Dining Hall  On November 15^th the Council Executive Board approved to begin a capital campaign to build a dining hall at Knox Scout reservation. The approval allows the council to raise up to $1,750,000 for the project, and all funds raised will be used specifically on the dining hall project. The goal is to raise the money and have the dining hall opened no later than summer camp 2020, our council’s 100^th anniversary. The campaign is still being developed, but one phase of the campaign will allow Scouters who want to contribute to do so at the $1,000 and $2,500 levels. Donations by Scouters at these levels will be recognized with your name on a plaque in the completed building.

Journey to Excellence   The council is currently ranked Silver in the national Journey to Excellence scorecard. We finished October with 1,625 points, ranked 2^nd in total points in Area 5. Of the 17 categories, we finished October showing improvement in 14 of them compared to 2016. We project we will end the year ranked Silver, with points in nearly every category.

The Creek River and Kiokee River districts are also both ranked Silver in October, with Yamasee showing improvement, but not yet ranked.

As we come closer to the end of the year, I encourage every unit to complete their unit Journey to Excellence report. This is a valuable tool in helping unit leaders and committee’s identify strengths and opportunities to improve their unit operation. Your Unit Commissioner or District Executive will be happy to help you if you need assistance. 

JTE Scores

Ranger Crew Day  A camp improvement day has been set for December 9^th at Knox Scout Reservation. The projects we plan to work on that day include:

Ceiling rifle range

Doors and frame rifle range

Work firebreak (bike trail)

Pick up wood debris (ecology)

Build fire ring (ecology)

Fix arrow and paint

Finish painting gate at waterfront

Clear brush at amphitheater

A complete list of camp projects can be found on the camp pages of the website.

2018 Camp Operations We are currently taking applications for staff at Knox Scout reservation for the 2018 season. This is a great opportunity for Scouts and Scouters to spend part of your summer at camp, and still have time to do summer activities later in the summer. The staff application is on the camp webpage, or follow this link.

In addition, all units that have registered to attend camp prior to March 31^st will get a free t-shirt for all campers that attend this year. This year’s registration will be completed online. Every in-council unit has a unit log-in username and password. If your unit has not received yours please contact the council office. When you log into the website, you will then be able to select the week of camp you wish to attend. You will also make merit badge selections from this same website, and have access to your camp records as well. Our goal is to camp about 120 campers a week for 3 weeks, to provide our campers with a program experience that allows personal attention, and time to do the activities you come to camp to do. Tired of standing in line to shoot 5 shots at the range, come see us at KSR where you will get more time Scouting and less time wishing you had a speed pass!

Staff Application

World Jamboree The 2019 World Jamboree is just around the corner! All applications are completed online.  Scout friends, this is indeed a once in a lifetime opportunity. The last time the World Jamboree was in United States was 1967 in Idaho. Our council has no allotted spots, but is part of a larger Area 5 contingency.

World Jamboree Application

Camp Activities The Georgia Carolina Council currently operates 2 camp facilities, Knox Scout Reservation, Camp Daniel Marshall. Did you know that in addition to the 21 campsites at Knox, we also have a low COPE challenge course that can be used by units, we have a variety of boats including canoes kayaks, sail-boats, jet ski’s and other craft units can use. We also now have mountain bikes, and a bike trail is currently being built. So for Troops and Crews, Knox is a great destination for year around camping and program fun!

While Packs are also often seen camping at Knox, did you know at Camp Daniel Marshall we have 2 bunkhouses, with hot showers and comfy beds, great for pack outings! Your unit can reserve either facility anytime using the online reservation system on our website.

Giving Tuesday First Black Friday and then Cyber Monday .. now .. today is giving Tuesday. For those who are considering a late year donation, the Georgia Carolina Council is a great investment you can make in our youth. Please follow this link to make your donation today.

https://forms.tentaroo.com/view.php?id=2065538

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Rogers, Scout Executive

Girls Approved to Join Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM OUR SCOUT EXECUTIVE

This afternoon we received word that the BSA's board of directors unanimously approved welcoming girls into our Cub Scouts program and delivering a Scouting program for older girls that will enable them to advance and earn the highest rank of Eagle Scout. It is important to note that the program will remain a single gender program. Cub Scout Packs will have an option of being an all boy pack, and all girl pack, or a mixed pack with boy and girl dens. At the troop level, there will be all male troops and all female troops, it will not be a co-ed program.

From feedback we have received from our own constituents, this is a good thing! We have observed that overall, those in our Scouting family are in favor of the idea to include girls in Scouting.

The timing of the change will allow for Cub Scout aged girls to join beginning with the fall program year, around September 1^st. The Boy Scout program option will become available in 2019.

The BSA thoughtfully evaluated how to bring the benefits of Scouting to the greatest number of youth possible and adapt to the changing needs of today’s families — all while remaining true to our mission and core values, outlined in the Scout Oath and Law. It evaluated the results of numerous research efforts, gaining input from current members and leaders — as well as parents and girls who have never been involved in Scouting — to understand how to offer families an important additional choice in meeting the character development needs of all their children.

So, starting in the 2018 program year, families can choose to sign up their sons and daughters for Cub Scouts. Using the same curriculum as the Boy Scouts program, the BSA also will deliver a program for older girls, which will be announced in 2018 and projected to be available in 2019, that will enable girls to earn the Eagle Scout rank. Again, Boy Scouts remains single-gender.

Linked below are some resources about today’s decision, for which there is also a media contact at pr@scouting.org. I can also be reached at dan.rogers@scouting.org if you have questions or concerns.

Official BSA news release
scoutingnewsroom.org

As always, the volunteers and staff at Georgia-Carolina Council look forward to supporting our families and Scouters in new ways with these expanded program offerings.

Yours in Scouting,

Daniel Rogers

Scout ExecutiveWeclome 

Scouting Opportunities Abound!

Fellow Scouters,

Let me start by sharing with you the Georgia Carolina Council enjoyed a tremendous;y successful September. We finished the month #1 in Area 5 for membership growth with a 9.6% increase! Hats off to the district and membership teams, as well as the recruiting efforts done by the units, and a hearty Scout Welcome to the several new units.

We have also been blessed by a substantial endowment gift from Bill and Cathy Neal to fund campership programs going forward. The goal of this gift is to continue to grow the principal in the endowment to allow for funding to help any Scout who wants to attend camp to attend. This includes Day Camp Webelos Resident Camp, Summer Camp National Youth Leadership Training, Philmont, sea Base, Northern Tier and The Summit program. This gift will have an impact on Scouting in the CSRA for eternity. If you would like to discuss how you can also make an endowment gift please contact Dan Rogers.

Also, we have plenty of program opportunities coming up ...  Links to a few

IOLS Oct 13-14

BALOO / OWL Oct 13-14

Spookoree Oct 20-22

Annual Council Golf Tournament October 27

Annual Fleur-de-Lis Fundraiser November 10

Webelosree November 10-12

National Youth Leadership Training January 2018

Wood Badge April 2018

2018 Summer Camp Registration at Knox Scout Reservation

September notes from the Scout executive.

Membership Fee Increase Announced

Membership fees support the services that are necessary to provide Scouting to youth from 7 to 21 years of age. From education to high-adventure experiences you can’t get anyplace else, the BSA provides unique growth opportunities at a great value. To do this — while delivering the nation’s foremost youth development program — the BSA must remain vigilant in controlling costs. Although we have been successful in reducing our expenditures in many areas, it has become necessary to evaluate our annual membership fees.

The National Council has announced an increase in the membership fees, and the Georgia Carolina Council has approved the following, effective December 1, 2017.

Membership Fee: $33.00

Insurance Fee: $7.00

Total Annual Fee $40.00

Please note that over 90% of this fee is received by the National Organization. Your continued support of the council is needed, and appreciated. It is through the support of so many that we are able to develop new leader and family tools such as the Unit Leader Planning Guide and Website.

Again, thank you for all you do for Scouting. I look forward to working with you to deliver a great Scouting experience to our youth in 2018. 

2018 Knox Scout Reservation Open

The system is now open for troops to register for summer camp in 2018 at Knox Scout reservation. Registrations will be taken through the new website. Your unit already has a log-in and password. If you have not received yours yet, please contact your District Executive, or the council office. You will need this password to register for a variety of events in the future. 

We will be doing a session on how to use the new website at your October Roundtable, so it would be great to have every unit attend the October Roundtables! 

Campsite Names Announced

The camp is divided into 3 camping areas, currently named Yamasee, Dyess and Aquatics. In the coming months the sites will be further developed with additional picnic tables, bulletin boards and name plates installed. Each area has a theme, and the names are as follows:

Yamasee Area (Native America Tribal Names)

• Oconee
• Yuchi
• Westoe
• Apalachee
• Catawba
• Cherokee
• Shawnee

Dyess Area (Local Animals)

• Coyote
• Armadillo
• Osprey
• Fox Squirell

Aquatics Area (Local Trees)

• Live Oak
• Palmetto
• Dogwood
• Loblolly
• Cedar

Camp Projects

The camping committee has been working hard and have completed several projects in the past few months. Here's what were working on!

We are in the early stages of developing a plan to build a dining hall at camp. More details to come!

• Added new shelving to the Schwab Maintenance Center
• Purchased new tents and mountain bikes
• Completed Survey, and named the campsites
• Began replacing the roof on the chapel at Camp Daniel Marshall
• Began developing a campmaster program (Details coming soon)
• Received approval, and funding to add electricity to the boat house
• Building a storage facility for the shooting range
• Work on COPE course. 

The Bob White Lodge also completed these project sat the recent Ordeal Weekend. 

• ·       Dyess Pavilion – trenched and installed railroad tie extension of the retaining wall to prevent water from overflowing the wall into the pavilion.
• ·       Dyess Pavilion – trench work around the pavilion to help better water runoff.
• ·       Dyess Pavilion – moved wall tent frames from the far side of the pavilion to the Hammock Island area.
• ·       Dyess Pavilion -Picked up downed limbs around the pavilion area.
• ·       Sport Field Pavilion – painted picnic tables
• ·       Sewell Center – painted picnic tables
• ·       Sewell Center – painted hall and classroom interior walls
• ·       Aquatics and Boathouse – trench work done near the Boathouse to redirect water away from the Boathouse
• ·       Boathouse organized and inventoried
• ·       COPE had new ropes installed

Greeting Fellow Scouters, it is hard to believe August has slipped by. I am excited to share with you an update on the council, and things that are happening to make your Scouting experience better.

We recently held a council Training Team meeting to discuss how to get more leaders trained. The council is last in Area 5 in % of trained leaders. With the focus of the training team, and the support of unit leaders we will improve this metric. 

Earlier this month the new Unit Leader Planning Guide was distributed to all units at Roundtable. For those who did not receive yours, plan to attend the September roundtable. I will be attending Kiokee River Roundtable in September. You will also be able to download a digital copy on the new website. 

New Website

Did I say New Website! Yes I did. It is planned to go live tomorrow September 1st .. It should magically appear between 9 AM and noon. The web address does not change ...   www.gacacouncil.org 

I am excited with the new platform, and I expect your unit leaders, scouts and parents will find it much easier to navigate. The SEARCH feature at the top is a valuable tool. We will provide an overview of the website at each roundtable if possible. You will find the site tablet and phone friendly. Through this one site we will be able to register for upcoming events including summer camp, day camp, banquets and other activities. 

I think you will also find the new site is loaded with information, and it will be growing in the coming weeks as we continue to add additional information to the site. If their is content you would like to see on the site please let us know and we will do our best to make it happen. The site exists for the simple purpose of serving you.  

In other news, Georgia Carolina finished July tops in Area 5 in Membership growth, and it looks like we may do the same again in August. We look to show a 4.8% growth in membership vs 2016. This effort is being led by Wesley Brown and the Creek River team showing a strong 40% growth vs 2016! Congratulations to those units who have completed their fall sign-up night for a job well done. We look forward to working with the other Packs and Troops in the coming weeks. 

Update on Camp Projects

• Campsite Name Survey is complete, names will be announced in September. 
• 1st level approval from Army Corps of Engineers complete, awaiting final approval to get electricity to the Aquatics Storage / Maintenance Building. 
• Capital funding has been approved to replace the leaking roof for the chapel at Camp Daniel Marshall. 
• New shelving has been acquired, and installed in the Schwab Maintenance Center. Project Complete. 
• Have met with contractors and working on a budget and drawings for potential dining hall. Awaiting Executive Board approval after design and cost is complete. 
• Site visit complete, awaiting cost estimate to build high ropes / zip line at Knox Scout Reservation. 
• Bulletin Boards for campsites ready to go, waiting for campsite names. 
• Camping Committee Member has taken the lead on developing camp-master program. Details to come in September. 
• 10 mountain bikes purchased, looking for volunteer to lead the development of a mountain bike program at camp. 

Next Camping Committee meeting is September 12th at 6:30 at Council Service Center. 

Yours in Scouting,

Daniel Rogers, Scout Executive

Notes from the Scout executive

Fellow Scouters,

Good morning. As I start my 3rd month of service to the Scouts in the CSRA I thought it would be a good idea to give you all an update. We have been busy over the summer, as so many have you have as well. Thank yo u to the many volunteers who made Day Camp a reality for our Cubs!

Some highlights from June and July.

• All 3 districts ran successful day camp programs
• Knox Scout Camp had a record year in attendance
• Camp Daniel Marshall hosted a warm, but fun Webelos Camp
• We have 1 1/2 Troops and a Venture Crew at the National Jamboree.

What is coming?

Unit Planning Guide

The council is printing a 2017-2018 Unit Planning Guide, which will be handed out (2 per unit) at your August Roundtable. This 75 page book will provide units with detailed information about all upcoming programs in the council and districts for the coming year. It also provides information about how a unit, a district and a council function. I believe your unit will be very excited about this new local council publication. It will also be available online for unit leaders to access. The online version will also be loaded with live links to additional information.

Making Scouting Accessible for Families

As one of America’s leading youth-serving organizations, we aim to bring the benefits of Scouting to the greatest number of youth possible — all while remaining true to our mission and core values, outlined in the Scout Oath and Law.

As we think about the future, we are interested in gaining your perspective as a member of the Scouting community. Please join us for a discussion on August 8^th at 6:30 PM at the council service center as we continue the important conversation about how to make Scouting more accessible to today’s families.

I look forward to speaking with you on August 8th. Please email me directly if you have any questions.

Thank you for everything you do to make Scouting a pivotal part of our community.

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Rogers,                Reed Miller,                    Paul Korninko

Scout Executive          Council President            Council Commissioner

New Council Website 

Development has begun on a new council website. The new site will be easier to manage, and will provide our Scouts and Scouters with more up-to date information about Scouting in the council, as well as Area and National events. We currently project the new website to go live no later than September 1st. 

Camp Projects

The camping committee has started working on the following camp improvement projects:

• Name the campsites
• Bring electricity to the Boat House and the Schwab Maintenance Center
• Repair the roof on the chapel at Camp Daniel Marshall.
• Install additional shelving in the Schwab Maintenance Building
• Build a dining facility prior to summer camp 2019
• Complete the Zip-Line High Adventure Course
• Add Bulletin Boards to each campsite
• Develop a Campmaster Program (more details in my next update)
• Develop a mountain Biking program. (looking for a volunteer to lead this project)