Traditionally the calendar of Scouting activities follows a school year calendar in that it begins with September. This is a time when most Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are back in school. Fall membership roundups or a similar planned recruiting activity are put into motion in the Fall to build new Cub Scout packs and dens.
Please use our calendars to plan your annual Scouting program and include attendance at council and district functions. Bring them to your troop annual planning conference so your patrol leader's council can put them to use!
The council calendar is linked into the "Toolbox" page on the Los Padres Council web site. You may find some other items of interest on this page. The Los Padres Council web site's "Toolbox" page is located at: lpcbsa.org
Here are the council and district calendars currently available:
Mailing List Update. The new Los Padres Council News electronic newsletter can be disseminated directly from the Council via our secure link direct to your electronic mail list. Each unit should complete the attached form and submit for all their leaders and parents to be kept advised of Council events and major policy changes.
At the 2009 Top Hands Conference held in Detroit, Michigan a competition titled "BSA's Got Talent" was held. This video of Doug “Satchmo” Stone, Scout Executive of the Indian Waters Council was a big hit among the 4,000 Professional Scouters in attendance.
We hope you enjoy the performance.
Language of Scouting Definition of Top Hands conference:The plan of action for the BSA's future direction is crafted in these meetings of Scout executives and regional and national personnel.
Online Registration Opens
for 2013 Jamboree!
Registration for the 2013 National Jamboree to be held July 15-24 at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve is now open at the Summit’s jamboree website. The national registration fee for participants is $850. Youth participants and leaders registering should check with their local council for fee and payment details, including travel and tour costs.
BSA's General Considerations for Social Media Use.
For practical considerations, the BSA expects adults intending to use social media on behalf of Scouting to follow the following:
Social media must be monitored. A qualified staff member or volunteer should have the responsibility of monitoring social media channels daily, and backup administrators/monitors should be designated so there is no gap in the monitoring.
Integrate your communications. Create a strategy to surround your intended audience with your key message(s) through print, the Web, email, radio, TV, word of mouth, and social media.
Talk to your audiences and let them talk to and about you. By posting content on a consistent schedule, you can tell your story and encourage conversations in the community.
Social media takes a thick skin. Negative conversations are happening already, but now you have a voice in the conversation. Don’t delete negative comments unless they violate the terms laid out in the BSA Social Media Digital Contract.
Be prepared to respond to negative or inaccurate posts if response is warranted. Some negative comments do not require a response, while others should be taken seriously and addressed. Factors such as the number of followers and the severity of the conversations should temper if and how you respond.
Direct media inquiries to the appropriate person. Media inquiries coming through social media should be referred to the Scout executive or a designee for an official response.
Be Scout-like. When disagreeing with others’ opinions, remain appropriate and polite. If you find yourself in a situation online that looks as if it’s becoming antagonistic, do not get overly defensive and do not disengage from the conversation abruptly. Ask your Scout executive or the designee for advice on how to disengage from the dialogue in a polite manner that reflects well on the BSA.
Build trust by being open and transparent. Share information and what the challenges and opportunities are for Scouting in your community.
Facebook & Scouting
Here are links to some Facebook pages that support Scouting:
Philmont's signature program is the High-Adventure Expedition. Available each summer from early June to late August, each 12-day expedition provides opportunities for participants to:
Explore the high country in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of northern New Mexico.
Experience the thrill of climbing mountains over two miles high.
Participate in a wide array of activities that teach Scouting skills—archaeology, backpacking, camping, climbing, fishing, forestry, horsemanship, Indian lore, and much more.
Develop leadership, group dynamics, wilderness problem-solving, and outdoor skills.
Crews depart via train on July 23, 2011
The Los Padres Council has approval for two crews of 9 youth and 3 adults (24 participants)to attend Philmont in the Summer of 2011. The crews will depart via train on July 23, 2011 for a July 25 arrival at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. Reservations are now being accepted from youth who will be at least 14 years old at the time of the trek. Cost is estimated to be between $1000 and $1200 per participant. Scouts will arrive home on August 6 having departed Philmont the previous day.
This jersey is truly representative of Scouting today—another innovative design that proves you don’t have to sacrifice performance and comfort to create an eco-conscious product. Every stage of its production involves an environmentally-friendly process that’s also creating jobs for U.S. workers. Made from 100% recycled polyester, it helps reduce textile and plastic-bottle waste in our landfills. Plus, it features antimicrobial properties that help to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria. This means you can re-wear it during any event without having to wash it on-site or as often throughout the year so you’re saving gallons of water, too!
Moisture-wicking jersey features sublimated vintage Americana print that will last the life of the garment. Made in the USA from all USA-made components, it’s available in both Youth and Adult sizes.
Just think how patriotic
you will feel and look in this
BSA Americana Jersey!
Photo Albums
Following some of our activities, our Council Photographer Pat Brown puts together a slide show of some great shots of the participants having a great time. Normally these pictures are on the website for 60 to 90 days. We will make a library of them available on demand after the slides have been taken off the website. Slide shows currently on the website include:
Be aware that some of these files are large in size and may take some time to load or download based on your internet hookup and the speed of your computer.
A newly revised Safety Afloat online training program is now live on MyScouting.org in English. A Spanish version will be available soon. Any unit participating in an on-the-water boating activity must be supervised by at least one adult currently trained in Safety Afloat.
Any adult or older youth who takes the training may print a card that is valid for two years. Registered adults who establish a MyScouting account with their member ID will have their training record updated automatically. They also may print the card at the conclusion of the online training and take it to the council office for posting to their training record. Please note that anyone may establish a MyScouting account without a member ID and take Safety Afloat and other BSA training modules.
In the next couple of months, a DVD will be available in English and Spanish for local trainers to use during face-to-face training sessions. Councils and districts are encouraged to provide this training at least annually through roundtables, special training sessions, and at resident camp during the summer. Once the DVD is available, details of the catalog number will be made available to allow units, districts, and councils to order from the Supply Group, through local council Scout shops, and at www.scoutstuff.org.
Boys in Context, as Discussed by Amy Henry and Mary McIlrath
While boys may often appear mysterious, their top concerns—family, fun, and making a positive impact on the world—align perfectly with the goals and activities of the Scouting program. Watch this five-and-a-half-minute video of Amy Henry and Mary McIlrath, talking to a group of BSA leaders at the National Youth Forum held late last year in Dallas. If you are interested in viewing all of the speakers, a DVD will be distributed at this year’s National Annual Meeting at the Innovation and Research booth. You can also view each speaker’s highlights at the National Youth Forum site.
Internet Advancement, the online service for units submitting youth member advancement, has been enhanced with a number of important new features, including:
Youth Protection Training (YPT) completion date: The last YPT completed date from the person record, if any, is displayed on the Unit Roster report. The course code is included based on the unit program type.
View Previous Advancement Reports: This new feature provides access to the list of reports submitted for the unit. Units now have self-service access to each prior report that was submitted.
Academic and Sports Belt Loops: Cub Scout packs may enter and submit the dates for the awards that have been earned by pack members. This feature is available by multiple person entry and individual entry.
Tiger Cub rank: Cub Scout packs may enter completion of the Tiger Cub rank for members who earned the award as a Tiger Cub but did not have it entered in their records.
Each time an “Eagle-required” merit badge is displayed on screen or in a report, it will be marked with an *asterisk.
When ranks and badges are uploaded from third-party software, a new matching report will show the names of members who were matched or not matched.
Please encourage unit volunteers to check out these enhancements and to use Internet Advancement.
United States Secretary of Defense
Former President, Texas A&M University
Former Director of Central Intelligence
Former United States Air Force Officer
Silver Buffalo
Distinguished Eagle Scout
Vigil Honor Member, Order of the Arrow
"I believe that today as in the past one hundred years there is no finer program for preparing American boys for citizenship and leadership than the Boy Scouts of America."
Quotation taken from the video Prepared. For Life. Robert Gates presented at the 2011 National Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America in San Diego California.
Facebook & Scouting
New Safety Afloat Training Available Online
—Dr. Robert M. Gates
