International Scouting in Augusta and other Scouting News

Scouts of Haiti to Visit Georgia-Carolina Council

It is with great excitement that we announce we will have Scouts from Haiti visiting with us in September! About 15 Rover Scouts and leaders will be staying at Camp Daniel Marshall from September 19th to September 26th. They will be attending the Area 5 Legacy Venturing Event on September 21-23. If your crew is going and has room, we will be looking for help in transporting them.

We are looking for Scouters that wish to help host the group while they are hear. Some will only speak their native language of French, and if you speak French that is an added bonus. For many of the Scouts this may be their first trip out of Haiti, and it will be a once in a lifetime experience for them.

They will have an opportunity to visit with some units, and we will be organizing an evening event in town where Scouts can come and visit with them if they wish to.

If you would like to serve as a guide, helping to deliver a great program to the group, or if your unit would like to request a unit visit, please contact Dan Rogers at the service center.

Positions Filled by Council Volunteers

Congratulations and Thank You to several volunteers who have recently joined the council team! Your dedication to help the council will impact Scouts and Scouters across our council. 

New Executive Board Members: Patrick Clayton, Keenan Mann, Keith Milburn, Daniel Rhodes and Kate Sanders. 

VP of District Operations, Dr. Gregory Francisco

VP of Membership: Dave Hunt

Council Risk Management Chair: Ron Pfleiger

Health and Safety Chair: Tracy Baker

Cub Scout Program Chair: Jami Jacobs

We still have several council level volunteer leadership positions available. Indeed it takes a lot of Scouters to make a council work at peak efficiency. If you would like more information regarding available positions please contact Dan Rogers at the service center. A complete list of council level volunteers and positions can be found on the Committees page of the council website. 

Scout Me IN!

As schools open, hundreds of grade school students will begin a journey that will make a difference in their lives ... for the first time they will wear the uniform of a Scout. They will learn the Scout Oath and Scout Law ... and agree to Do My Best to live by it. What a powerful mission we have, and what an amazing track record of changing lives. As we go into the fall recruiting period, please keep in mind a couple of things. Every kid deserves the chance to be a Scout. Every Scout deserves a Trained Leader and a Planned Unit Program. 

If your unit does not currently have a planned program, it must be developed now. Contact your Unit Commissioner, District Commissioner or District Executive if you need help building your plan. 

If you have leaders who are not trained, again contact your unit commissioner, or district Training Chair. The district and council level volunteers are here to serve you at the unit level, please put us to work. 

Does your plan deliver the promise? Youth join Cub Scouts to shoot bb guns, and arrows, and go camping, making Smores and to Get Outdoors. Make sure your plan delivers the promise ... the reason these youth joined your pack!

2019 Summer Camp 

The camp staff has already been working hard in preparation for the 2019 Summer Camp program. The 2019 reservation system is up and running. There will be a limit of 60 campers in each camping area, filled on a first come first served basis. To get your favorite campsite, register early! In addition, all units that are registered prior to the end of the year will receive a FREE Knox Camp t-shirt for every attending youth and adult. Only reservations with a paid deposit in 2018 qualify for this special shirt! If your not sure how to register your troop for camp, you can find a tutorial here. 

We are looking for qualified Scouters to serve on the 2019 staff in leadership positions, specifically as Camp Director, Program Director and Health Officer. If you are interested and want more information please contact Dan Rogers. 

Wrapping up FOS and Looking Forward

Friends of Scouting

Congratulations and Thank You to the many volunteers and donors who have supported the 2018 Friends of Scouting Campaign. We exceeded our goal of $235,000 raised by the end of June, which is a significant accomplishment. We continue to raise additional funds to support the growing needs of the Scouting program to support the units in the CSRA. Funding to help start new units in areas we currently have no unit, funds to provide first class support materials, such as the Unit Planning Guide, and to fund the operating loss, and further development of Knox Scout reservation and Camp Daniel Marshall. Again, Thank You!

2018 FOS Pledge Card

Upcoming Special Events

We have 2 great programs coming up in the fall, the 2018 Golf Tournament which will be held on October 15th at The River Golf Club and the 2018 Fleur-de-Lis Gala Ball which will be held on November 2nd at The Foundry on Boy Scout Road. Two great opportunities to come out and enjoy great activities, socialize and support Scouting. 

Haitian Scouts to Visit

A great opportunity for our local Scouts to visit with and learn about Scouting in Haiti. There will be about 15 Scouts visiting with us from September 19-27. We are looking for units to visit, and will announce in the coming weeks an open house for Scouts to come out and meet the Scouts from Haiti. 

Dining Hall Capital Campaign Off to solid Start

The campaign to raise $1,750,000 to build a dining hall at Knox Scout Reservation is off to a great start with over $300,000 now raised. All donations of $1,000 or more will have their name put on a plaque in the facility, and all donations of $50 or more will receive a collectible patch.  We have funding requests in with several foundations and expect to receive replies regarding funding in the coming weeks. You can find the informational brochure on the council website dining hall page.   

New Member Coordinator

The BSA recently announced a new unit level position called the New Member Coordinator. The purpose of the position is to help new Scouts and their families to quickly learn about the details of Scouting, and how your unit works. They work directly with the new parents to guide them and help them understand the long term benefits of Scouting. If you are interested in serving your unit in this position, speak to your unit leader, your Unit Commissioner or your District Executive. 

Fall Recruiting

Hard to believe schools across the CSRA will be back in session in just a few weeks. This means we will be working hard at recruiting new Scouts to join our Packs, Troops and Crews. Units should be trained on the School Night Sign-Up process at at district training event. If you missed this training, please contact your District Executive to get the details. You can find the Playbook for the recruiting night event here. 

2019 Summer Camp

We have already begin working on the 2019 Summer Camp program, and working to build a dynamic staff. We will have several positions available in 2019 including Camp Director, Program Director and certain area director positions. If you are interested in working at camp in one of these leadership positions please contact me. Dan.rogers@scouting.org 

Family Scouting set to begin and other notes from the Scout Exec.

Family Scouting to Kick-Off

June 11 is the official launch date for Family Scouting across the Boy Scouts of America. The Council Staff and leaders through-out the CSRA are excited to welcome our first wave of girls into the Cub Scout program.

In Creek River District Packs 8, 49, 345, 413 812 825 and 828 have confirmed they will offer Girl Dens. Kiokee River District will have girls joining in Packs 108, 119, 280, 289, 417 and 615.

Yamasee District has Packs 7, 30, 115, 146, 421, 601 and 663 set to go. There are several Packs which we have not heard from yet. For many units it is a matter of space, and available meeting times within the chartered organization.

Our commitment as a council is to offer the Cub Scout program to every youth in our council that wants it. Every young boy and girl that wants to experience the fun of racing pinewood derby cars, or shooting archery and bb guns, all that want to go along with Baloo and hike in nature, we will do our best to make sure there is a Pack near you for you to participate in.

Part of our goal is to talk to parents and others about the Scouting program, to make sure they know the truth about what has changed and what has not. We will be hosting an open house for the general public on June 26th at Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans. The open house will last from 6:30 until 8 PM.
Interested parents, and youth should plan to attend to learn more about Scouting. Cub Scouting, as well as Scouts BSA, which will be open for girls aged 11-17 to join starting February 1, 2019. We will share with you details about the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA programs, as well as Venturing and Exploring programs. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, and we will discuss how you can volunteer to spend time with your child in this wonderful program. Unlike many other programs, this is a family based program; there is no chalk-line. It is scheduled quality time with your children doing fun and learning activities with friends. It is a program for parents who want to spend more time with their children.

So open house is June 26th at 6:30 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans.

New Cub Leader Training will be held on Saturday July 14th, also at Wesley United Methodist Church in Evans. This is for all new or possible new Cub Scout Leaders. It will be a fun filled morning of learning about the program in great detail, and working with other new and experienced leaders to learn how to bring the book to life. You can register for the training here. 

June 11th. A great day for Scouting.

Calling All Webelos

The 2018 Webelos Resident Camp is only for the bravest of the brave, as we experience our long weekend experience on Scout-Away Island. This 4 day Webelos experience is hosted at Camp Daniel Marshall. July 12-15 will be a swashbuckling good time for those Scouts and leaders brave enough to make the journey. (I've heard it said there may be treasure on that island!) But being brave may not be enough .. ya may have to be quick to. Ya see with all the talk of gold, spots are filling up fast, and if ya spend to much time in the hammock a napping, you may just miss your chance at Webelos Excitement this summer. So don't dally, get signed up for this adventure whilst ya still got time. 

Knox Scout Reservation Staff Preparing for Week 1 Campers

Ahh the camp has come back to life with staffers working diligently to prepare for the first Scouts of summer to arrive next Sunday. Tents are being set up, cobwebs swept aside, and Jetski's gassed up ready for excited Scouts to take them out for a spin! Our trading post is freshly stocked with several new custom items, and thanks to support from John Deere the camp looks simply amazing. If your still on the fence about going to summer camp, let me help you. It is simply the best week you will have all summer. A week at camp is worth 6 months in the classroom ... summer camp is what Scouts live for. And those that truly get the bug ... those that can't get enough of it ... they become staff. We are blessed to have so many returning staffers who are excited to bring you the best program possible. 

Hope to see you and your troop at KSR This summer!

Camp Bob Hardin, Philmont Scout Reservation Suffer Major Natural Disasters

Locally, Camp Bob Hardin located in Saluda NC has shut down for the summer due to a massive rain and flooding event that happened several days ago. No one was injured, and the camp can be re-built .. but it will take time and funding. Those Troops from Georgia-Carolina Council that may have planned to attend Bob Hardin, we can accommodate you at Knox Scout Reservation. Later in the year we may have an opportunity to help rebuild the camp. I will keep you posted. In the mean-time any Scout or troop that had planned to camp at Bob Hardin is more than welcome to camp with us this summer. 

Many of you have also heard that our beloved Philmont Scout Ranch caught fire last Thursday and over 35,000 acres have burned. I don't know many details just yet, but all activities at Philmont have been cancelled until at least June 24th. Please keep the firefighters and staff at Philmont in your prayers. 

Dan Rogers

Scout executive, Georgia-Carolina Council

The Past, Present and Future

Fellow Scouters,

It is hard to believe that I have been serving you all for a year now. I thought I would take a moment and reflect back on what we have accomplished in the past 12 months. To help you understand what your Friends of Scouting gifts support, and what are future plans are.

1. We have retained our entire staff. The DE you have now, you had 18 months ago, and that stability is a good thing. We also successfully recruited Regina Jeffries back to the team.
2. 8 new Executive Board members have joined the team.
3. Council finished Silver in the Journey to Excellence in 2017.
4. Developed a new website and camp management system.
5. Upgraded the council newsletter (The Council Compass) (You can register here if your not currently receiving it)
6. Developed and printed an Annual Report and professional Friends of Scouting literature.
7. Developed and printed the Unit Program Planning Calendar.
8. Restarted Camping Committee, Endowment Committee, Nominating Committee, Hi Adventure Committee. 
9. Kicked -Off a capital campaign to raise funding to build a dining hall at Knox Scout Reservation
10. Held first Creek River Day Camp program. 
11. Improved the annual council budget process.
12. Cleaned, painted and organized the council service center.
13. Replaced the roof at Camp Daniel Marshall.
14. Provided Ranger Greg with a new efficient mower for camp.
15. Added storage shelving to the Schwaab Maintenance Building
16. Cleaned and renovated the Knox Camp Office
17. Built 6 mile long bike / hiking trail. (In progress)
18. Developed and implemented the Camp Master program.
19. Purchased 10 mountain bikes for camp.
20. Added Electricity to boat house at Knox Scout Camp.
21. Named all campsites, and built campsite bulletin boards at Knox.
22. Bought new trap thrower for trap range.
23. Added storage at Rifle Range.
24. Successful launch of Camp Card program that provided over $15,000 in funding to units. 

That is a pretty exciting list. So what do we have in store!

1. Effective NOW, we have an automated Merit Badge Counselor system! This system has been in development since December and has gone live just this week. Scouts and Leaders can easily find available Merit Badge Counselors, and MB councilors can easily recharter each year. 
2. June the Family Program goes live with girls joining the Cub Scouts for the first time!
3. July 14th is a council wide Cub Scout Leader Training Opportunity. 
4. We will continue to raise funds for the dining hall project, and plan to have it up and running in 2019. 
5. In 2020 we will celebrate our 100th anniversary. 
6. We plan to add campsites to Camp Daniel Marshall, and renovate the chapel to become a training center. 
7. At Knox Scout Reservation we are working to increase our Aquatics Programs, Shooting Sports Programs and add a biking program. 
8. We are working to become the 2nd local council camp in America to be SCENES Certified by the World Scout Bureau. 
9. Feb 2019 we will see girls begin their quest to become an Eagle Scout. 
10. We have many exciting councilwide programs coming, the 2018 Spookoree, Webelos Camp, Scout Camporee's training opportunities and early in 2019 we will hold the University of Scouting. 

Your support of Scouting makes a major impact. Your time, talent and treasure are all critical to the success of our shared mission of helping prepare young people to make moral and ethical decisions over their lifetime by instilling in them the Scout Oath and Scout Law. 

We have done an excellent job with our Friends of Scouting campaign thus far this year, having raised over $175,000. We remain about $50,000 from our goal. If you have not yet donated, and would like to you can do so here, or feel free to give me a call here at the service center. 

I have enjoyed getting to know you all, and I am impressed with what we have accomplished in the past 12 months. I look forward to working with you as we move forward. 

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Rogers

Scout executive. 

Council Banquet, University of Scouting and Summer Camp

2018 Council Banquet

The 2018 Council Banquet will be held on March 20th at 6 PM at Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church. We are very excited to share with you that 3 more great Scouters will join the ranks of the Silver Beaver that night. Please plan to join us as we celebrate the volunteers of the council, and congratulate Dawn Diver, Julie Thornton and Clarence "Hoss" Wright on their selection as Silver Beavers.
Also on the agenda for the night, we will recognize several Scouters with a James E West Award, this years District Award of Merit recipients, District Journey to Excellence recognition's, 2017 Eagle Scouts, Eagle Project of the Year, and a National Outstanding Eagle Scout award will be presented.
The Commissioner of the Year will be recognized, the President's Award and Fred C Davison Award will be presented, along with 2 lifetime achievement awards, a Hornaday Award and several 2nd Century Society Donor awards. As you can see, we have much to celebrate in Scouting for 2017, and your presence at the banquet will make it that much better. The cost has been reduced to $20 per person. Registration can be completed online here.

2018 University of Scouting

The 2018 University of Scouting program is set. Just 10 days away, I encourage all Scouters to register now for this important training event. 

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2018 7:30 am – 4:00 pm 

WHERE: Greenbrier High School 5114 Riverwood Pkwy, Evans, GA. 30809

COST: $15.00

Registration form can be found here. 

2018 Knox Scout Reservation Summer Camp Program

Staff positions are being filled and new program items are being added. We look forward to providing our Scouts with more opportunity in 2018! We will add additional sailboats, mountain biking, low COPE, Pistol Shooting and some other exciting additions this summer! 

Merit Badge Registration will go live on the morning of April 2nd. Units that are registered prior to April 1st will receive a FREE KNOX T-SHIRT. All Scouts and Scouters who attend camp from those units will receive a shirt. Units that register on or after April 1st will not receive a free shirt. also, units that register after April 1st will be behind other units in the opportunity to select merit badges, so don't delay, get your troop signed up now. 

Instructions on how to register for summer camp can be found here. 

Notes from the Scout Executive Jan 2018

Journey to Excellence

I am pleased to share with the Scouters of the council that our JTE Score climbed from 1075 points last year to 1,425 this year, and a Silver Ranking. Overall in Area 5 we placed a respectable 5th of 10 councils. The JTE program is designed to help units, districts and councils measure critical aspects of running an effective program, and then focus on steadily improving the overall program that is being delivered. If your unit has not completed their 2017 JTE Report, talk to your Unit Commissioner and they can help you.

                     Area 5 JTE                                     Georgia-Carolina District JTE

     

District Journey to Excellence

For the 3 districts, congratulations go to Creek River and Kiokee River, both of which achieved a Silver Ranking. Creek River led in points, 1,450 to Kiokee River's 1,445. Yamasee, while improving in several areas was not ranked in 2017, and finished with 700 points. 

Council Banquet

On March 20th we will hold the annual Council Banquet. The price has been reduced from last year to $20. We will be recognizing numerous Scouters for their dedication to the youth in our community with Silver Beaver Awards, James E West Recognition and a variety of other awards. It is a time of great fellowship and Scouting fun and I personally invite you to come out and celebrate Scouting with your peers. Registration and details can be found here.  

University of Scouting

University of Scouting is still on. The Merit Badge University has been postponed. There will be a special edition of the Council Compass released soon with full details about the U of Scouting. 

Fellow Scouters, there is simply no better training course in Scouting than Wood Badge. Many of those who go through become life-long students of the program, and happily serve on future staff's and share their Scouting knowledge and energy with other leaders. 

If your interested in leadership training that will serve you not only in your Scouting role, but in your other roles in life, Wood Badge is that opportunity. Paul Korinko has put together an outstanding staff for this years course, and registrations are coming in strong. Don't miss your chance to join in the fun. Units that can afford to help pay the fee to train their leaders should consider the investment. 

Wood Badge Registration can be found here. 

Augusta Scout Shop

If you have never been to the Scout Service Center, or the Augusta Scout Shop, it is worth a visit! Did you know the Scout Shop sells more than uniforms and rank badges. They carry a wide variety of books, family camping gear, unit recognition items, pinewood derby, space derby and other craft kits. They also carry a variety of Scouting shirts, hats and other fun stuff your Scout is sure to love. Open M-F from 9-6 and Saturday from 10-2, stop and by and see all the exciting Scouting items available. 

What's Greg and Jay Doing out at Camp?

Greg and Jay have been hard at work making improvements to the camps. Last fall we replaced the roof on the chapel at Daniel Marshall. We have also added electricity and water to the boat storage house, replaced 400 feet of old water line, built a 6 mile long bike trail (That still needs some touching up), added storage shelving to the maintenance building, built signs for each campsite, which will be installed this spring, and improved the storage at the rifle range.

Remember, the second Saturday each month is a camp service day. Come alone, bring a friend, bring your unit ... we always have plenty to do at camp!

2017 Summer Camp

If your Troop has not registered for summer camp, the time is certainly arrived. We are offering a free camp t-shirt to the Scouts and Scouters for all units that make their reservation prior to March 31st. The online registration process is simple, just log into the council website. Detailed directions to register can be found here. 

Happy New Year!

Fellow Scouters,

Happy New Year! It is exciting to make new plans for the coming year, and to think of the many great adventures we will have with our Scouts. I wanted to share a few notes about wrapping up 2017, and opportunities that await in 2018.

2017 Wrap -Up

As a Unit Leader the 2 main wrap-up duties you have for 2017 include your unit recharter and completing your unit's Journey to Excellence Scorecard. Your Commissioners and District staff can help you with both of these tasks.

Completing the JTE scorecard is important, even if you think you may not qualify for Bronze or above, as it helps your unit identify areas in which you can strengthen your unit, providing an even better program experience for your Scouts.

JTE Scorecards can be found here. 

New for 2018

Reduced Camp Fees

Effective January 1st, 2018 Knox Scout Reservation and Camp Daniel Marshall have streamlined their camp use policies, reducing the cost to camp there. Reservations can now be made online. The fee to camp has been reduces to just $1 per person /night. Full details for camp use fees can be found on the website, or use these links.   Knox Scout Reservation                Camp Daniel Marshall

Also, a detailed tutorial on how to make an online reservation can be found here. 

For those that like paper registrations, here is the paper form. 

Summer Camp Registration

As I sit here looking at the ice outside with the cold of winter covering us, I feel like Olaf, dreaming of all things summer. Summer camp is just around the corner, and the time to register is upon us. We are working to bring you an outstanding staff with some new program opportunities such as mountain biking, COPE and an expanded waterfront program. Indeed summer camp is the highlight of the year for any Boy Scout, or Venturer. We would love to help your unit deliver that promise. If you have not registered yet, please do so soon. If your unit has not been to summer camp in the past year or two, make 2018 you get back. Please call me personally if the council can be of help to your unit in keeping this most important program piece of Scouting alive in your troop. 

Summer camp reservations can be made online, using the same process as year around camping, just select the week of camp you wish to attend. Also please note units that have made their reservation and paid the fees due through the end of March will receive a FREE camp t-shirt for those registered. 

The online system your create your registration with will also be the same system you use to register your Scouts for merit badges beginning in early April. 

Friends of Scouting

The 2018 Council Friends of Scouting campaign has kicked off. Please work with your Unit Commissioner and District Staff to set your family FOS date. As we embark on the capital campaign to build a dining hall at Knox Scout Reservation, maintaining the funds needed for normal operations is critical. Your support makes all of the difference. 

Camp Cards

Just as the council needs funds to operate, so do units. The council staff has been working hard to bring you another great opportunity to help provide funding for your unit. Beginning March 1st we will begin a Camp Card Sale. The process is pretty simple, your unit takes the camp cards and sells them for $5.00 each. upon completion of the sale the unit pays the council $2.50 per card, keeping the balance as operating funds for the unit. Details will be shared at roundtable this week, and can also be found on the camp card page on the council website. 

We have secured several great discounts which will be on the cards from great companies like: 

The Camp Card Program is designed to help your unit get your kids to camp. Scouts can earn their way, can earn a FREE trip to camp, or can win a weekly drawing to attend camp. If you use the popcorn sale to fund your unit, and camp cards to fund summer camping programs, your unit will be on solid financial ground!

Council Banquet / Silver Beaver Award

The council banquet will soon be here as well. Now is a great time to take a moment and nominate a deserving Scouter to be recognized with the Silver Beaver Award. Nominations are due no later than February 28th at the service center. A list of previous recipients can be found here. The nomination form can be found here. 

Registration for the banquet can be found here. 

Indeed, summer is coming. Our preparation now will make our Scouts summer experiences a reality. I thank each unit leader for your dedication, and look forward to Scouting with you in 2018. 

Dan