Family Den Pilot Program
Mayflower Council has been accepted into the Boy Scouts of America National Family Den Pilot Program.
Mayflower Council has been accepted into the Boy Scouts of America National Family Den Pilot Program.
Eric H. of Troop 28 Cohasset Earns Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award
Eagle Scout created “first responder sensory kits” to help first responders
Wrentham, Mass. — The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity.
The award recognizes a Scout for their Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each year, local councils select a council-level winner, and each region selects a region-level winner from that pool. A national winner is then chosen from the four regional finalists.
On June 13, 2022, The Mayflower Council, BSA proudly presented the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Award of the Year to:
Eric H.
Troop 28 Cohasset
Sensory Kits for First Responders
Eric’s project raised awareness of autism while providing first responders with the resources and tools they need when they assist people with special needs. His project included: providing 80 sensory kits to multiple towns in the surrounding South Shore towns of Cohasset, Hanover,
Hingham, Hull, Norwell, Scituate.
Eric saw this need for sensory kits after experiences with his older brother, who has autism, where first responders were not equipped to respond to his brother’s needs. To address this need, Eric spoke with a family friend who was a former EMT and Eric’s brother’s teacher at the Amego School in Franklin, Mass., to form his idea of creating a “first responder sensory kit” go bag.
The kits contain items to help first responders communicate with the person in need as well as bring them comfort.
Following the presentation of the Adams Award, Eric also received a citation and a medallion from Brigadier General (Ret.) Emery Maddocks of the Military Order of the World Wars.
“We have a really outstanding project to recognize,” said Gen. Maddocks of Eric’s Sensory Kits. “For dedication to the principles of the Boy Scouts of America as evidenced by not only by his achievement of the highest achievement in Scouting – the Boy Scout Eagle Award –but further by [earning] the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.”
Just before Memorial Day, one Mayflower Council Scout collects clothes for veterans…
Beyond trips to the beach, hot dogs, and lawn mowing, Memorial Day retains one true purpose: Remember.
And while some Scouts will carefully place flags beside the graves of those who served, and many others will proudly march in parades, one Eagle candidate sought to remember and honor those veterans who still walk among us.
Carlie B. of Newton’s Troop 209G explained her project on its GoFundMe page.
“My name is Carlie,” she posted. “I’m a 13 yr old Life Scout in troop 209 located in Newton, MA. I’ve partnered with the… New England Center and Home for Veterans as part of my Eagle Scout Project.”
That partnership – noticed by WHDH – garnered Carlie and the project some well-deserved attention at this important time of the year.
“I think that joining scouting teaches you plenty of great lessons in life,” said Carlie. “it really helps you out.”
And in turn, Carlie – who raised almost $17,00 – helped out many veterans; 250 or so were gifted clothing, toiletries, and shoes.
Speaking of the good turn, Carlie implied she simply followed the example of another Scout.
“My dad, he’s an Eagle Scout,” she told WHDH’s camera. ”And so, when I receive Eagle in the next few months, I will become an Eagle Scout just like him.”
Here at the Mayflower Council, we think her fellow Scouts should follow Carlie’s example, too.
Troop 209G Scoutmaster and her Scouts garnered national attention from Bryan on Scouting…
Scoutmaster Sangeet Srikanth is a trained educator. But she insists that some of the most important lessons are taught outside the classroom.
“None of the experiences in Scouting can be measured in terms of letter grades, GPA, test scores,” she told Bryan on Scouting. “But you can witness and experience it every day in your son and daughter’s life.”
It was a chance exposure to Scouting that changed the lives of Sangeet, her son Arnav, and her daughter Anishka.
Bryan Wendell of ScoutingMagazine.org explained that Srikanth “first learned about the BSA in 2010 on a family trip to Boston when they happened upon an event celebrating the BSA’s 100th birthday. Her son, Arnav, wanted to sign up right away. Her daughter did, too, but this was before the BSA had opened all its programs to young women.”
Enter Troop 355 of Newton. Or, make that, Arnav entered the venerable unit. Then, fast forward to 2017, and an Eagle Scout court of honor.
“Every rank advancement was a clear sign of leadership building,” explained Sangeet. “Every merit badge was a new life skill.”
Two years later, it was Anishka’s turn to join Scouts BSA.
“Every day, my admiration for her increases as she excels in her maturity and ability to deal with the challenges of life,” Srikanth said.
However, it’s not like Arnav or Anishka were alone on their journey. Their mother was there – unofficially – every step of the way.
Later, after a two-year stint as an assistant Scoutmaster, Sangeet was named Scoutmaster of Troop of 209G.
It’s a commitment, but Srikanth indicated it’s more than worth it.
“It’s about five to six years from start to finish — weekly meetings, camping trips, outdoor trips, and finally the long-awaited Eagle project,” she says. “Some families find it hard to commit with their own busy careers.”
That said, the end rewards, particularly for Eagle-earners, are worth it.
Meanwhile, Sangeet hopes that other families, particularly those in the Indian community, see Scouting as a viable adjunct to traditional education.
“Scouting structures their lives and gives them the most valuable experience that even the best classroom education may not fully provide,” she said.
As we continue our work to enhance the traditions of Scouting here in the 21st Century and augment the privacy and safety of our membership, the Mayflower Council will soon look to move most membership functions online. Long story short, the days of youth paper-based membership applications are coming to an end.
At their February 16 council executive board meeting, $250k was approved for a major marketing campaign to help entice new members to join Scouting in Mayflower Council. The campaign is being directed by the Council Marketing Committee and managed by Mittcom, a local marketing firm who excels at integrated campaigns unitizing social platforms. The executive board agreed to direct the funds from the council endowment fund.
One of the best ways to promote our programs and encourage new membership is to continuously promote our units and activities to the public. By doing so, we can create several positive outcomes if we show our units, activities, and programs off “at their best.”
Those benefits include:
On a unit level, here are some ideas and ways that you and your leadership can easily promote your programs and units within the community:
Of course, all of the above ideas take a certain level of commitment from your unit committee or leadership to make it work. So, consider asking for a volunteer or parent to help – it’s important. After all, spreading our good news will show your unit’s commitment to your community.
As part of the Mayflower Council’s Spring Membership Campaign, we would like to encourage your participation in Operation Re-Engagement between now and March 31st, 2021. This effort, which is council wide, is designed to invite former Cub Scouts who may have dropped from your roster back into your pack. Your participation will be beneficial to the health of your pack, district, and the Mayflower Council.
Here’s How To Make This Work…
A Few Tips for Success…
We appreciate your effort in Operation Re-Engagement. If I can be of assistance, please email Rob or call him directly at 508-217-4623.
As part of The Mayflower Council’s Spring Membership Campaign, we are primarily focusing on Scouts BSA troops and Venturing crews and 4 opportunities to increase participation in these aspects of the Scouting Experience.
WHAT’S INVOLVED
The Spring Membership Campaign involves several different elements:
SETTING YOU UP FOR SUCCESS
We have complied LINKS for the following documents to help you succeed, including:
PLEASE NOTE: Once you have set a date for your April membership event, please let the council know by filling out the form located here.
THE INCENTIVES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Additionally, the following resources are available upon request:
Simply email Rob to reserve yours.
NOTE FOR VENTURING CREWS: Use this as an opportunity to invite prospective members to an upcoming meeting or event. Additionally, we will be working on getting you information on Scouts who have “aged out” of Scouts BSA.
NEED HELP OR TO DISCUSS IDEAS ?
If you would like to set up a time, please click here to schedule a time with Rob to discuss.
OR
You can also register here for Virtual Office Hours on Tuesday, March 22nd and Monday, March 28th from 7 to 9 PM each night.
We appreciate your effort with our Spring recruiting effort.
One of the best ways to promote our programs and encourage new membership is to continuously promote our units and activities to the public. By doing so, we can create several positive outcomes if we show our units, activities, and programs off “at their best.”
Those benefits include:
On a unit level, here are some ideas and ways that you and your leadership can easily promote your programs and units within the community:
Of course, all of the above ideas take a certain level of commitment from your unit committee or leadership to make it work. So, consider asking for a volunteer or parent to help – it’s important. After all, spreading our good news will show your unit’s commitment to your community.