April 29th. We will be meeting at the Training Center at 8:00 a.m. I cannot stress how important this event is in making a successful summer camp program. Let’s try to make camp look its best for the youth of the Midwest.

LEADER’S GUIDES

Any leader interested in attending camp, o r j us t s i mp l y i n t e r e s t ed in understanding how Camp Decorah operates is encouraged to stop by the Scout Service Center and pick up a 2006 Camp Decorah Leaders Guide on CD. This guide will essentially explain what Decorah has to offer and how it is presented. I encourage everyone to pick up this important guide.

Camp Decorah.org

As most of you leaders know, we have a web page that takes care of the merit badge sign up process. Once you have paid you camp fees in full, you will be able to access every area of this page. To use this site, you will be prompted to create a user name and password. This can be anything you desire. After you have completed this step, you will need to sign each boy up for his “class schedule”. Remember to save after setting each boy’s schedule. Although this web site is very user friendly, I would encourage you to call the Scout office with any problems.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!

Although campsites are filling up, many are still available. Below is the current campsite reservations by troop. If you happen to see a particular site you are interested in but it appears to be taken, do not despair. Oftentimes a small group will reserve a site but will not use the site to full capacity. Speak up. There may be plenty of open bunks for your troop. As an Eagle Scout, I cannot stress enough the importance of summer camp. Summer camp is where Scouting happens. Hope to see you there!

Holds June 18-24 June 25-1 July 9-15 July 16-22 July 23-29

Upper Comanche 12 T204 Iowa T102 Osseo T8 Leroy, WI T87 Cross Plains, WI

Lower Comanche 10 T77 West Salem T110 Fountain City T8 Leroy, WI T 47, La Crosse

Winnebago 22 T51 Caledonia T 18, La Crosse T 544, Stetsonville T457 Bloomingdale, IL T54 Alma

Sioux 22 T31 Red Wing, MN T778 Mt. Calvary T83 Hills/T94 Lyndon T 22, La Crosse

Blackfoot 20 T101 Trem, WI T50 Hayfield T78 Whitehall T 22, La Crosse

Seminole 26 T 59, Black River Falls T1 Winona,MN T 229, Mukwonago T21 Rochester T317 Wauzeka, WI

N. Chippewa 14 T 168, Onalaska T31 Desoto, WI T889 Naperville T75 Viroqua T75 Naperville, IL

S. Chippewa 16 T 13, La Crosse T270 Coralville, IA T889 Naperville T75 Viroqua T75 Naperville, IL

Mohawk 26 T 108, Indep/T 17, LaX T 11, La Crosse T60 Cashton, WI T21 Rochester, MN T273 Delano, MN

U. Apache 10 T 64, Arcadia T64 Waukon, IA T55 Spring Grove

L. Apache 12 T 64, Arcadia T44 Dover, MN T55 Spring Valley

Iroquois 20 T9 Hixton, WI T76 Marshall T285/T5 Tomah T32 Redwing, MN

Lenape A~B 24 T 38, Onalaska T186 Rochester T48 Montgomery T71 Genoa, WI/ T52

Lenape C~D 24 T 38, Onalaska T186 Rochester T48 Montgomery T71 Genoa, WI/ T52

Arapaho(Tentless) 40 T1139 Green Bay, WI T46 Bangor, WI

TrainingTrainingTrainingTraining 5555

2006 for Adult Leaders:

April 21-23 (Friday Night to Sunday Morning) - The OUTDOOR Course for Webelos, Boy Scout and Venturing Leaders. This course gives the hands-on skills training in the outdoors, designed to help you to master basic camping skills required to Tenderfoot to First Class. April 22 (Saturday) - The OUTDOOR Course for Cub Scout Leaders (B.A.L.O.O.—Basic Adult

Leader Outdoor Orientation) This course is required to certify leaders to be able to take Cub Scouts on an outdoor or camping event. November 4th (Saturday) - University of Scouting Just a reminder to put this day on your calendars. This will be another great day for training and learning. More information to follow.

2006 Training for Boy Scouts:

June 25—30 (Sunday to Friday) - NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training)

The course offers training in advanced Scouting skills and teaches the eleven points of leadership. It emphasizes the practical challenges of leadership using the patrol method, while providing enjoyable activities to practice these skills. Scoutmasters—Do you have your boys signed up for this course yet? Remember the job of the Scoutmaster is to “train the boys to be the leaders of tomorrow”. This course gives the boys the skills to do this. The flyers are at the Scout office.

WHY SHOULD I TAKE BALOO TRAINING?

Ask a Cub Scout why he wants to be a Scout and most all of the time he will answer “to go camping!” To make this a reality for the Cub Scouts, someone in their pack must be BALOO (Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation) trained! Packs are encouraged to do a campout in both the fall and spring. The reasoning being that each boy will have a positive outdoor experience within 60 days of joining a pack. The training course is made to help prepare the leaders to hold such events. The training is a one-day event to introduce leaders and parents to the skills needed to plan and conduct outdoor pack activities. One day of fun and learning prepares pack leaders to plan and carry out “entry level” outdoor experience that are safe and appropriate for Cub Scouts. The training will be Saturday, April 22nd at Camp Decorah from 8:30 to 5:00 (check-in is from 8:30-9:00) The sessions start promptly at 9:00. Cost is $10 and includes lunch, snack and training materials. Please bring your own choice of beverage (no alcohol or unauthorized drugs allowed). Uniforms are encouraged. Please register by April 8th at the Council Service Center in La Crosse.

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WHO: WHO: WHO: WHO: Tiger Tales Space Camp is open to all Tiger Scouts and their accompanying adults partner. There must be a scout to adult ratio of 1 to1. Tiger Dens are encouraged to reserve a “space” for their entire den to attend. This camp is a great opportunity to sleep under the stars and experience something Out of this World!! WHAT: WHAT: WHAT: WHAT: Tiger Tales Space Camp is an overnight event that is packed with adventure! Campers can stay in or outside in tents. All galactic goodies will be served in the Starfighter Academy dining hall. Indoor showers and toilets are available. WHEN: WHEN: WHEN: WHEN: May 19th-20th, 2006. WHERE: WHERE: WHERE: WHERE: Camp Decorah (turn left at Mars and travel 6 light years east) PROGRAM: PROGRAM: PROGRAM: PROGRAM: Activities include cosmic BB guns, solar archery, phaser fishing, alien t-shirts, ultimate asteroid and much, much, more!! FEE: FEE: FEE: FEE: The 2006 Space Camp fee is $ 50 if paid by April 28th, or $75.00 by May 5th. No applications will be accepted after the 5th of MayNo applications will be accepted after the 5th of MayNo applications will be accepted after the 5th of MayNo applications will be accepted after the 5th of May. The fee is non-refundable. The fee covers program expenses, craft supplies, insurance, evening snack, breakfast, lunch and a patch. Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered registered. Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered registered. Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered registered. Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered registered. Space is Space is Space is Space is limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Outside camping is available limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Outside camping is available limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Outside camping is available limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Outside camping is available as well. Register Today!as well. Register Today!as well. Register Today!as well. Register Today!

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WHO: WHO: WHO: WHO: Space Camp Akela is open to all Wolf and Bear Scouts and their accompanying adults. There must be a scout to adult ratio of 1 to1. Cub Packs are encouraged to reserve a date for their entire pack to attend. This camp is a great activity for packs working on the summertime pack award. WHAT: WHAT: WHAT: WHAT: Space Camp Akela is an overnight adventure for Wolf and Bear Cubs. Campers can stay in lodges or outside in tents. All meals will be served in the dining hall. Indoor showers and toilets are available. A one to one cub ratio is required. WHEN: WHEN: WHEN: WHEN: May 13th-14th, 2006. WHERE: WHERE: WHERE: WHERE: Camp Decorah PROGRAM: PROGRAM: PROGRAM: PROGRAM: Activities include cosmic BB guns, solar archery, light saber fishing, solar tie dye, ultimate asteroid, solar fire, banana ships and More!! FEE: FEE: FEE: FEE: The 2006 Space Camp fee is $ 50 by April 21st and $75.00 by April 28th. No applications will be accepted after the 28th of AprilNo applications will be accepted after the 28th of AprilNo applications will be accepted after the 28th of AprilNo applications will be accepted after the 28th of April. The fee is non-refundable. The fee covers program expenses, craft supplies, insurance, evening snack, breakfast, lunch and a patch. Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered Packs must pay in full for each youth on the den roster to be considered registered. registered. registered. registered. Space is limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Space is limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Space is limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Space is limited to the first 55 scouts for indoor accommodations! Outside camping is available as well. Register Today!Outside camping is available as well. Register Today!Outside camping is available as well. Register Today!Outside camping is available as well. Register Today!

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HUNTER SAFETY COURSE?

Please poll your Scouts to see if there would be any interest in holding a weekend Hunter Safety Course, possible over Labor Day weekend at Camp. Also, looking for certified adults that may be able to staff this. In preparation for hunting season, other councils and OA lodges hold this type of training open to all Scouts, but we need some feedback if this is worth setting up.

NOAC—JULY 29—AUGUST 3

Keep your calendars open so your Scouts can join 7000 fellow Arrowmen at Michigan State University for a top-notch experience. Demonstrations, competitions, training, fellowship, and a set of really neat evening shows. Deposits were due by mid-February.

OA ELECTIONS

Schedule your troop’s OA election early as we can’t do them all the week of April 15. Callouts will be at your district’s spring camporee, with recognition during summer camp.

SIGN UP THROUGH

gatewayareacouncil.org/oa

Also be thinking of your troop’s adults for nomination for OA. Unlike youth, adults are accepted in to OA for what they WILL DO in the future, and not only for their past successes. Try scheduling your OA election across from your spring Friends of Scouting… Scouts don’t want to hear about money, and adults don’t have to know about the election process.

SPRING IS HERE

YARD CHORES CAN WAIT!

Now that the snow is gone, we’ve lots of work to do around camp to get it ready for the year. We’re building the new tent platforms and frames for several campsites like Lenape last year, and installing another 800’ of fencing, not to mention 6 new campsite pavilions (no more dining flys for those improved sites!) and doubling the size of Seminole. Come spend a weekend at camp, or just a day. Bring your troop and make it a fun outing...chores aren’t as hard when the work is shared. The formal Council Beaver Day is Saturday, April 29th, but we’ll be out working every weekend between now and Memorial Day. Call the camp office at (608) 526-6418 so the ranger can plan appropriate tasks for your group. No offer of assistance is too small to not be appreciated.

STRETCH

Stop and think about how comfortable you are in your current position. Are you really listening to what’s being asked of you? Maybe opportunities to expand your horizons are being drowned out by the security of knowing exactly what’s going to happen. Good Samaritans and our council Eagle Scout candidates often hear that they don’t get to choose when they are to offer service; they need to recognize the requests and come to the aid of those that need it when they need it. The fireman can’t help much if he shows after the fire burns itself out and the structure is a total loss! Maybe we’re holding ourselves back. Try to listen a little harder so the message isn’t drowned out in the paralysis of our own thoughts. Regain the good feeling of helping others. Practice helping often; it’s a skill just like tying knots. The recipient will always appreciate your effort. Maybe next time the tire goes flat on the way through someone’s planned day in a rush to the next event (and the spare is down), it’s your tire. Will someone come to your aid?

LODGE CALENDAR

4/21-23 Lakota Dancers Workshop at Janesville, WI 4/29 Council Beaver Days @ Camp Decorah 8 am sign-up 6/2-4 OA Ordeal @ Camp Decorah 6/28-29 OA Midweek Ordeal @ Camp Decorah (Wed pm-Thurs pm) 7/26-27 OA Midweek Ordeal @ Camp Decorah (Wed pm-Thurs pm) 7/29-8/3 National Order of the Arrow Conference at Michigan State University, Lansing, MI 8/4-6 OA Ordeal @ Camp Decorah 8/26-27 OA Archery Fundraiser @ Camp Decorah 9/15-17 C1B Section Conclave @ Camp Rokilio Kiel, WI 9/22-24 National Leadership Seminar—WI

Dance Team, Ceremonies and Regalia Days

Watch the Smoke Signal or the NST web site for details on the upcoming workdays www.gatewayareacouncil.org/oa

SSSSEVENEVENEVENEVEN R R R R IVERSIVERSIVERSIVERS D D D D ISTRICTISTRICTISTRICTISTRICT 9999

DISTRICT KEY

THREE

District Chairman Todd Wilson 608-985-6605

TDwilson@gundluth.org

District Commissioner

Eric Holthaus

608-783-7947

eholthaus@charter.net

Senior District Executive

Andrea Pengra (608) 386-5186

District Executive

Chris Schabow (608) 385-2764

SEVEN RIVERS DISTRICT

DINNER

(Rescheduled)

We are having a good Ol’ Fashion Picnic! WHO: Everyone’s invited WHEN: Thursday, May 11th WHERE: Copeland Park Shelter TIME: 5:30—? COST: $10 to cover cost of meals and awards Our annual district dinner will be held to recognize the great achievements of the district and several individuals who have gone above and beyond. Some of the awards include:

District Award of Merit Cub Leader of the Year

Scout Leader of the Year DE’s Choice Spark Plug

Quality District Award Troops can bring your dutch ovens and make a tasty treat! Please register by May 5th at the Council Service Center. Call Andrea or Chris with questions (784-4040)

SEVEN RIVERS SPRING

CAMPOREE

Mark your calendars for May 5, 6, 7. The camporee is a time when all Boy Scout troops in the Seven Rivers District get together for a fun-filled weekend of activities. If you haven’t been, now is the time! Watch for sign-up information coming soon!!

April 6th Roundtable Our Saviors Lutheran Church, La Crosse 6:30 p.m. Theme for May—Digging in the Dirt Cub Corner discussion—Strategies for dea l ing wi th THAT PARENT! May 11th Roundtable District

Dinner

Copeland Park Shelter 5:30 p.m.—? Theme for June—Invent a reason to celebrate Cub Corner Discussion—It’s summer, now what do we do? June 8th Roundtable Camp Decorah Brownsea Pavilion 6:30 p.m. Theme for July—Red, White and Baloo Cub Corner Discussion—I’m not crafty … HELP!!!

ATTENTION: ALL SEVEN

RIVERS PACK AND DEN

LEADERS

The District Roundtables are expending to focus on Cub Scouting. If you are a new leader, there will be a monthly examination of the program helps along with Cub Advancement and adult training opportunities. Each month there will also be a “Cubs Corner” open discussion to brainstorm ideas, options, and solutions to the situations we all encounter not covered in the “Official Literature“. If you are an old veteran to the Cub Scout program, your knowledge and experiences are an invaluable resource we would like for you to share at these open discussions. All Scouters are welcomed and needed! Hope to see you there.

Robin Mezera

Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner

SSSSOARINGOARINGOARINGOARING EAGLEEAGLEEAGLEEAGLE DISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICT 10101010

KEY THREE DISTRICT CHAIRMAN

Glen Danielson

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

Jim Mulhausen

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE

Steve Topel (608) 769-1705

gacsede@gatewayareacouncil.org

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALMA

FOR WINNING THE KLONDIKE!!!

For the first time, Troop 54 from Alma has won the Soaring Eagle Klondike Derby. After a series of events such as .22 shooting, winter fire starting, ice fishing, a chili cook-off, a sled race and “Blind Sled Dog” race. Alma had the Soaring Eagle Klondike Trophy passed to their hands. Frostbitten and red they may have been, but their hands clapped with glee upon receiving the prize. Upon receiving the trophy, Lee Collins, Troop 54 Scoutmaster, mentioned he was happy to finally beat Arcadia at something! The event was a wonderful experience for the boys who were there and it could not have been possible if it wasn’t for the planning and preparation of Buzz Thompson from Troop 102, Osseo. A very special thanks goes out to Buzz and the boys from the Osseo Rod and Gun Club for helping put together a fantastic day of fun for the boys of Soaring Eagle District.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR

2005 EAGLE SCOUTS

Two Scouts from Soaring Eagle District completed the requirements to reach Eagle. They are Luke Kramer of Troop 64, Arcadia and Trevor Johnson of Troop 21, Brice Prairie. Luke’s Eagle project was creating a t i m e c a p s u l e f o r A r c a d i a ’ s sesquicentennial celebration including water samples and aerial photographs of the city. Luke created a memory of Arcadia in 2005 that will last a lifetime. Luke has been accepted to many colleges but has not made a commitment yet. He plans on studying environmental engineering. Trevor rebuilt a trail at Perrot State Park that was constructed by the Consevation Corps in the 1950’s. This was a labor intensive project including the removal of tree stumps and brush after years overgrowth. The trail is now open for hikes and will be used by hiker for generations to come. Trevor is in the United Stated Air Force and will soon start training to specialize in “in-flight refueling.”

E-MAIL LIST

Are you on the e-mail list for the district? Would you like to be? Whenever information becomes available, I send an update to keep everyone posted on the happenings of the Soaring Eagle District. This is a great way to reach our volunteers, leaders and parents. If anyone is interested in becoming a part of the e-mail list, feel free to contact me at stevetopel@yahoo.com

COMMUNITY UNIT

COMMISSIONERS

This position does not take a lot of your time nor does it call for attending weekly scheduled meetings. It is a way to pass on information between the council and the units and to provide answers to questions parents or leaders may have. If you are interested in helping the Scout Troops and Cub Packs in your area, or if you know someone who might, please call me at (608) 784-4040.

REMEMBER THE

ROUNDTABLE!

A t t e n t i o n a l l C u b m a s t e r s , Scoutmasters, Den Leaders and any type of Scout leader reading this: EVERYONE is invited to participate in our monthly roundtable in Arcadia! This is a great way to come and learn from other leaders, laugh with other leaders and share experiences that will help make your program more fun for both you and the Scouts!! Paul Schaffner, from Pack 310, has taken the position of Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner and has been doing a great job introducing new activities and ideas to bring to your pack and den meetings. Roundtables are held every second Thursday of the month starting at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Arcadia. I really hope to see you there!

Giving kids clothes and food is one thing

but it’s much more important to teach

them...that the best thing they can do

with their lives is to use them in the

service of other people.

WWWW INDINGINDINGINDINGINDING TRAILSTRAILSTRAILSTRAILS DISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICTDISTRICT 11111111

Key Three

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN

David Kuderer

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

Diane Buchda

DISTRICT EXECUTIVE

Jessica Kipp

(608) 385-3788

wtde@gatewayareacouncil.org

WINDING TRAILS DISTRICT SERVICE PROJECT

BUILDING BIRDHOUSES

On Saturday, February 25th, the Winding Trails District had a service project for the Families First organization of Monroe County. Thirty-six Scouts and Scouters from district units worked from 10:00 to 3:00 building 100 bird houses. The project entailed the coordination of the woodworking classes at Tomah High School, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, several area artist and local churches in the Monroe County area. The woodworking classes at the high school gained experience cutting wood to pattern specifications, the Cub Scouts earned credit toward their achievement requirements, the Boy Scouts participated in a service project by constructing the bird houses and area birds will have shelter badly needed after long flights from the South. Thank you to all the Scouts and volunteers who helped to build the bird houses. Betty Althaus—thank you for organizing the event.

SCOUTING FOR FOOD IN THE MONTH

OF MARCH

This is an awesome opportunity to give back to our communities and fight hunger. Flyers and plastic bags are available in the Scout shop. All food collected in the Winding Trails District should go to your local food pantry. To all the units, Scouts and volunteers who participate in Scouting for Food this year, thank you!

The Gateway Today newsletter is a resource publication of the Gateway Area Council, BSA, La Crosse, WI. It is published bi-monthly and mailed without charge to executive board m e m b e r s , a t - l a r g e m e m b e r s , commissioners staff, district committee members, Chartered Organization Representatives, Cubmasters and assistants, den leaders, Webelos leaders, Scoutmasters and assistants, Explorer advisors and associates, Venture Crew leaders, and all unit committee chairmen. For further information, contact Sue Haase, Editor, Gateway Area Council, BSA, 2600 Quarry Road, La Crosse, WI 54601, or phone 608-784-4040. The Gateway Area Council, BSA, does not discriminate in employment, admission to membership, or admission of registrants towards programs or activities on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, disability, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law.

The Gateway Today Published bi-monthly by the Gateway Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2600 Quarry Road., La Crosse, WI 54601

Steve Christiansen, Council President Mary Lin Wershofen, Council

Commissioner Johnny Day, Scout Executive

Sue Haase, Editor

GATEWAY AREA COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

2600 QUARRY ROAD LA CROSSE, WI 54601

A UNITED WAY AGENCY

NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION U. S. Postage PAID

La Crosse, Wisconsin Permit No. 506

To Our Valued Scouting Volunteers

Visit us on the Web: www.gatewayareacouncil

.org