BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICACIRCLE TEN COUNCIL

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Tiger ROAR! and Cub Scout RecruitmentMay is the perfect time to recruit the current group of kindergarten boys.Start with siblings of the boys in your pack and their friends. Starting inMay with a Tiger leader already identified will put you way aheadof the curve! Hold a TIGER ROAR! special event/party/activity andinvite all the kindergarten boys. You can collect applications and haveeverything ready to go the minute that final school bell rings. A BIG plusis all those new scouts have the opportunity to attend Cub ScoutDay camp!

Cub Scout Day/Twilight Camp – Plan the program and they will come!Lots of folks have been working for months planning a week of fun forour youngest scouts, and of course, it’s another chance for the boys todo those favorite activities of shooting BB guns and letting arrows fly.There’s a ton of fun to be had and all we need is the Cub Scouts.Encourage ALL your scouts to attend.

Webelos Resident Camp – All rising 4th and 5th grade Webelos scoutsare invited to attend their first “sleep-away” scouting camp. Boys geta taste of Boy Scouting and enjoy archery, BB guns, hiking, and learningnew camping skills. Boys will come home having earned lots of WebelosActivity Pins to show-off!

Summertime Pack ActivitiesEveryone is looking forward to a relaxing summer, and kids are soexcited as school draws to a close, but we don’t want to take the summeroff from Cub Scouts! Now is the time to be planning your pack’s summeractivities to qualify for the National Pack Summertime Award. It’s easyand only requires one pack activity for each of the months: June, Julyand August.

Also, all those summer activities are a GREAT opportunity to invitefriends, neighbors, and other youth/families to come learn about Scouting.It doesn’t have to be formal, but everyone loves an invitation. Rememberto find a fun incentive for boys to invite their friends … such as, any boywho invites a friend gets to throw water balloons at the Cubmaster! AdvancementCub Scouts “graduate” rank at the end of the school year. Summer is aperfect time to promote belt loops, activity pins, rank electives and eventhe family and faith oriented achievements for the next rank. There areplenty of ways for Cubs to be having fun and working towards advance-ments at the same time!

Summer Camp is a traditional time for merit badge and rankadvancement for our Boy Scouts, especially if they attend Boy ScoutSummer Camp. Also, check out the numerous programs offered bymuseums, nature preserves, and community organizations which offermerit badge opportunities for your youth. There’s an abundance ofofferings out there!

5/1 Spring Webinar #15/2 Spring Webinar #25/2 Webelos Leaders Meeting5/3 OA Induction Weekend (CON, TRJ, JR)5/5 Catholic Committee on Scouting 5/6 Program Managers 5/7 Advisory Board 5/8 Popcorn Unit Captains Meeting5/9 FOS Report Meeting #25/11 Council Swim Check (WIS)5/21 Learning for Life Committee 5/21 Coordinated Council Program Committee5/21 Membership Committee 5/21 Marketing Committee 5/22 National Meeting - Grapevine, TX5/24 Camp Card – Money and unsold cards due5/27 Memorial Day – Offices closed5/30 Executive Committee

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Venturer’s are busy all year long! However, summer just might be thetime they have a few extra minutes to work on advancements or for yourunit to plan a fun summer event or super activity. With the college-agedVenturer’s home for the summer, seize the opportunity to get the wholecrew together for fun activities and outings.

Looking AheadAs one pack year draws to a close, it’s time to look forward and startplanning the upcoming year. Packs, in particular, need to have theiron-going leadership confirmed to qualify at the bronze level for Item 8,Pack “Leadership Planning” of the 2013 Pack Journey to Excellencescorecard. This is a good time of year to hold your annual planningmeeting, start working on calendar scheduling, and make plansfor membership recruitment.

QUICK REMINDERSSummer Camp – Things happen. Plans change. Schedules haveconflicts. If your unit has a scout who can’t go to camp with the troop forone reason or another, contact your District Camping Committee.Working together, we can find a “summer camp home” for every scout.

Camp Cards – Congratulations on your successful camp card sale! Don’t forget to turn-in your money by May 24th to receive full commission.We hope you have exciting plans for your Scouts with the funds your unithas earned.

Popcorn – You’ve just finished one fundraiser, but no rest for the weary!It’s time to start planning for fall’s popcorn sale. If you haven’t already,be sure to sign up to participate in the Circle Ten Council fall popcorn sale.

Roster Review – Sometime this month, be on the look-out forannouncements on your district’s website for the semi-annualmembership validation. Keep your scouts’ advancement recordsaccurate by ensuring they are properly registered. This is a good timeto take a peek at recent attendance and touch base with any youth who’sslipped off the radar recently.

Is a Texas Camp in your future?If so, don’t forget the great state of Texas requires Face–to–FaceYouth Protection Training for all adult leaders.

Looking for an idea? Havea great idea you want toshare? Check out the BESTPRACTICES PORTAL atmyscouting.org. You canfind this fantastic resourceunder “COUNCIL TOOLS”on your home page menu. Ideas are organized byProgram, and the more weall contribute, the better thissite will become.

Cub Scout Day and Twilight Camp

Is there anything cuter than photos of Cub Scouts having fun? Of course not! Cub Scout Day Camp and Twilight Camp are photo opportunities waiting to happen. Get all those shutterbug proud parents and leaders taking images and sponsor a photo contest: funniest, most scout spirit, best candid moment, or whatever categories strike your fancy. Don’t let those fabulous photos go to waste! Write an article for your local newspaper, homeowner’s association, pack newsletter, or Chartered Organization bulletin and generate positive press for Scouting. By all means let those photos do double duty and enter your favorites in Circle Ten Council’s Monthly Photo Contest.

Webelos Resident Camp – Fourth and fifth grade boys are itching for more independence and responsibility, and Webelos Resident Camp provides an opportunity for both. Sign-up early, as the six, 4 day/3 night sessions at “beautiful Camp James Ray” sell out every year. Webelos experience a taste of Boy Scout camp while working on advancements and HAVING FUN!

Boy Scout Summer Camp

It’s the highlight of the summer: fun, friendship, adventure, camp-fires and more. First-time campers may be homesick at the start, but no-one ever wants to come home at the end of the week. With so many merit badges earned and rank advancements achieved, the boys have much to be proud of. Look for those VOICE OF THE SCOUT e-mails, asking you about your summer camp experi-ence. Please take a moment and respond!

National Jamboree 2013

After years of preparation, it’s finally here: BSA’s inaugural year at THE SUMMIT. June is a time for putting the final touches on the packing and planning. Come July, the adventure begins for the 14 contingent troops from Circle Ten Council. Lots of photos will be the order of the day. Plan on coming back with exciting stories and images to share and inspire the next group of scouts for Jamboree 2017. What can top National Jamboree? WORLD Jamboree, of course. Start thinking about Japan, 2015. If you like to plan WAY ahead, World Jamboree 2019 will be at The Summit!

National Youth Leadership Training

NYLT is a six-day outdoor leadership training course for Boy Scouts and Venturers aged 13+. The course centers on the patrol method and parallels adult Wood Badge training. The course provides our youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their own units as well as their home, school and community. Best of all, many scouts agree: it’s the most fun training course they’ve ever attended.

6/1 Trainer’s EDGE6/3 Program Managers 6/6 FOS Victory Celebration6/9 Golf Tournament - VIP Dinner6/9 Staff Weeks @ TRJ/CON/JR6/10 Circle Ten Golf Tournament6/13 BSA / Mormon Relationship Committee 6/16 Summer Camp Week 1 @ TRJ / CON6/16 Webelos Session 1 @ JR6/18 Risk Management 6/19 Webelos Session 2 @ JR6/23 Summer Camp Week 2 @ TRJ / CON6/23 Venturing Officers Association 6/23 Webelos Session 3 @ JR6/25 Executive Board @ CON6/26 Webelos Session 4 @ JR6/30 Summer Camp Week 3 @ TRJ / CON6/30 Webelos Session 5 @ JR

QUICK REMINDERSJune and July Pack Activities – One thing we know about summer in Texas: IT’S HOT. Ideas for summer pack activities – think cool! A pool party, ice skating, a trip to a summer blockbuster movie – there are lots of ways to have fun and beat the heat.

School Night for Scouting Planning – SNFS will be here before you know it. Now is a great time to finalize your pack’s plan, line up volun-teers, divvy up responsibilities, and start spreading the word.

Popcorn – Units should be signing up for Circle Ten Council’s annual Popcorn sale and recruiting their Popcorn Captain.

Start collecting those aluminum cans – Why? Well, take a sneak peak ahead to November and read all about the Big D Fleur-de-Lis. 1,000,000 is a BIG number, and we’ll need every can we can get.

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7/3 Webelos Session 6 @ JR7/4 Independence Day – Offices closed7/7 Summer Camp Week 4 @ TRJ / CON / JR7/10 National Scout Jamboree Contingent Leaves7/14 Summer Camp Week 5 @ TRJ / CON7/15 National Scout Jamboree7/15 NYLT - Session 2 @ JR7/16 NYLT - Session 3 @ JR7/21 Summer Camp Week 6 @ CON7/22 NYLT - Session 4 @ JR7/23 Membership Committee 7/23 NYLT - Session 5 @ JR7/24 Communications Committee7/25 National Scout Jamboree Contingent Returns

Want to add some spark to your program but don't have time to plan it all out yourself? Check-out the Circle Ten Council website for events and activities with our community partners, such as Scout nights with Dallas sports teams or merit badge opportunities at museums and nature centers. There are lots of "ready-made" activities your unit can take full advantage of, especially through the summer months.

School Night for Scouting – Whether yourpack’s actual SNFS falls in late August, September or October, NOW is the time to get the word out! Especially for those areas with no school access, NETWORKING is the watch-word of the month. Our goal is for EVERY BOY in our Council to have an OPPORTUNITY to join scouting. That’s a tall order, for sure, but many hands make light work. Put your whole PACK and scouting community to work in getting the word out!

Everyone loves a personal invitation, whether it is verbal or written, formal or casual. Organize your pack to reach out to their friends, classmates, neighbors, and acquaintances to INVITE them to a recruiting event. It can be a mailed invitation, a quick phone call, a flyer passed out at school, or even an e-mail “e-vite”. Use social media to your advantage – be sure to “talk-it up” over your pack website, Facebook, and even Twitter! Don’t forget you’ll have the high-quality print materials (flyers, postcards, yard-signs, posters & stickers) from the Circle Ten Council SNFS campaign at your disposal. The more families who know about your SNFS or other pack recruiting event, the better your turn-out will be.

Also, August is the time to finalize plans for your actual SNFS events. Families want to join a thriving organization, and this is clearly a time when “prior planning prevents poor performance.” If everyone knows their role and responsibility, your evening will run like a well-oiled machine. Most importantly, have a fun activity planned for the boys! Boys just want to have FUN!

Will your Cubmaster dye his hair BLUE if your pack meets its recruiting goal? How about that ol’ standby of a pie in the face? Boys love watch-ing grown-ups do something silly! Whatever you choose is up to you, but DO give your scouts an INCENTIVE to invite their friends to join the Scouting fun. Recruit a Friend and WIN! – Win what? Wonderful prizes like camping gear, a Nintendo DS or an iPod, just to name a few. What do you have to do? It’s easy: each scout who recruits a friend to join will earn a Recruiter Patch PLUS be entered into a drawing to win one of these fabulous prizes. The more friends recruited the more chances to win. Pacesetter 2013 – While we’re on the topic of membership recruiting, don’t forget all units can earn the Pacesetter 2013 award by growing your unit by a total of 8 Cub Scouts, or 6 Boy Scouts, Varsity Team members or Venture Crew members. The measurement date is December 31, 2013 as compared to December 31, 2012.

8/4 Catholic Committee on Scouting 8/5 Program Managers 8/6 Fall Webinar #18/7 Fall Webinar #28/7 Popcorn Unit Captains Training #18/8 Popcorn Unit Captains Training #28/9 OA Induction Weekend (CON)8/10 Popcorn Unit Captains Training #38/13 Popcorn Unit Captains Training #48/15 Popcorn Unit Captains Training #58/17 Popcorn Unit Captains Training #68/19 Wood Badge 106 (Philmont)8/20 Coordinated Council Program Committee8/21 Day Camp Committee 2013 Wrap Up8/22 Executive Board 8/22 Fall District Key 3 w/Nominating Committee Chair Orientation8/27 OA Lodge Executive Committee

SCOUTStrong – Physical fitness is a key tenet of scouting, and the SCOUTStrong progam goes hand-in-hand with that. SCOUTStrong encourages both youth and adults to commit to a minimum level of daily activity (60 minutes a day for youth, but grown-ups get off easy with 30 minutes a day) for a period of six out of eight weeks, coupled with adopting a new healthy habit each week. Introducing SCOUTStrong is an element of 2013 Journey to Excellence, and kicking off the program in August or September will make it super easy for those football and band kids to meet the activity criteria. Whenever you choose to start the program, have fun with it.

in August or September will make it super easy for those football andband kids to meet the activity criteria. Whenever you choose to start the program, have fun with it.

QUICK REMINDERSSummertime Pack Award – Wow, the summer has flown by in a flash! Once your August pack activity is done, don’t forget to complete and submit your National Summertime Pack Award application to your District Executive. Plus, any boy who attends all three of your pack’s events can earn a Cub Scout Summertime Activity Award Pin.

Summer Camp Advancements –Those smelly socks are finally washed from summer camp, so take a moment to review where your scouts stand in relation to their merit badges. It is each boy’s responsibility to complete unfinished items, but maybe we can point him in the right direction!

Circle Ten Council Webinar – Want to know the latest news hot off the press? Dial in to this month’s Circle Ten Council’s webinar, highlighting School Night for Scouting, and take advantage of this “high-tech” method of communication.

OA Induction Weekend – OA candidates are invited to seal their membership August 9 – 11 at Camp Constantin.

Be A Scout – Double check your unit’s “pin” on BeAScout.org. You want to ensure your information is up-to-date and accurate so interested families can find you.

District and Unit Websites – In the same vein, take a gander at these websites, too, and make sure your unit is accurately represented.

WB 106 – What better place to experience Wood Badge than out in “God’s country” -- Philmont. Couldn’t make it this year? No worries, Circle Ten Council offers four Wood Badge courses each year, and the August offering is always at Philmont.

Did you know? As originally conceived in 1911, the Boy Scouts' highest rank was WOLF. It was short-lived, however, being replaced with EAGLE just a few months later.

School Night for Scouting – Hopefully, your SNFS was a great success, and all that planning and hard work paid off with an abundance of new scouts in your program. For those who sign up, it’s great to send them off with a neckerchief, slide and/or handbook that night if you can. Every boy likes to have a “take-away” after joining! Sometimes, families attend SNFS but don’t join that night. That’s why it’s so important to capture attendance and contact information right when they walk in the door. For any boy who didn’t join, be sure to follow-up with the family and invite them to a second event. Many packs schedule a fun pack activity for September or early October … a picnic, a BBQ, Cub Scout Olympics, etc. …. a second event falling close on the heels of SNFS. Also, for some young boys, the pack meeting, with all its excitement and noise, can be a bit overwhelming. Invite those families to be your guest at a DEN meeting instead. Recruiting shouldn’t stop with SNFS. Encourage new membership all year long!

Boy Scout RecruitmentNEWSFLASH! NEWSFLASH! Recruiting: IT’S NOT JUST FOR CUB SCOUTS! While Scout troops just love those incoming Webelos, September is a prime time to recruit for BOY SCOUTS at all middle schools. How do you recruit middle school boys? If school access is available, you can use all the tried and true Cub Scout methods of take-home flyers and rallies at the school. If school access is an issue, you’ll need to be more creative. In any event, your best sales force is your current SCOUTS. Find an incentive that will MOTIVATE those boys to invite their friends, neighbors, sports team members, and associates from other clubs and activities. Scoutmasters … you are in the driver’s seat here! Your scouts will respond and follow your lead.

Webelos to Scout TransitionSeptember is usually the time 5th grade scouts start contemplating the world of Boy Scouting. Packs, be sure those 5th grade boys are partici-pating in your District’s Webelos events with the older Boy Scouts. A picture is worth a thousand words, and just camping with a troop gives Webelos and their families a good look at how Boy Scouting is different from Cub Scouting. Pack and Webelos den leaders should encourage all their youth to visit several Boy Scout troops prior to making their selec-tion.

Troops, it’s a great idea to schedule Webelos Open Houses throughout the fall, showcasing your troop to its best advantage and answering the question: “What makes our troop special?” Every troop is unique, and it’s up to you to highlight your troop’s strengths. Troop participation in District events such as a “Webelos Weekend” or “Meet the Troops” event is strongly encouraged.

NEW THIS YEAR: Starting this fall, Webelos II Leaders who successfully cross-over ALL of the youth in their patrol to Boy Scouting will be eligible for a new Webelos Leader Super Achiever patch.

9/2 Labor Day – Offices closed9/4 Investment Committee 9/5 BSA / Mormon Relation- ship Committee 9/5 Rosh Hashanah9/6 OA Fall Fellowship (JR)9/7 Popcorn Kick Off9/7 Popcorn Blitz Week9/7 Popcorn Show & Sell Orders Due @ Kick Off9/7 Trainer’s EDGE9/8 Catholic Committee on Scouting 9/9 Program Managers9/10 Learning for Life Committee 9/11 Trustee's Meeting9/14 Yom Yippur9/15 Venturing Officers Association9/17 Risk Management 9/18 International Committee 9/19 Day Camp 2014 Meeting9/21 Popcorn Show & Sell Orders Pick-up9/24 Membership Committee 9/24 Marketing Committee 9/24 OA Lodge Executive Committee9/25 District Family FOS Chair Orientation9/26 Executive Committee 9/26 Wood Badge 107 (Sabbath Friendly) weekend 1 (JR)

Popcorn Kick-offGet Ready. Get Set. Time to sell, sell, sell. All packs, troops, teams and crews will be canvasing their North Texas and Oklahoma neighborhoods selling awesome gourmet popcorn. The first step to a fantastic sale is to attend the Council Kick-off on Saturday, September 7, and then, follow it with a high-energy kick-off at your own unit. The scouts earn fabulous prizes, have an opportunity to earn scholar-ship funds, and your unit can generate the funds you need to deliver a great Scouting program all year long.

TrainingEvery scout deserves a trained leader. We all say it. We all believe it. But how do we make it happen? It starts with Youth Protection Training, but that’s merely the beginning. All Cub Leader training is available on-line, in both English and Spanish, as well. Most districts provide “in person” training in the fall and spring. These classes offer the opportunity for participants to ask questions and receive personal attention. Certain classes, such as Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (required for Boy Scout leaders) are only offered in person. Look for announcements from your district’s training committee as to what is offered. Because one size rarely fits all, if your district’s schedule doesn’t suit, check out the offerings in nearby districts. You can attend whichever training best works for you! Make training a priority for your unit leaders, and your scouts will reap the benefits.

QUICK REMINDERSDen Size – Just like Goldilocks wanted the chair that was “just right,” dens work best when their size is “just right!” What’s that? Typically 6 – 8 youth makes for a good sized den. Each boy needs opportunities to lead, share his stories, and be first. Too large, and it can be overwhelming, with not enough individual time in the spotlight! Too small and it’s not as much fun. Dens that start out oversized as Tigers leave no room for growth, and often times, boys quit the program when dens get too big. Having a hard time splitting up an oversized den? Ask your District Membership Chair or Unit Commissioner for help.

OA Fall Fellowship – OA members, if you don’t want to miss an opportunity for fun, you won’t want to miss this annual event with fun, games and great fellowship, of course.

WB 107 – “Beautiful Camp James Ray” is host to fall’s Wood Badge course. Usually, there are last minute openings, so if you can make it this month, don’t hesitate! You’ll be glad you did.

10/6 Outdoor Expo10/6 Catholic Committee on Scouting 10/7 Program Managers 10/8 Learning for Life Committee 10/11 OA Induction Weekend (WIS, JR)10/17 Day Camp Committee 10/17 Wood Badge 107 (Sabbath Friendly) weekend 2 (JR)10/18 Parent & Pal (WIS)10/19 Jamboree on the Air10/22 OA Lodge Executive Committee10/23 Communications Committee 10/24 Executive Board 10/24 District Operations 10/24 District Commissioners 10/25 Popcorn All Orders Due10/25 Show & Sell Popcorn $$ Due10/28 Popcorn Units turn in Top 5 Salesmen, Fill It Up Sheets, Trail’s End Scholarship Forms10/29 Coordinated Council Program Committee

Having a hard time getting parents involved? Ask someone individually for their HELP with a specific task rather than making a broadcast announcement to the group. Many hands make light work, so asking lots of people to do a small part is one way to get the job done and everyone involved.

Outdoor Expo – Circle Ten Council’s Outdoor Expo kicks off the month on Sunday, October 6. All units and families are invited to a fun filled afternoon. Circle Ten Council’s Summer Camp programs will be high-lighted along with all BSA National High Adventure Camps (Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier and The Summit). Learn about exciting activities and outdoor programs here in Circle Ten Council: COPE and climbing at Camp Wisdom and Camp Trevor Rees Jones, horseback riding at Camp Trevor Rees-Jones, water activities galore at Camp Constantin Jack D. Furst Aquatics Base, and you won’t want to miss the 140 foot water slide at beautiful Camp James Ray. Representatives will be on hand to talk about outdoor training opportuni-ties, including National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) through Circle Ten Council, National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) through Philmont and the adult leader Wood Badge courses. Starting 2012, NYLT is open to both Boy Scouts aged 13 or over and Venturers (co-ed).

Also featured will be the Webelos Resident Camp program and 2014’s theme will be revealed! With sellout sessions every year, registering early is a good idea!

There will be games and activities for youth of all ages, and siblings are welcome. Our four legged friends from Trevor Rees Jones (the horses!) will pay us a visit and patiently stand for petting and photo ops. Also, get your Dutch Ovens ready for the 2nd Annual Circle Ten Council Dutch Oven Dessert contest. Adult and youth contestants are welcome.

The big door prize: win a free week for a patrol or den at a Circle Ten Council camp for summer 2014. It’s fun. Just come.

Parent & Pal: Pumpkin Chunkin’ WeekendJust how far CAN you chunk a pumpkin? To find the answer to this compelling question, come to this action-packed weekend camping experience for Cub Scouts and their parent at Cub World at Camp Wisdom. This is a great weekend at a “REAL” Scout camp, doing all the things Cub Scouts love to do: shooting BB guns, archery, hiking, paint-ball slingshots, hitting targets with ancient projectiles (rocks), games and campfires. Let’s not forget the main event: Chunkin’ that Pumpkin as far as it will go! This is the perfect “introductory” campout for new or inexpe-rienced campers, and a good time for all. What do you need to do? Sign-up and show-up. All meals and program are provided, just bring your tent and personal gear. This is ALWAYS a big hit with the boys.

District Cub EventsWhether you call it Cuboree or Cube or Cub Scout FUN Day, it’s an event your pack will enjoy. Ask most Cubs what they like most about scouting, and the answer will be shooting BB guns and bows and arrows. District level Cub events allow the boys to do just that and more! A good time is guaranteed for all, regardless of weather (boys like playing in the rain!). Look for announcements from your District as to what they have planned for you. Can’t attend that one? Check out similar events at nearby Districts.

Many Districts hold an exclusive Tiger event as a fantastic way to start off their Cub Scout experience. Search out the Tiger event in your district and round up those first-graders to attend. It’s a great aid to retention, gets the parents involved and starts our newest members bonding with the scouting experience.

Awards, Anyone? Volunteers are the lifeblood of scouting, and we need to recognize volunteers for all their hard work and dedication. If you know of deserving individuals, please take a moment to nominate them for awards, such as the District Award of Merit or the Silver Beaver Award.

Day of Service – “Do a Good Turn Daily” is the Boy Scout Slogan, and as part of the Circle Ten Council Centennial Celebration, all units and districts are encouraged to designate a “day of service” to give back to their communities.

Quick RemindersKeep up the recruiting effort! Every boy who joins is a boy who’ll enjoy all the fun and benefits of the scouting program. Please continue to beat the bushes and follow-up on any boy who visited your recruiting events but hasn’t joined yet. If every den added “just one more boy,” we’d bring the promise of scouting to a lot more youth in our communities.

Packs – By October, your dens should be up and running. Touch base with leaders and parents to make sure all is going well. Your Unit Commissioner can help if you have a den that is struggling. Your District Training Team can help as well.

Bobcat Ceremony – Any boy new to Cub Scouting earns BOBCAT as his first rank. This is a great time to make the ceremony special, a lasting memory of Cub Scouts. No need to re-create the wheel, there are TONS of great ceremonies online. Just “Google” Bobcat Ceremony!

Training – October is a key month for many District in-person training events. Participants are welcome from ANY district, so let your fingers do the walking through the Council and District websites to find training that suits your schedule.

Popcorn – Orders are due on October 25. Don’t forget to place your popcorn prize order at the same time.

Order of the Arrow – check with your district chapter for OA Induction Weekend dates and locations.

Jamboree on the Air – JOTA allows scouts from all over the world to connect through amateur ham radio stations. Last year, over 700,000 scouts participated world-wide. It's a great way to make new friends in faraway lands.

11/1 Powder Horn Weekend #111/3 Catholic Committee on Scouting 11/4 Program Managers 11/5 Advisory Board 11/8 Powder Horn Weekend #211/9 Big D Fleur-de-lis11/9 OA Lodge Leadership Development Conference11/11 Veteran’s Day11/12 Learning for Life Committee 11/14 Day Camp Committee 11/14 Sporting Clays Invitational11/16 Popcorn Pick Up11/19 Executive Committee 11/19 Membership Committee 11/19 Marketing Committee 11/19 OA Annual Business 11/21 FOS Chair Orientation11/27 Hanukkah begins11/28 Thanksgiving – Offices closed11/29 Thanksgiving – Offices closed

Did you know? In 1910, at the inception of the Boy Scouts of America, there were 57 merit badges offered. Today, the number of merit badges has grown to 131.

Powder Horn – Want to bring excitement and high adventure to your Boy Scout troop or Venture crew? Powder Horn training will show you how to do just that! Adults and youth over 14 are welcome to attend this two weekend training course. Powder Horn teaches you to find the resources to deliver a top-notch high adventure program to your unit, regardless of how big or small your troop or crew may be. THINK BIG! THINK ADVENTURE! THINK POWDER HORN!

Big D Fleur-de-Lis – What’s that you ask? In connection with Circle Ten Council’s Centennial Celebration, we’re going for the record books! On November 9th, Circle Ten Council aims to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest aluminum can fleur-de-lis sculpture in the world. A fleur-de-lis stencil will be marked-out at Fair Park, measuring over 330 feet in diameter. All we need to do is collect and bring the crushed aluminum cans to fill it. How many cans? At least 1,000,000! That’s right, ONE MILLION. All cans will be weighed in as they arrive, and awards will be given for the most cans collected, by weight, at the individual, unit and district levels. Best of all: at the end of the day, all of these cans will be recycled! Fame, if not fortune, awaits!

Winter Camp – Why should camp just be for summer? Wouldn’t it be nice to camp when it’s not HOT? The snakes will be hibernating, and you won’t miss the mosquitoes, will you? If we are singing your tune, then Circle Ten Council Winter Camp is for you. Winter Camp 2013 will be at Trevor Rees-Jones (Boy Scouts) and Camp Miesenbach (Venture crews) on December 27 - 31. The boys love it; it’s another opportunity to earn merit badges and work towards advancement, parents get some peace and quiet during winter break …what’s not to like?

Popcorn – The fruit of all your labor is HERE! Popcorn pick-up is Satur-day, November 16! Check Circle Ten Council’s or your District’s website for details of when and where your unit should pick-up their popcorn. Following close behind, the popcorn money (net of commission) is due on Friday, December 6.

Quick RemindersPinewood Derby- The racing season is rapidly approaching. Time to brush up on the rules, and get working on those cars!

Roster Review – As we approach the end of the Council year, it’s important to make sure our membership rosters are as accurate as possible. Please provide your District the information requested in a timely manner.

Advancement check – Now is a good time for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts to review youth progress towards advancement and make sure everyone is on track.

University of Scouting – Registration opens this month. This literally is a ONCE A YEAR opportunity for great training. Classes do fill up, so registering early helps you get your first choice, plus, you get a discounted price!

Recharter -- Recharter season starts in December. Those units rechartering in December (including all LDS units) can get started with updating their records in November! Recharter can be a chore, and like all chores, it’s best to just … get ‘er done! Your Unit Commissioner can help.

Journey to Excellence – All unit JTE Scorecards are due with the unit recharter. Most of the JTE Scorecard can be completed in advance, so you can get this done and off your plate before December’s holiday season.

FOS Presentations – It’s that time again … time to SCHEDULE the date for your unit’s 2014 Friends of Scouting presentation. Your District Family FOS Chair or Executive will be calling to get your date on the calendar.

12/1 Catholic Committee on Scouting 12/2 Program Managers 12/4 Investment Committee 12/5 Council Annual Business 12/5 District Key 3 Goal Setting 12/6 OA Induction Weekend (TRJ)12/6 Popcorn Money Due12/7 Commissioners Retreat12/10 Learning for Life Committee 12/10 Risk Management 12/11 Trustee's Meeting12/12 BSA / Mormon Relationship Committee 12/14 Chill-O-Ree (WIS)12/24 Christmas Eve – Offices closed12/25 Christmas – Offices closed12/26 NYLT Session 6 @ JR12/27 Winter Camp12/29 Venturing Officers Association

In this, it's 100th year, Circle Ten Council anticipates awarding the rank of Eagle Scout for the 30,000th time. Who will be the lucky scout?

Chill-O-Ree – ScoutReach youth will get to “chill out” at the Chill-O-Ree, December 14th, at Camp Wisdom. New Cubs will have an opportunity to earn their Bobcat badge. The day’s fun includes shooting BB guns at the Fort Farrington, arrows at the Indian Village, firing paintballs with sling-shots, fishing, food and so much more.

Winter Camp – It’s not too late to register for WINTER CAMP. Boys love camping, and Circle Ten Council’s winter camp provides another opportu-nity for a premium outdoor experience: adventure, merit badges, and no mosquitoes! With Texas winters, you never know what the weather will bring, but nice temperatures are always a blessing, and if cold, it’s an opportunity to earn the exclusive POLAR BEAR camping and POLAR BEAR swim awards. Winter Camp 2013 will be at Trevor Rees-Jones (Boy Scouts) and Camp Miesenbach (Venture crews) on December 27 – 31, 2013. Don’t have enough youth at your unit to go? Join forces with another unit or two. We’ll find a way to make sure EVERY YOUTH who wants to attend can do so.

NYLT – Another alternative for winter outdoor adventure is this session of BSA’s National Youth Leadership Training course running from Decem-ber 26 – 31 at beautiful Camp James Ray. Youth aged 13+ are invited. NYLT focuses on teaching leadership concepts youth can utilize in all aspects of their lives: home, school, church, troop/crew, and community. The outdoor experience and the patrol method are center stage as participants work in small groups to accomplish team objectives. The winter element may add to the challenge as they learn leadership skills while braving the cold December winds off Lake Texoma. NYLT is very well received by youth, and for many, it ranks as one of their favorite Scouting experiences.

NAYLE – If your scouts loved NYLT, now is the time to sign-up for the next step: National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience at Philmont Scout Ranch. Typically, six summer sessions, of one week each, are held and registration is through Philmont. NAYLE is open to youth aged 14+ (co-ed); NYLT is a pre-requisite.

Advancement – The school year is flying by, and the holiday break gives our youth a bit of “extra” time to work on advancements. For Cub Scouts, den leaders can check each youth’s progress towards rank, outline what’s needed to be finished in time for the Blue and Gold, and suggest to the scout and his parents they can work on those items over the holiday. For Boy Scouts, not only can merit badges be earned at winter camp, but a break from homework allows scouts a bit more time to wrap up loose ends on open blue cards or progress toward the next rank.

Recharter – Recharter season starts in December. This mandatory paperwork exercise for all units is to verify membership for both youth and adults. In Circle Ten Council, every unit will complete their recharter

during one of three months: December, January, or February. (Note: December recharters include all LDS units, Exploring Posts and the Texoma Valley District).

There are lots of resources for help, from your Unit Commissioner to information and tutorials on both the Circle Ten Council website and scouting.org. All recharter paper-work needs to be signed by unit representatives and by the executive officer or institu-tional head of your chartered organization. The good news: it’s really not difficult to do, and you only have to do it once a year! Thank you in advance for attending to this annual task.

Journey to Excellence – Hand in hand with the recharter paperwork is the Journey to Excellence Scorecard. While the scorecard may look complicated, it really isn’t. The time period covered is your unit’s recharter year, and even if your recharter year ends in January or February 2014, you still need to use the 2013 form. Your Unit Commissioner can assist you with this completing the scorecard. We have so many excellent units in Circle Ten Council, I’m sure the bronze, silver, and gold will come rolling in!

Quick RemindersPopcorn – You sold it, you delivered it and now you get to pay for it! That’s right, popcorn money, net of commission, is due to Circle Ten Council by Friday, December 6. Payments received after that date will receive reduced commission.

Pinewood Derby – Sawdust is in the air as boys are working on their pinewood derby cars. Race season is around the corner. Check out the movie: “DOWN AND DERBY”. It’s a “classic” by this point, but still a fun one to watch.

Roster Review – Think of it as “winter” cleaning. Twice a year, Circle Ten Council conducts “housekeeping” by verifying membership on all units. This is important as we want ALL our members to be properly recorded on the BSA National roster. Please provide your District the information requested in a timely manner.

University of Scouting – Advance registration closes mid-month (please check Circle Ten Council’s website for the exact date). Not only does advance registration save you money, but it gives you a better selection of classes. This is the ONE AND ONLY time a year many of these specialized classes are offered. You don’t want to miss it. Please promote this opportunity to all your leaders.

Trainer’s EDGE – If every youth deserves a trained leader, then all leaders deserve a trained TRAINER. If you are volunteering as a trainer (NYLT, Wood Badge, University of Scouting, or at District or Council level training events), please take advantage of this course. It’s a full day, but it’s offered four times a year by Circle Ten Council, and is designed to help us deliver the best training we can to our volunteers. This course is open to youth (over 13), and they may find it helpful in realms outside of scouting, too!

Order of the Arrow – There is a Mikanakawa Lodge Induction weekend on December 6 – 8 at Camp Trevor Rees-Jones.

1/1 New Year’s Day Offices Closed1/4 University of Scouting1/5 Catholic Committee on Scouting 1/6 Program Managers1/12 OA Lodge Banquet 1/14 Table Host Orientation (Dallas)1/15 Camp Card Chair Orientation1/16 Table Host Orientation (Fairview)1/18 Day Camp Workshop1/20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Offices closed1/21 Learning for Life Committee 1/21 Membership Committee 1/22 Communications Committee 1/23 Executive Committee 1/24 Wood Badge 108 (Weekend 1) (WIS)1/28 OA Lodge Executive Committee1/30 Coordinated Council Program CommitteeProgram Committee

Question: What item of archeologi-cal significance was discovered in 1983 at Philmont Scout Ranch?

Answer: A full foot-print of the mighty T-Rex! In 2009, a second track was discovered nearby, show-ing a 6 foot stride for the giant dinosaur. These are the only confirmed T-Rex footprints in the world.

University of Scouting – We’ll see you bright and early on the morning of Saturday, January 4, 2014. Doors open at 7:00 a.m., and if you get there early, you’ll have time to enjoy some coffee and fellowship with scouter friends before the first bell. The day will be jam-packed with interesting courses on all aspects of scouting: Cubs, Boy Scouts, Varsity, Venturing, PLUS specialized courses for Commissioners and messages from BSA National and our own leaders here in Circle Ten Council. Clearly, it is a day NOT to be missed. Walk-ins are welcome, although class selection will be limited to space available.

District Dinners – The District Dinner is an annual event to celebrate Scouting success at the district level. Please check your individual district’s website for details. Traditionally, those youth attaining the rank of Eagle during the past calendar year are recognized, and unit and district awards are announced. It’s a nice evening. Come on out and applaud those Eagles.

Order of the Arrow Lodge Dinner – All OA members are invited to Circle Ten Council’s Mikanakawa Lodge annual awards banquet scheduled for January 12. Accomplishments of Order of the Arrow youth, chapters and the Lodge are recognized and celebrated.

Recharter – January is our 2nd of three “recharter months.” Turn back a month, and read all about it. Districts with their recharters due this month are: Blackland Prairie, East Trinity Trails, Five Trails, Golden Arrow, Northern Lights, Southern Star, Tejas Caddo, Tonkawa and Wisdom Trail.

Youth Protection Training – BSA places the greatest importance on creating the most secure environment possible for our youth members. All registered leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training (available at myscouting.org), and training is current for 2 years. However, this training is available to anyone, and BSA encourages all parents to take YPT even if they aren’t registered leaders. Not only does being aware of the BSA standards help everyone be sure we are following them, but parents can use these concepts as a means of evaluating other activities their child particiaptes in. Don’t forget: if you’re going to a Council or District long-term camp in Texas (Winter or Summer Camp, NYLT, Day Camp, Webelos Resident Camp), all leaders need Face-to-Face Youth Protection Training.

Quick RemindersDay Camp Workshop – Day Camp may seem like it’s half a year away, but it will be here before we know it. Make sure your District’s Day Camp Chair and other key personnel attend the Day Camp Workshop on January 18.

FOS Table Host Orientation – One of our Council’s biggest fundraising events of the year is the annual Friends of Scouting dinner held in late February/early March. Orientation and training for table hosts will be held on Tuesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 16.

Wood Badge 108 – Another Wood Badge course kicks off this month, with Wood Badge 108 scheduled to commence Friday, January 24, at Camp Wisdom. Wood Badge is the premier adult leadership training offered by the BSA. Plus, it’s FUN! Just ask anyone who’s been.

2/1 Report to the State2/1 Wood Badge Reunion2/2 Scout Sunday2/2 Catholic Committee on Scouting 2/3 Program Managers 2/4 Advisory Board 2/5 Camp Card Coach Orientation2/5 International Committee 2/7 Wood Badge 108 weekend 2 (WIS)2/8 Scouting Anniversary Day2/8 Scout Sabbath2/8 Scouting for Food Bag Drop2/15 Scouting for Food Bag Pick-Up2/17 President’s Day – Offices closed2/18 Learning for Life Committee 2/19 Table Host Report Meeting2/20 New Board Orientation2/20 Executive Board 2/20 District Operations 2/20 District Commissioners 2/20 Day Camp Committee 2/21 OA Pow Wow2/23 Venturing Officers Association2/25 OA Lodge Executive Committee2/27 Camp Card Kickoff2/27 BSA / Mormon Relationship Committee 2/27 Investment Committee 2/28 OA Induction Weekend (WIS)

Scout Sunday & Scout Sabbath –This month’s Scout Sunday and Scout Sabbath, scheduled for February 2nd and 8th, respectively, give units an opportunity to focus attention on the twelfth point of the Scout Law, “A Scout is Reverent.” All units are encouraged to coordinate with their chartered organization, incorporate appropriate activities to their February calendars, and focus the month on a scout’s duty to God.

Scouting for Food – Another highlight for this “short” month is BSA’s national food drive. Partnering with Tom Thumb grocery stores, Circle Ten Council’s annual canned food drive has historically been a big success, and an act of service to families in need in our own communi-ties. Your district website will have the details, and the dates are set for Saturday, February 8th and 15th. Get your whole unit involved and see how much good we can do when we all work together.

Camp Cards -- Sshh. It’s a secret! Don’t let anyone know selling Circle Ten Council Camp Cards is like having a money printing press hidden in your basement! Seriously, the Camp Card fundraiser has proven to be an incredible success for our Council, raising $500,000 for Circle Ten Council and an equal amount to benefit youth in our units last year. Thanks to our partner, Kroger grocery stores, each $5 discount card has a $5 tear-away coupon good at Kroger, resulting in a net cost of zero to the purchaser. Proceeds are split down the middle between the unit and Council. This is a win-win fundraiser, and customers are encouraged to purchase multiple cards for their own use. The $5 Kroger coupon is valid for 21 weeks, through July 31, 2014, and all the other great discounts on the card are valid through the end of the year.

How can you learn more? Camp Card Orientation is on February 5. Encourage units to THINK BIG and be sure to request PLENTY of cards. Similar to last year, the official sign-up for unit sales outside Kroger stores will be coordinated through the Circle Ten Council’s website. (Please do not contact individual local Kroger store managers directly.)

Camp Card sales officially kick-off on March 3 and run through May 9. This is an “easy sell” if ever there was one. Be sure your unit is taking advantage of this AWESOME opportunity.

Happy Birthday BSA – February 8th marks the 104th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Take advantage of this great excuse to celebrate and serve cake at a unit meeting this month. Everyone loves birthday cake, right?

Recharter – This is the last recharter month, and by the end of February, we can all breathe a collective sigh of relief and put this annual task on the DONE list. Flip back to December for some helpful hints on the recharter process. Districts with recharters due this month are: Cimarron, Duck Creek, Eagle Trail, Eastern Skies, Iron Horse, Lone Star, Mustang, North Star, Northern Trail, Southern Star, Texas Skies, Trinity Woods, and West Park.

During 2013's Scouting for Food campaign, Circle Ten Council scouts and scouters collected over 360,000 cans of food to benefit local food pantries. Let's challenge each other to leave that record in the dust this year!

Friends of Scouting – The date for the annual FOS dinner is set for March 6, and this year’s particulars can be found on the Circle Ten Council’s website. Our guest speaker is always a treat, and once more we’ll enjoy the sweet sounds of Circle Ten Council’s own EAGLE BAND (Crew 1913), now in its second year. The FOS dinner is a major fundraiser for our council, and proceeds support scouting for underprivileged youth, fund camp maintenance and improvements, and provide overall operating budget support.

Order of the Arrow Pow Wow – Every year, Mikanakawa Lodge hosts an Order of the Arrow Pow Wow to foster fun and fellowship in the Brotherhood of Cheerful Service. This year’s Pow Wow will be held February 21 – 23 at Camp Wisdom. Encourage your troop’s OA members to join in the fun: shotgun competition, rifle shooting, tomahawk throw, and Lodge ball. Other activities include an OA Ceremony Team competition, making your own regalia, and quite the feast Saturday night.

Quick RemindersJourney to Excellence – As we embark on the new charter year, it’s a good idea to peek at the 2014 Journey to Excellence scorecard NOW to see what has changed for the year. The JTE quality unit program is “tweaked” each year to reflect current trends and situations. Being aware of any NEW JTE criteria will give you a head start on achieving GOLD status.

Venturing Officer’s Association Meeting – Lots of times the VOA does fun activities at their meetings. All Circle Ten Council crews should send at least one representative.

Trainer’s EDGE – Youth and adult leaders have another opportunity in March to participate in this full-day course, designed to enhance presen-tation skills. Co-ed youth over 13 and all adult leaders are welcome.

Wood Badge Reunion – Calling all Critters! All Wood Badgers and their families are invited to our annual Wood Badge Reunion scheduled for Saturday, February 1st, 2014 at Camp Wisdom. A fun time for all. Hope to see you and your red jacket there.

OA Induction Weekend – OA Brothers and newly called out candidates, head to Camp Wisdom and participate in the OA Ordeal and Induction weekend February 28 to March 2. Together we can do so much to fulfill our promise of service, and what better place than the camp and camp-sites of beautiful Camp Wisdom.

3/1 Trainer’s EDGE3/2 Catholic Committee on Scouting 3/3 Program Managers 3/6 FOS Dinner*3/8 Fish & Fun Day (TRJ)3/9 NYLT - Session 1 @ JR3/12 Trustee's Meeting 3/18 Learning for Life Committee 3/18 Risk Management 3/19 Summer Camp Leaders 3/20 District Popcorn Chair Orientation 3/20 Summer Camp Leaders 3/24 Summer Camp Leaders 3/25 Executive Committee Meeting w/Charter Renewal3/25 Membership Committee 3/25 Marketing Committee 3/25 OA Lodge Executive Committee3/26 Day Camp Committee 3/27 Coordinated Council Program Committee

Date tentative. Please verify the finalized date at www.circle10.org

Fish-n-Fun Day –Catfish and bass beware, aspiring fishermen from Circle Ten Council’s ScoutReach program will invade the lakes of Trevor Rees-Jones Scout Reservation, all looking to catch “THE BIG ONE!” Will it be you? You won’t know if you don’t go. This year’s fishing fun will be on March 8th. Fishing isn’t the only fun…there’s horseback riding, BB gun shooting, archery, hiking, and some good eats – all enjoyed in the great outdoors. Who could ask for anything more?

National Youth Leadership Training Don’t have exciting vacation plans for spring break? No worries, travel to beautiful Camp James Ray and make NYLT your vacation. NYLT is a six-day outdoor leadership training course for young men & women ages 13+, centering on the troop and patrol method in an outdoor setting designed to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience. It will be the best spring break ever!

Summer Camp Leaders MeetingBoy Scout leaders, please join us on either of March 19, 20 or 24 to learn about the exciting summer camp programs offered at Circle Ten Council Boy Scout Camps. Whether you are planning to dive into the adventure at Possum Kingdom Lake (Camp Constantin), corral your Scouts at the Trevor Rees Jones Scout Reservation, or slide down the water slide at beautiful Camp James Ray, you can’t afford to miss this meeting. We have an AWESOME summer planned for your boys.

*

Have you noticed the NEW myscouting.org page? BSA is working on a complete renovation of the on-line tools available to volunteers, units, district, and of course, councils. I know what you're thinking! About time! Rome wasn't built in a day, so new applications are being added all the time. Take a few minutes and let your fingers do the walking through this new site, and discover all the things you can do .... such as input training records, update roster information, personalize your unit calendar and unit messages. As with the "old" MyScouting, access to the toolbox is dictated by your unit position and linked to your BSA ID number.

Quick RemindersTrainer’s EDGE – Here’s one more chance to take this full-day course designed to train the trainer! Youth over 13 and adults are welcome. This is a pre-requisite for staffing Wood Badge and NYLT, but anyone who just wants to improve their presentation skills is welcome.

Cub Scout Day Camp – Day Camp Directors and key personnel, please put March 26th on your calendar for the monthly Day Camp meeting. When we all put our heads together, we can accomplish great things!

Camp Card Sales – Sales kick-off on March 3, and you don’t want to be left at the starting gate. These cards sell faster than ice water in the desert!

District Popcorn Chair Meeting – District Popcorn Chairs unite! This meeting on March 7 will help you get the fall popcorn fundraiser going in your District. You never know what might be new this year, so please make every effort to attend. Guess what: they’ll probably be serving popcorn!

4/3 FOS Report Meeting #14/5 OA Vigil4/6 Catholic Committee on Scouting 4/7 Program Managers 4/9 Popcorn Coach Orientation 4/10 Council Annual Banquet Eagle Recognition 4/11 Camp Staff Training Weekend (WIS)4/11 Venturing Rendezvous (WIS)4/11 Wood Badge 109 weekend 1 (TRJ)4/12 Venturing Officers Association4/15 Learning for Life Committee 4/16 Day Camp Committee 4/16 International Committee 4/18 Good Friday – Offices closed4/21 Character Camp - Week 14/22 Popcorn Sneak Peek #14/22 OA Lodge Executive Committee4/23 Communications Committee 4/24 Executive Board 4/24 District Operations 4/24 District Commissioners 4/24 Popcorn Sneak Peek #24/24 Webelos Leaders Meeting4/25 OA Section Conclave4/25 Parent & Pal (TRJ)4/25 Wood Badge 109 weekend 2 (TRJ)4/28 Character Camp - Week 24/29 School Night for Scouting Training4/30 Investment Committee

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mmittee Did you know? Of the 294 US astronauts, more than 180 had been Boy Scouts in their youth, and of those, 40 are Eagle Scouts. Eleven of the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon were Boy Scouts.

Venturing Rendezvous – There’s Cuboree for the Cubs and Camporee for the Boy Scouts, but what do the Venturers have? VENTURERS HAVE RENDEVOUS. And it is FANTASTIC. All Circle Ten Council crews should plan on attending, April 11 - 13, at Camp Wisdom. Back by popular demand, shooting Sports abound, with pistol, rifle, black powder projectiles (pistols, rifles and shotguns) provided. Other fun activities include archery, mountain biking, tomahawk throwing, climbing and a functional foundry! All of this is topped off with the Saturday evening pot-luck feast and the overall fun fellowship with other crews! Don’t miss it!

Circle Ten Council Banquet – Everyone is invited to the annual Circle Ten Council Awards banquet, honoring 2013’s Eagle Scouts and Silver Beaver recipients. The banquet will be held at the Plano Centre, April 10, 2014.

Parent & Pal Western Days– Cub Scouts just want to have fun, and who can blame them. If you want to have fun, too, then join the crowd for Circle Ten Council Parent & Pal Western Days, April 25 – 27, at Trevor Rees-Jones. Cub Scouts and their parents will have nothing but fun doing the perennial favorites of BB’s, archery, fishing, paintball slingshots, and of course, reliving the Ol’ West on horseback. You won’t want to miss it.

Wood Badge – Wood Badge 109 kicks off this month at Camp Trevor Rees-Jones. Every year, Circle Ten Council offers four Wood Badge courses, three of which are held at Circle Ten Council camps, and one of which is held at Philmont in August. Not only is the course a premier experience in adult leadership training, it’s a bunch of fun for the grown-ups, too.

Camp Staff Training – With thousands of eager campers signed up for Boy Scout summer camp at Circle Ten Council camps, it’s important to for the staff to have current training. The weekend of April 11 - 13 is scheduled for summer camp staff training at Camp Wisdom. All staff should plan on attending this session. Bring your personal camping gear, but meals will be on us.

Character Camp – Annually, thousands school aged boys and girls from Circle Ten Council’s Learning for Life program attend Character Camp: a fun-filled day of outdoor adventure over the course of two weeks. This year, Character Camp will be held at Camp Wisdom from April 21 to May 2. Extra volunteers are always welcome, so let us know if you can help out!

Quick RemindersOrder of the Arrow – The Mikanakawa Lodge will hold its Vigil Weekend on April 5, 2014 at Camp Constatin. Congratualtions to the Vigil Candidates!

Day Camp Meeting – Cub Scout Day camp is only 2 months away, so everyone is in the thick of their planning. This month’s meeting is on April 16.

School Night for Scouting Training – All District Chairs, District Commissioners, and District membership Chairs are invited to attend this very important meeting, April 29, focusing on elements related to a successful unit School Night for Scouting. Membership is the lifeblood of our organization, and Circle Ten Council wants every unit to have a well-planned, energetic and successful campaign. Make sure your District is well represented.

Attending camp in Texas? If so, don’t forget the great state of Texas requires Face-to-Face Youth Protection Training for ALL volunteers.

5/1 Webelos Leaders Meeting5/2 OA Induction Weekend (TRJ, CON, JR)5/4 Catholic Committee on Scouting 5/5 Program Managers 5/6 Advisory Board 5/7 Popcorn Unit Captains 5/8 FOS Report Meeting #25/9 Camp Card Sale Ends5/10 Council Swim Check (WIS)5/20 Learning for Life Committee 5/20 Membership Committee 5/20 Marketing Committee 5/21 National Meeting - Nashville, TN5/22 Coordinated Council Program Committee5/23 Camp Card – Money and unsold cards due5/29 Executive Committee

Most troops involve the Scouts (PLC or the whole troop) in the selection "next year's" activities. One easy way to get the discussion going is to make a separate page for each idea and just put a photo (you can find pictures of almost anything on Google Images!) and a title. For example, hiking, biking, scuba, horseback riding, fishing, shooting sports, caving, climbing, skiing, boating, train trip, cardboard boats, and you get the idea. Include your troop's favorites and add some things the scouts have never done before. A picture is worth a thousand words, and just seeing the ideas posted all along the wall will spark interest and discussion.

Program Preview – Can you believe it, it’s been a whole year since we did this, and now it’s time to start afresh. Program Preview 2014 will be held at each District’s Roundtable meeting this month. Please be sure all your units are invited and plan to attend.

Order of the Arrow – The OA has been busy all winter conducting elections at the troops, and many youth were “called out” at their District spring Camporee. This month’s OA Induction Weekend is the first opportunity for newly nominated OA members (youth and adult) to complete their ordeal to seal their membership. Which chapter you belong to will dictate which camp you go to for your ordeal.

Pack Graduation - As the school year ends, all Cub Scouts get promoted to the next rank and can begin working on their new Handbook as soon as the final bell rings. Many packs celebrate this transition with a "gradu-ation" ceremony and make a nice fuss over handing out new necker-chiefs, slides and program handbooks. Whether at a special meeting, a picnic at the park or just your regularly scheduled pack meeting, take the time to mark this event and make it special.

Summertime Pack Activities - The key to keeping boys in the program is to keep the program going for the boys. Don't let Scouting be out of sight, out of mind for your boys. It's easy to qualify for the National Summertime Pack Activity award, you just have to hold a pack activity in each of the summer months. Boys and their families will stay connected with the pack, and everyone will have a good time. National Meeting – BSA’s National meeting will be held May 21 – 23 in Nashville, Tennessee, so attending will require travel this year.

Spring Recruiting – The month of May is a great time to focus pack efforts on membership recruiting. Current Kindergarteners will be official 1st graders in just a matter of weeks, so it is the perfect time to form new Tiger Cub dens. Packs are encouraged to host recruiting events at both the pack and den levels, and while it’s clearly important to reach out to the Tigers-to-be, let’s not forget those Wolves, Bears and even Webelos who may have missed out on Cub Scouting so far.

Cub Scout Day Camp or Twilight Camp – Visit your District web-site and roundtables for details on Cub Scout Day or Twilight Camp. Encour-age your units to consider attending a nearby district’s Day Camp if they have schedule conflicts. Cub Scout Day Camp is typically held during the month of June. Make a special effort to get any new Cub Scouts recruited in the spring to Day/Twilight Camp so they start their Cub Scouting experience off with a bang!

Webelos Resident Camp – Webelos Resident Camp is the first opportu-nity for “sleep-away” camp in Cub Scouting. Fourth and fifth grade boys enjoy the greater independence and new experiences of an outdoor adventure with registered leaders, and typical “camp” activities, a mix of working toward advancements and just old fashioned fun. Webelos Resident Camp will once again be held at BEAUTIFUL Camp James Ray. Each of the June or July sessions runs for 4 days and 3 nights. Webelos Resident Camp is a sell-out every year, so be sure to make your reserva-tions early. Details can be found at the Circle Ten Council website and reservations are available through Camp Master.

Boy Scout Summer Camp – What would Boy Scouting be without summer camp? The week long summer camping experience is a treasured memory for your scouts. Whether you are going to one of the Circle Ten Council camps or visiting another council, what matters most is that all scouts get to go to camp. Please let your District Camping Committee know if you have youth who can’t attend your unit’s planned camp but who still want to attend summer camp. Working together we can make sure all boys get to camp.

Quick RemindersCamp Cards – All units need to turn in their unsold camp cards and money, net of commission, by May 23. Tardy turn-ins result in a reduced commission rate.

Popcorn Coach Orientation – Fundraising is a yearlong affair, and as we close out our camp card promotion, it’s time to gear up for the fall popcorn sale. Unit level Popcorn Captains should plan on attending an orientation meeting on May 7th.

Journey to Excellence – Packs, be aware the Pack Scorecard rewards having leadership identified for the upcoming year by May 31.

Venturing Officers Association – Come check out the meeting and our monthly activity. Fun WILL be had.