RememberSchiff

Good story with photos in link below. "Novyi Sokil is now one of three functioning Ukrainian Plast camps in the United States." https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2024/07/16/g-s1-7730/how-ukrainian-scouting-culture-thrives-in-the-woods-of-western-new-york-state

7/16/24: "The Scouts First Anonymous Reporting allows anyone to submit anonymous reports of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. By facilitating two-way, anonymous communications through texting, email, and QR codes, Scouts First Anonymous Reporting ensures youth and adults alike can be heard and start the path to giving them the advice or help they need." Roger Krone Chief Scout Executive, President & CEO More at source: https://www.scouting.org/executive-comms-blog/scouting-america-introduces-scouts-first-anonymous-reporting/

Central Georgia Council's Camp Benjamin Hawkins is under contract to be sold. The camp began in 1927 and comprises 500 acres. The Central Georgia Council office is also for sale. Source: https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/camp-benjamin-hawkins-contract-sold-nearing-100-year-legacy/93-e49907a0-d0a6-4c52-8f81-644cb5a5bf5f

07/17/2024 Boxwell Scout Reservation, Lebanon, TN "Officials say the camper, 10, was on the jet ski with a 19-year-old staff member who was driving when the crash happened. The Boy Scouts Middle Tennessee Council said the camper was part of a National Guard family and was participating in the Tennessee National Guard’s annual Youth Development Week. " Sources: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/wilson/2024/07/17/jet-ski-crash-on-old-hickory-lake-near-tennessee-boxwell-boy-scout-camp-kills-10-year-old-boy/74437960007/ https://www.newschannel5.com/news/boxwell-reservation-jet-ski-crash-kills-one-child-camper-injures-one-staff-member

Found this today on Globe Newswire "IRVING, TX, July 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scouts and leaders from Scouting America joined Senate and Congressional leaders in Washington last week to highlight the importance of programs for the nation’s youth and discuss the positive impact these youth programs have on our communities. ... Washington officials were joined by Scouting America youth in the Cub Scout and Scouts BSA programs, as well as members of the Venturing, Exploring and Sea Scout programs. Bringing real excitement and competition to the meeting, Cub Scouts from Pack 98 of National Capitol Area Council provided a Pinewood Derby track and cars for officials to race. ( I wonder if there was bipartisan support of the race results? ) Special guest NASA astronaut and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recipient Mike Fossum immediately picked-out the Space Shuttle Pinewood Derby car and challenged all Cubs Scouts to race. ... “For over a century, Scouting America has provided the nation's premier program for character development and values-based leadership training for more than 130 million young men and women,” said Roger Krone, president and chief executive officer of Scouting America. “We want to thank our elected officials for their unwavering support for advancing the mission of Scouting, and we look forward to another century of working together." More at source links with photos of Pinewood races. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/07/17/2914698/0/en/Scouting-America-Goes-to-Washington.html https://weownadventure.com/pinewood-derby-at-the-u-s-capitol/

Back in the day, I earned Red Cross Swimmer, Junior Lifeguard, and Senior Lifeguard certification. These courses were taught mornings at my town pool by volunteer Red Cross Aquatic Instructors. As I recall, the total cost was $10 or $20 to cover book and card. The courses filled quickly and were physically demanding in endurance and stroke execution. My Red Cross instructor was also a Swimming and Lifeguard MBC - so WINNING. The following two summers, I would work as a lifeguard at the same town pool and help teach those courses. I never registered for BSA Lifeguard at our local camp, perhaps if I had been a waterfront CIT? I will say, it is easier to find a submerged ten pound weight in a town pool than a "cedar-water" lake in Jersey. Today, it appears this level Red Cross training and certification is outsourced to $$$ for-profit schools. Unsure but I think the Y is cheaper, at least for members. I fume when I hear of the expense to teach basic life-saving skills: first aid, CPR, swimming,... That said, Scout Salute to Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation which donated $20,000 to Camp Roosevelt "to make improvements and allow their lifeguard staff to get crucial training. The waterfront program teaches kids water safety and fun through swimming, boating, and paddleboarding. Camp organizers say with the help of donations kids get to learn skills and experience nature at a more affordable cost." Source: https://www.wabi.tv/2024/07/13/maine-foundation-makes-donation-helps-boy-scouts-make-splash-camp-roosevelt/

Update 7/11/2024: Today, 2024 National Chief of the Order of the Arrow, David Gosik, presented Congressman Pete Sessions with a copy of the 2024 Report to the Nation. Congressman Sessions also was introduced to BSA CEO Roger Krone. Source: https://www.instagram.com/congressmanpetesessions/p/C9QjCNHyOme/ https://x.com/PeteSessions/status/1811163116178395232

"Again, the best way to prepare for heat-related illnesses is to prevent the illness." I remember back in the day, wearing a cold-water soaked, full-size necker.* I do worry that global warming with more frequent, severe storms and heat waves will cause the extinction of summer camp. https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/heat-related-illness/ *Note: Though hard to find on the trail, wrist dipping in a cooler with ice water mix also offers relief too.

Throwing a log on fire with a relevant story All-girl Scout troop from Brunswick takes to the high seas for adventure camp Great story about why these girls chose to join Boy Scouts and their Sea Base trek. It was 1. Program, name was not an issue, these girls wanted to Scout, 2. parents stepping up to deliver Program - character building, service, ADVENTURE, skills. IMHO this success story is repeated daily in units across the country, Gender is irrelevant as are High Adventure Bases. Get kids who want to Scout and adults who will deliver the Program ...membership growth will come as described in story. excerpt from source: Elena also tried Girl Scouts, “but there wasn’t really a lot to do.” She enjoyed all the art-related badges and projects she can do in the BSA in a wide variety of media. We get to camp out once a month, not just once a year,” Mikayla said, “and that’s a lot better.” Each month, the troop also does service projects. “We rehabilitated a fire ring at Camp Butler. We replaced all the logs, trimmed the trees, removed debris and redid the whole thing” Mikayla said. They also have volunteered at Danbury Senior Living and at the St. Ambrose flag retirements and 911 ceremonies in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. They have also signed on to help maintain the children’s garden at Heritage Farm for the Brunswick Area Historical Society, starting in August. John Turner, co-chair of our High Adventure Committee, came from the Youngstown area to Brunswick. An Eagle Scout himself -- following in his dad’s footsteps -- he said: “When I found out that BSA was opening to girls, in 2019 my daughters started looking around. But then the pandemic came and everything came to a halt.” Once life became more normal, they had four or five girls join, and now there are about 16 to 18 girls in the troop, he said. More at source about their Sea Base trek with photos: https://www.cleveland.com/community/2024/07/troop-7407-takes-to-the-high-seas-adventure-camp.html

ABC News: Children who fled Russian invasion find community in Ukrainian scouting organization in Canada https://abcnews.go.com/International/children-fled-russian-invasion-find-community-ukrainian-scouting/story?id=111568550

The group calls themselves ‘BOOTS’, which they say stands for Brotherhood of Old Tired Scouts, and they have been hiking and biking through the trails at Cameron Park for nearly 30 years, training for camping trips and helping maintain the park. “We have an adventure group,” Scott Littrell, known as ‘Mad Dog’ to his friends, said. “We go out twice a year on adventures, but we hang around a lot together. We mountain bike, we hike, we maintain trails, we fish, you name it, outdoorsy stuff.” He said the group formed out of their sons’ boy scout troop around 27 years ago. “It started with Troop 497,” Littrell said. “We had kids about the same age. After they all got their Eagle Scouts, the dads had all this camping equipment, and we decided it would be more fun without the kids just to go camping. We recruited people along the way.” ... Fun read, Source: https://www.kwtx.com/2024/06/26/central-texas-retired-scouts-group-hike-bike-cameron-park-trails-nearly-30-years-train-big-camping-trip/

Related story: Fourteen year old scout Lily Johnson earned the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement completing 127 nights of camping, over 500 miles of hiking, 85 hours of conservation work, a wilderness first aid course, became a Leave No Trace level one instructor, earned four 50-miler awards and planned two outings for the scout troop – including one 50-mile backpacking trip. “Once I get Eagle I want to just be a model for other scouts,” said Lily, who hopes to inspire other scouts to “do cool things.” Lily isn’t going to let the outdoor adventures end when their scouting career is over. Lily plans to complete America’s through-hiking Triple Crown, which includes completing the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide and the Appalachian Trail. The ambitious teenager hopes that throughout their life they can continue to see and protect the planet’s natural wonders and trails. “These trails have given so much to me, I better give back to them,” Lily said. Scout Salute. More at source: https://mltnews.com/edmonds-scout-first-from-non-male-troop-to-earn-prestigious-outdoor-achievement-medal/

Scouting taught me to be observant while hiking. Walking with my buddy on a jeep road on a hot sunny Philmont day, a rattlesnake slithered between my legs. I was yakking with my buddy and oblivious to my surroundings . Our SM watched, too stunned to shout out. Maybe that was a good thing but he gave me an earful afterwards in front of my patrol. Adult leaders could do that back then as a way to curb stupidity. Lesson learned. Eyes on trail and my feet. I am wary of warm surfaces, crevices, and vegetation. Last year I visited a CA poppy field with Mrs. Schiff who attempted a close-up photo of a pretty flower. Luckily I saw the rattler move in the poppies, close encounter. I mention this to scouts and parents who think hiking is just walking a longer distance with a 32oz ice coffee and ear buds. Hiking is much more than exercise, Scouter Fedorchak said the best way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this snake season is to "be aware of your surroundings." "These snakes are most active at sunset because that's when prey becomes active," he said. If you think a snake may be nearby, "scuff your feet, it puts out a vibration to alert you are there," he added. Out of precaution, Fedorchak advised treating every snake bite like it's venomous. "Take a marker and circle the bite," he instructed. "What they will look for is if there is swelling [and] is there a possible envenomation." My $0.02, Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/record-breaking-number-of-snake-bites-prompts-new-guidance-on-staying-safe/ar-BB1p0S5y?item=themed_featuredapps_enabled

There have been 257 snake bites through the first six months of 2024, according to the North Carolina Poison Control, outpacing the previous six-month record total of 247 snake bites in 2020 which ended with a year total of 733 snake bites. Scott Fedorchak, a volunteer with Scouts of America who’s taught snake recognition for more than 50 years, said lack of resources and severe heat is driving the increase in snake and human interactions. “Snakes are going to where their food and water sources are, and with the rain, or lack thereof here within the last several months, they are now moving to places they can find food and water,” he said. “Right now, that’s people watering their yards, gardens, the edge of their property, and you bring them in closer proximity of each other, now you have a greater chance of interaction between snake and human.” Most NC snake bites are from copperheads. More at source including further explanation (see WRAL video) by Scouter Scott Fedorchak: https://www.wral.com/story/most-snake-bites-ever-in-nc-in-first-six-months-poison-control-says/21499851/

6/15/2024: A message from Bear Grylls, UK Chief Scout "To all my friends and family in Scouts, This September will mark the end of my time as Chief Scout after three 5 year terms as Chief and a total of 15 years in the role. Being Chief Scout has been the greatest honour of my life. The kindness and commitment of our young people and volunteers is incredible. And I’m so proud that since 2009 when I joined, over 2 million people have been through Scouts in the UK. Together we accomplished everything we set out to do – grow our movement and help millions of young people gain skills for life and access to adventure and the outdoors but like every volunteer in our movement, our roles evolve and nothing stays the same forever. I will of course continue as Chief Ambassador of World Scouting, helping support the global movement of some 65 million international scouts." Bear Grylls Chief Scout Source: https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2024/june/a-message-from-bear-grylls-uk-chief-scout

Claytor Lake Boy Scouts Aquatic Center (Virginia) sold to Shah Development, real estate arm of Shelor Motor Mile, for $2.7 million. Lack of bookings and maintenance is mentioned, not surprising with reduced membership (covid) and competition with Summit which is 2 hours away. It is a rather new camp, predating Summit by about ten years. Will money go to bankruptcy and/or program rebuild? June 14, 2024 behind paywall: https://roanoke.com/news/local/business/development/shah-development-shelor-motor-mile-purchases-claytor-lake-boy-scouts-aquatic-center-sold-debt-free-pulaski/article_06a8f7ae-29b3-11ef-92b0-db307a3b3524.html From Aug, 2023 https://pcpatriot.com/whats-happening-at-the-claytor-lake-aquatics-base/

I wish it was SOP for all BSA documents, press releases, messages, etc to be CLEARLY DATED (publication and effective) WITH AUTHOR (person or group) on Page 1 and again on page footers. My $0.02,

In the 1930's, Marty Griffin found his social milieu in Boy Scout Troop 51, under the leadership of Brighton “Bugs” Cain, who earned his nickname for his love of entomology. He never had trouble finding a passion, starting with knot-tying in Boy Scouts. He mastered more than 100 of them, some as complex as those used by sailors on ships, and affixed them to a board that had to be widened with two hinges in order to win the local competition. The troop did most of its overnighting in Camp Dimond in the hills of Montclair and when the camp closed Griffin never got over it. “The anguish we all felt when the Oakland Boy Scout Council sold Camp Dimond for development has shaped my entire life,” he wrote in his memoir. To get from Oakland to Stinson Beach for another overnighter, Bugs Cain put Troop 51 on the Key Route train to the Oakland Mole, where they switched to the San Francisco ferry then the Sausalito Ferry, then the train to Mill Valley. It was a long hike from there but when he saw Bolinas Lagoon from the Dipsea Trail, it was suddenly worth being wet from the overnight drizzle and the blisters on his feet. “Behind the lagoon, thirty-mile-long Bolinas Ridge, an arm of Mt. Tamalpais, loomed in the mist,” he wrote nearly 40 years later. “The smell of salt from the crashing surf at Stinson Beach combined with the aroma of coastal sage after a rain, was unforgettable.” That made an impression and three decades later, he came to the defense of the wildlife in that sparkling saltwater lagoon against the proposed encroachment of a freeway. More of Dr. Griffin's life story including his work as a physician, environmentalist, and public health advocate at source link. BTW, he still has that hinged display board of 100 knots. Scout Salute and Farewell, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/martin-marty-griffin-conservationist-19505794.php

Hmm, CBS link still works for me. Here is same story via youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_8nxlfT0Q4

Ed O'Keefe reports on a scout planned 10.5 mile trail of U.S. history in Paris. https://www.cbsnews.com/video/the-history-of-boy-scouts-in-france/

An enjoyable Sunday morning read. "Tents cover the Oxford County Fairgrounds in June 1949 in Paris for the historic Boy Scout Jamboree, the largest camp gathering in New England at the time. More than 3,000 Scouts from 11 counties participated, with 125 groups from southern Maine. The site is now the location of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School on Main Street.. "One motivated and energetic group from Pownal, led by Scoutmaster David Whittemore, hiked 38 miles of roadways over two days, starting at the Pownal School and staying over in Hebron, before arriving at the fairgrounds." More including photos at source: https://www.pressherald.com/2024/06/09/largest-boy-scout-jamboree-in-new-england-camped-in-paris-75-years-ago/

Great Rivers Council recently offered a class where attendees could get their Federal Aviation Administration drone certification by taking The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), as well as build and keep their DIY drone. The event ended with participants challenging each other in races and aerial contests. Cost $75 More details including photos at source: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/scouts-learn-how-to-fly-with-diy-drones/article_45919aec-1e10-11ef-8722-b3648ec2e345.html

Safeguarding Our Youth General Session presentation (46 min) with Glen Pounder whose job title Youth Protection Executive appears renamed and NEB member Frank Tsuru who also serves as Chair of the Youth Safeguarding Committee. IMHO, presentation gets interesting starting at 19:00 when Mr. Tsuru talks about transparency and policy. Mr. Pounder continues and expands on that discussion. Why NAM presentations can't be broadcast (live and archived) online to all of us remains a puzzle to me. Better yet lets have a two-way dialog, maybe discuss pitfalls of perp profiling, the need for report tracking for both end-user and organizations...I am seeing some of the same failed solutions presented in a new tech suit. We have ideas and questions. My $0.02.

May 31, 2024 Update: The civil lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old Boy Scout Manuel Carvalho killed August 28, 2022, at the Camp Honokaia Boy Scout Camp range has been settled. The terms of the out-of-court settlement are confidential. Neither the Carvalho's family attorney Kris LaGuire nor the BSA attorney Lincoln Ashida would comment further. "There have been no arrests or criminal charges filed in connection with Carvalho’s death." "Capt. Rio-Amon Wilkins of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Division said at the time all the charges under review for potential filing are misdemeanors, punishable by up to a year in jail upon conviction. The statute of limitations for misdemeanors in Hawaii is two years from the time of an incident for the authorities to file related charges." More at source (but behind pay wall) https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2024/05/31/hawaii-news/plaintiffs-boy-scouts-settle-wrongful-death-case/ https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2024/05/31/hawaii-news/plaintiffs-boy-scouts-settle-wrongful-death-case/

May 30, 2024: National Executive Board (NEB) election results from National Annual Meeting from 3 weeks earlier were announced by Brad Tilden. New NEB members: (The NEB has 40-48 members.) "Laurie Champion, managing director at Marsh & McLennan Companies, has served as the Michigan Crossroads Council president and on numerous BSA committees and groups, including the National Program Safety Subcommittee, Insurance Advisory Group, National Governance Task Force and Scouts BSA Committee... Anne-Marie Lamarche is a strategy consultant at Lamarche & Associates with 35 years of experience in marketing strategy and new product development. She has served as council president and area president and was the inaugural chair of National Service Territory 3... Jacob Pruitt is head of Fidelity’s National Charitable Services business unit and president of Fidelity Charitable. He serves as Scoutmaster for Troop 118 in the Pathway to the Rockies Council... Max Siegel, CEO of USA Track & Field, has served as president of global operations at Dale Earnhardt Inc., and manager of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program... Willy Xiao has held positions at OfficeTogether, which was acquired by Envoy; Meta; and Rippling, one of the world’s fastest growing startups. Xiao is an Eagle Scout and was on the executive committee for the 2019 World Scout Jamboree..." More background details at sources: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/scouting-america-welcomes-national-executive-132200254.html https://www.scouting.org/about/governance/national-executive-board/ P.S. So presently, there are 46 NEB members. Not listed in above executive board link ( leaving the NEB?, some are listed in Retired Board Members) Jack Furst Dan Ownby Jim Turley Lyle Knight Frank McAllister Gary Wendlandt