Year 2013, No. 4  --  February 15, 2013
 

Training

Every Scout deserves a trained leader, and we have several opportunities coming up in the Los Padres Council to fulfill that basic requirement. Of course, there are several training programs that must be renewed every two years. This includes Youth Protection Training (Scouting or Venturing), Weather Safety, Safe Swim Defense, and Safety Afloat. It's easy to renew any of these courses by logging on to www.myscouting.org. Be sure to have your BSA Registration Card available so that you can report the number at the bottom if you do not already have a training account.

But those are the basics! Here are some leader specific and advanced leadership courses planned. One can sign up for any one of these by clicking on the header which will take you to the appropriate sign-up page on the Council's website - www.lpcbsa.org.

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) - March 16 (8:00 am) -17 (4:00 pm) at Rancho Alegre. This is a required two day training for Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters in order to take Boy Scouts on outdoor, overnight outings. Fee is $45.

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO) - March 23rd (8:00 am to 4:00 pm) at Larsen Meadow (Rancho Alegre). This is a required one day training Cub Scout and Webelos Leaders necessary to taking these younger Scouts on outdoor outings. Fee is $10.

Wilderness First Aid - April 12-13. A required course for at least one individual attending anyone of the BSA's High Adventure Camps; a highly recommended course for EVERY Scout Unit. If you need the prerequisite CPR/AED course which is being offered earlier in the day on April 12th, click here.

Varsity Team Leader Specific Training - May 4 (8:30 am to Noon) at the Santa Maria LDS Stake Center (908 E. Sierra Madre). This course is a half-day course for Team Leaders and Assistants of a Varsity Team. No charge for this course.

Venturing Crew Adviser Specific Training - May 4 (9:00 am to 1:00 pm) at the Santa Maria LDS Stake Center (908 E. Sierra Madre). This course ia a half-day course for Venturing Crew Advisers and Assistants. There is a $10 fee for this course.

Woodbadge - September 26-28 and October 17-19. The first weekend is at Rancho Alegre; the second is at Camp Three Falls in this course hosted by Los Padres and Ventura County Councils. Woodbadge is the ultimate Scout training leadership program. Fee is $240 if paid in full at least 30 days prior to the start of the sessions.

The above courses are for adult leaders. The following course is for youth leaders. Remember that having trained youth leaders makes your job that much easier.

National Youth Leadership Training - August 5 - 10 at Rancho Alegre (coed course). Applications for participants are now being accepted. For more information and to enroll your youth leadership, click here.

Camporees

What is a Camporee? It is an opportunity for patrols and troops to demonstrate basic Scout skills at a gathering of other Scout and Webelos units  in their District. This year there are three Camporees planned in the Los Padres Council. Be sure that your unit is registered to participate. Here is the schedule:

Friends of Scouting

It's the beginning of a new calendar year and once again we begin anew our annual Friends of Scouting campaign.

This year's theme is "Scouting Builds Future Leaders."

To schedule your FOS presentation at an upcoming Blue-Gold Dinner or Court of Honor, please call your District Executive.

Why give to FOS?

Scouting Builds Leaders and we do this through:

  • Serving Others
  • Life Learning
  • Healthy Living
  • Building Character
  • Faith Traditions
  • Mentoring
  • Stewardship

Levels of Giving

  • Benefactor Level - $5,000 or more
  • Sponsor Level - $2,500
  • Guardian Level - $1,000
  • Patrol Level - $600
  • Buddy System Level - $300
  • Scout Sponsor - $130
  • Supporter - $103
  • Of course, you can give any amount you wish

To download a special brochure about FOS, click here. For the special LDS unit FOS brochure, click here.

In addition to any money that you pay to your unit, it takes at least $150 annually to support your Scout and keep our facilities open.  FOS makes this all possible. Your donation is tax deductible, and we will work with you if your employer has a matching contributing program.

Please be prepared to give to FOS, or go online at the Council's website and make your pledge commitment or payment.

Are You Tougher Than a Boy Scout?

Check out this weekly series beginning Monday, March 4th, at 8 pm on the National Geographic Channel.

TV Show Promotion
 

Safety

Recently we updated the Safety page of our website. We added a whole series of new forms and articles which will assist Scout leaders in knowing what their responsibilities are when it comes to youth protection, what to do in case of an accident on a Scout outing, insurance coverage, protecting your unit's assets and equipment, and dealing with the IRS. You might check all this information out at http://www.doubleknot.com/the-safe-zone/22061.

Schedule the Date

Rancho Alegre Camp Work Day - March 9th. Troops, Families, and Individuals welcome to make improvements to YOUR Scout Camp. Lunch will be provided. Please register.

Summer Camp and Programs - Check out our different Summer Camps and Training Activities coming up later this year. Click here to go our camp web page for any of these events.

  • Lifeguard Academy - June 24-28
  • Staff Training Week - June 30 - July 6
  • Boy Scout Camp (Traditional) - July 7 - 13
    • Applications now being accepted for Provisional Scouts and Day Campers
  • Boy Scout Camp (LDS) - July 15-20
    • Venturing Days (LDS) - July18-20
    • Cub Scout/Primary Day (LDS) - July 19
  • Cub Scout Resident Camp - July 21-24
  • NYLT - August 5-10

Below you will find a list of some upcoming Council-wide events for Los Padres Council. To register and/or pay for any of these events, click on the line and it will take you directly to the registration page. Included in the calendar are major civic and religious activity dates as well as dates of college testing for college students. This enables units to plan activities around these events. For events beyond the last date, click on the link to the calendar.

 

To find out about upcoming Scouting events, log on to the Council website at www.lpcbsa.org. 

This newsletter to our valued Scouters in the Los Padres Council is issued twice monthly on or about the 1st and 15th of each month.  Deadline for articles is four days prior. Send all articles, pictures, etc. to the webmaster at RanchoAlegre@cox.net.