Year 2013, No. 5  --  March 1, 2013
 

Camp French Sustaining Campaign Committee

The Camp Mabel French Committee was recently reorganized into the Camp Mabel French Sustaining Campaign Committee. The reason for the change is the committee’s immediate objective to raise $75,000 in operating funds to keep the camp open for this year. Any monetary donations have to be received by the Council or pledged to the camp no later than the April 30th deadline. The Council Executive Committee will address the situation at its May meeting. Tom Parsons, a member of the Los Padres Council Board and Executive Committee, and a major contributor to the camp, was appointed to chair the committee.

This is an urgent situation and an immediate need. Currently, Camp French operating expenses – utilities, maintenance, sewage fees, wages, etc. – far exceed the revenues the camp generates annually. The situation has escalated over recent years because of the age of the camp and the increases in fees the Council has to pay to operate the camp. The fund-raising campaign is not for capital improvements. We can look to those improvements once the Council secures the operating funds to keep the gates open.

As a supporter of Scouting, you may want to contribute to the campaign or you may know people who might want to contribute. Please contact Tom Parsons via e-mail at tom.parsons@rabobank.com or by phone at (805) 473-6845 if you want to donate funds or if you would like more information. Again, this is an urgent need and request. The committee has less than seven weeks remaining to come up with the money. Any large contributions will receive permanent recognition in the camp’s dining hall.

Camp Mabel French is a peaceful, safe haven for young campers from all over the state and for many different groups and organizations and family get-togethers. It would be a shame to lose this facility for lack of support from our local residents and Scouting families.

To make an online donation for this specific cause, click here. To view a special edition on Camp French which was published last year in our Council newsletter, please click here.

Camporees

South Coast District: April 19-21 at Rancho Alegre

Live Oak and Cachuma Districts:  April 26-28 at Rancho Alegre

If the information for your District Camporee is not correct, contact your District Executive immediately.

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.

How is your District doing?  How much did your unit give to this year's campaign? When will the Appeal be made at my units. These questions and others will be answered by clicking on your District's FOS web page.

Del Norte - Camino Real

Live Oak - Cachuma - South Coast

The statistics on the District FOS pages are prepared by your District Executive. If there is a problem, please let him or her know.

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
 

Schedule the Date

Rancho Alegre Camp Work Day - Originally scheduled for March 9th, this event has been postponed until May 11th. At that time we will have Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity in camp assisting with the projects. APhiO is the National College Scouting Fraternity.

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.

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

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.

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.