Boy Scout leaders can now get trained anywhere at any time.

With the launch of Scouting U’s eLearning content for Boy Scout leaders, Scouters now can get trained on their own schedule — anywhere, any time.
The courses are conveniently organized by role — Scoutmaster, assistant Scoutmaster, Varsity coach, assistant Varsity coach, leader of 11-year-old Scouts, troop/team committee chairman, troop/team committee member and merit badge counselor — meaning you’ll know exactly which training courses you need to be “Trained.”

Modules range from five to 15 minutes in length. They’re designed to be completed at your own pace — all at once or one at a time.

The modules are grouped into three learning plans:

Complete before the first meeting
Complete within the first 30 days in your volunteer role
Complete to become “position trained”
The modules stay put once you’re done, so you can return to review any section at any time.

Ready to get started? Log in to My.Scouting.org and click on “BSA Learn Center.”

Click Here to Read More

KTC Scouters Rod Pfannensteil and Joshua Paulin will be honored with the Bronze Pelican Award for service to Catholic Scouting from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. All are invited to come support these and Scouters from other councils as they receive their religious emblem from Bishop McManus at the annual Catholic Scouting Adult Awards Dinner to be held on Friday, June 2, 2017 in St. Joseph’s Parish Center (68 Central St., Auburn, MA).  The evening begins with a social at 5:30 PM with dinner at 6 PM with the award ceremony to follow.

Tickets must be purchased in advance through May 25, 2017, and can be purchased at  https://squareup.com/store/worcester-catholic-scouting/.  Proceeds from ticket sales goes to support the work of the Diocese of Worcester Catholic Committee on Scouting.

For more information on the Bronze Pelican Award, click here.

On April 1, 2017, the National Council, BSA announced that Tour and Activity Plans ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED to conduct a Scouting related activity. Please read the FAQ below for more information.

Tour and Activity Plan Terminated FAQ

A cross-functional team has completed an evaluation of the BSA’s Tour and Activity Plan, resulting in a recommendation to terminate the plan effective April 1, 2017. We recognize that those who were using the tool may wish to know why so the following FAQs have been developed.

We recommend that you sign up for the weekly Scouting Wire newsletter to ensure you receive updates directly in your inbox.

Q. What does this mean for me, my unit, my council, and the Scouting family?

• Reduces complexity, cutting back on processes and paperwork for unit leaders.
• Increases consistency with the Commitment to Safety, the Guide to Safe Scouting, Risk Assessment Strategy, as well as Camp Standards planning tools.
• Changes the conversation, engaging everyone in risk-based planning vs. process.
• Eliminates processing, freeing staff to focus on membership and removing administrative burden.

Q. What is the new process?

A.   There is no required process, although Scouters are reminded to conduct the Scouting program consistent with BSA rules, regulations, and policies. Flexible risk assessment tools are summarized in the Guide to Safe Scouting, and detailed in the Enterprise Risk Management Guidebook.

Q. Will there be a replacement for the Tour and Activity Plan?

A. No.

Q. Will units have to file any trip forms of any kind? Is there any REQUIRED notification to council for trips?

A. No, however the BSA program includes several planning tools (Checklists, The Sweet 16 of BSA Safety, Flying Plan) that are designed not for “filing,” but to prompt discussions/conversations about risks.

Q. Why are you terminating the plan?

A.    In addition to the above reasons, the BSA has adopted a flexible risk assessment strategy for your use. This is summarized in the Guide to Safe Scouting, and detailed in the Enterprise Risk Management Guidebook. Knowing and running the program as designed includes numerous safety features.

Q. Does this include Exploring?

A.   Yes, the manual process Exploring has used for Outing permits in the past is also discontinued.

Q. This is the first I’m hearing of this, why?

A. The termination of the plan is effective on April 1, 2017.

Q. Will the entire activity plan idea go away?

A. No, having a plan is part of “Be Prepared.” Planning is integral into the program literature.

Q. What will this mean for considering safety on these outings?

A. The Scouting program, as contained in our handbooks and literature, integrates many safety features. However, no policy or procedure will replace the review and vigilance of trusted adults and leaders at the point of program execution. Source: Commitment to Safety

Q. Is the change simply, “We don’t have to fill out a Tour and Activity Plan anymore?” All the other steps are the same?

A. The program hasn’t changed. For example, permission from parents is still needed to take youth on a trip, as would be program requirements for annual health and medical records for all participants. The Cub Scouts camping program is still limited to council-approved locations, and so on.

Q. Has all literature been updated to reflect this change?

A. Key documents are either updated or in the process of being updated. Other literature will be updated in the normal revision cycle, so it may take several years to complete. If you find something to be updated, feel free to let us know with the “Got Questions” link to the left.

Insurance Questions:

Based on initial feedback, many questions have arisen on insurance. The elimination of the tour and activity plan was not driven by insurance, or the many myths/misconceptions including “ … you have to file a Tour and Activity Plan, and/or be in a field uniform to have insurance … ” surrounding insurance. The following insurance related FAQs and sources are offered.

Q. Will the liability insurance policy still provide coverage if a tour and activity plan is no longer required?

A. Yes. Registered volunteers are provided primary general liability insurance coverage for official Scouting activities except when using an automobile or watercraft. A volunteer’s (whether registered or not) automobile liability insurance is primary with the local council automobile policy providing excess automobile coverage. Non-registered volunteers are provided excess general liability and automobile liability insurance coverage for official Scouting activities. Link. There is not a requirement to fill out a form for coverage.

Q. What is an official Scouting activity?

A.  An official Scouting activity is defined in the insurance policy as consistent with the values, Charter and Bylaws, Rules and Regulations, the operations manuals, and applicable literature of the Boy Scouts of America. Link.

Facilities Coordinator Dale blue is working hard on renovating and improving our facilities at both Nobscot Scout Reservation and Camp Resolute so that they will be finished in time for our 2017 campers to enjoy.  If you have visited Nobscot in the evening lately you may have noticed that the sign is now illuminated from 6-9 pm every night so that it’s easier to see the entrance from the road.  Other improvements coming include:

• A new UTV at Nobscot Scout Reservation
• Renovation of the main bathroom at Camp Resolute
• New fencing at the shooting sports ranges at Camp Resolute
• Solar panels on the new latrine at Kiowa campsite.

As well as a few others in the works.  Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details, we’ll post photos of the improvements as they progress.

Now that both councils have voted to merge, much will be happening to begin implementation of the new Scout Council.

Volunteer committees and council staffs will be gathering to:

• Nominate a joint slate of new council board members and officers to be approved at a board meeting in late April and take office May 1.
• Immediately start the Scout Executive Selection Process in early April, which will take a few months.
• Refine the details of how the new council will operate.
• Work with a team of staff members from the National BSA Office in Dallas to begin merging membership files, accounting records, personnel records, bank accounts and properties records

Meanwhile,

• Philmont Crews are making final preparations for their shake-down weekend and itinerary refinement and the Jamboree Troops will also be getting ready for their exciting summer.
• Next fall, a suitable satellite office will be secured to service the southern part of the new council.
• Councils will continue their current schedule of Boy Scout Resident Camps, Day Camp, STEM Camp and training courses.
• Cub Scout Packs, Scout Troops, Venture Crews and Exploring Posts and Clubs will prepare for fall recruitment drives across the 64 communities comprising the new council.
• Work will begin on developing a new council website soon, combining the best of both existing websites, providing more and more on-line opportunities for registration, advancement and enrollment in the best program Scouting has to offer.
• Coordination will begin for all the comprehensive leader training programs for 2018.

May 1^st will be the official first day of our new council, serving 62-towns from Plymouth to Stow. A name-the-council contest will determine our council’s new name. Watch for details soon on the web site.

Please continue to monitor the web site for more information and opportunities as we enter this new and exciting chapter in local Scouting in eastern Massachusetts.

Bob Dorn

Council Administrator

www.mayflowerbsa.org

Far away from the bustle of Mexico City in the small town of Puerto Penasco, families get by any way they can.  The area is extremely financially depressed and parents worry that their sons will see the local gangs as a way to earn money fast  and be driven towards dangerous choices.  For that reason these parents jumped at the chance to partner with Troop 185 Wellesley for a supported Scouting program.  Now they need your help!

With over 6 new units in the past year the Puerto Penasco Scouting program is attracting families from all over the area who see Scouting as a safe path for their sons to grow in character and skills while staying away from dangerous elements.  A Scouting Information night held there last year attracted over 200 interested families and had to be moved to a local movie theater!  While there is plenty of interest though, one thing is lacking: funds.  Many of these parents cannot afford Scouting uniforms for their sons and so Scout Leaders Yvette Lavin and John Fortini are putting out a call for gently used Scouting uniforms.

Both Cub Scout and Boy Scout uniforms in all sizes are needed for the effort.  This includes pants and shirts and should be clean and gently used (no holes).  They may be dropped off with John Fortini at 8 Macarthur Rd in Wellesley, MA 02482.

New Boy Scout Council Will Provide More Programs to 11,000 Local Scouts in 62 Massachusetts Communities

Following their respective Special Council Meetings, the Mayflower Council and the Old Colony Council announced today the approval of their consolidation and merger to form a new Boy Scout Council.  This new council will serve youth and young adults from the metrowest to southeastern Massachusetts.

“We’re thrilled that our volunteer leaders voted to move forward with the merger plans of these two healthy councils.  This creates a firm foundation for scouting to thrive in our region for years to come.” said Mayflower Council President Sherry Bowden.

Old Colony Council President Rob Hillman added “We worked closely together getting to this point.  We are now ready to take the next steps of building a new scouting council which will enhance  the programs for our youth.”

As a merger of equals a new name will be chosen for the combined council during 2017 which will carry forward the strong traditions of both councils and set the course for a united future.  The consolidation will result in more operating efficiency, thereby freeing up personnel and financial resources that can be reallocated to serve unit leaders, youth and their families.  The scout offices in Canton and Marlborough will eventually be replaced by an office in a central location.   Camps Nobscot, Resolute, and Squanto are key assets and all three camps will be retained and used by the new council.

The new council will serve over 11,000 young adults in 62 communities around Boston.  Mayflower Council serves 21 towns and cities across the metrowest from Newton to Stow to Westborough to Mendon.  Old Colony continues south from the Knox Trail region, serving 41 communities in southeastern Massachusetts from Bellingham to Hull to Plymouth

The new council will serve young adults with a full range of Boy Scout programs including:  Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for boys and young men from kindergarten to age 18 and the co-ed Explorer and Venturing programs for young men and women in their teens.  Currently there are 332 Boy Scout Troops, Cub Scout Packs, Explorer Posts, and Venture Crews across the 62 communities served by the new council.
To learn more about Old Colony Council, visit: http://www.oldcolonycouncil.org/