APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter South Mountain District MINSI TRAILS COUNCIL, BSA
NEWSLETTER... NEWS!!
Spring is here! Like it or not, summer will soon be following. Does your unit have a strong summer program to help with recruiting and retention? Why not share your ideas by submitting articles and/or photos of your unit’s activities or events to Bernie Suess at [email protected] for the District newsletter? Submit your information by the 22nd of each month.
2017 DATES MEETING LOCATION KEY Roundtable / OA Chapter 7:00pm 1st Wednesday [2] [1] East Hills Moravian Church District Committee 7:00pm 2nd Tuesday [1] 1830 Butztown Rd, Bethlehem Eagle Board & Project Review 7:00pm 3rd Tuesday [1] District Commissioners 7:00pm 3rd Wednesday [3] [2] St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network 800-801 Ostrum Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 District Recharter Day January 7, 2017 [11] [3] Minsi Trails Council Office OA Family Banquet January 7 [13] [4] Camp Minsi Wood Badge Dinner January 8 [8] [5] Trexler Scout Reservation Council Recognition Dinner January 27 [1] Klondike Derby February 25 [4] [6] Akelaland Trainer’s EDGE February 18 [TBA] [7] Settler’s Camp Pinewood Derby March 4 [11] [8] Jordan Lutheran Church University of Scouting March 11 [9] [9] Lehigh Carbon Community College District Recognition Dinner March 18 [91] Spring Camporee March 25 [7] [10] Just Born, Inc. 1300 Stefko Blvd., Bethlehem National Youth Leadership Training April 21-23 & 28-30 [6] [11] First Baptist Church, Bethlehem Camp Trexler Beaver Weekend May 5-7 [5] [12] Lower Milford Township Camp Minsi Beaver Weekend May 19-21 [4] [13] Stroudsmoor Country Inn (Stroudsburg, PA) Spring OA Weekend June 2-4 [5] [14] Louise Moore Park OA - Section NE-5 Conclave June 9-11 [98] SM District Planning Conference June 13 [TBA] [15] The Meadows, Hellertown Day Camp July 10-14 [14] [16] DeSales University, Center Valley National Jamboree July 16-28 [99] Fall OA Weekend September 8-10 [4] [90] Iron Pigs Stadium Fall Camporee September 22-24 [4] Fall Family Camp October 6-8 [TBA] [91] Hellertown American Legion OA OctoberFest Weekend October 13-15 [3] [92] Sportsmen’s Club, Hellertown Fall Cub Event October 21-22 [92] [93] Wesley United Methodist Church Scouting for Food November 4 and 11 [96] George E. Moerkirk Emergency Medical Institute Popcorn sorting November 17 [TBA] [98] Forrestburg Scout Reservation Popcorn distribution November 18 [TBA] NOTICE: If you have a question regarding any date or activity, [99] Summit Bechtel Reserve please contact the respective Chair listed on the District Committee Page.
The South Mountain District is a geographical area located in Lehigh and Northampton counties which serves the school districts of Bethlehem Area, Saucon Valley, and Southern Lehigh. Municipalities within the South Mountain District include Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township, Center Valley, Coopersburg, Fountain Hill, Freemansburg, Hanover Township, Hellertown, Lower Milford, Lower Saucon, Steel City, and Upper Saucon. APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter -2-
S SOUTH MOUNTAIN DISTRICT LINKS
South Mountain District Home Page: http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/ South Mountain District Fliers and Brochures Page: http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/fliers.htm South Mountain District Cub Resources Page: http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/cub_resources.htm South Mountain District Award Forms: http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/documents/Form-DistrictAwardofMerit.pdf http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/documents/Form-Fellowship.pdf
These forms are used for Scouter recognition. http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/documents/District_Bio_Form.pdf Scouter Bio Form. Fill in and email to Cheryl Moreira at [email protected]
SMD Announcements http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/announce.htm Advancement and Recognition Guide http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/documents/Guide-Advancement.pdf FORUM Newsletter http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/newsletters/current_forum.php FORUM Attachments http://www.minsi-southmountain.com/newsletters/~forum_attach.php
IMPORTANT DATES COMING UP: 2017 SOUTH MOUNTAIN DISTRICT ACTIVITIES APRIL 5 - SMD Roundtable/OA meeting, 7:00 PM APRIL 11 - District Committee meeting, 7:00 PM APRIL 18 - District Eagle Scout Service Project Approval/Boards of Review (new night) APRIL 19 - SMD Commissioners meeting, 7:00 PM APRIL 21 to 23 - NYLT weekend #1 of 2 at Akelaland Camp, Trexler Scout Reservation APRIL 28 to 30 - NYLT weekend #2 of 2 at Akelaland Camp, Trexler Scout Reservation
SOUTH MOUNTAIN DISTRICT ROUNDTABLE AGENDAS Start time is 7:00 PM
DATE CUB SCOUTS BOY SCOUTS
April 5, 2017 Year-round Programming—Plan- Dutch Oven Cooking Competition ning Summer Activities
May 3, 2017 COMBINED – Fireside Cracker Barrel
June 7, 2017 COMBINED – Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources presen- tation APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter -3- Eagle Advancement News
Hello South Mountain District!
After many years of dedicated and tireless service, Mrs. Roxanne Mayrosh will be stepping down as the South Moun- tain District Advancement Eagle Chair. As a benefactor of all of the hard work of the entire Eagle Committee, I personally want to thank Roxanne for running such an efficient team and for making such a clean hand off. The team Roxanne has in place are a selfless group of people whose only goal is to support the young men seek- ing to attain the rank of Eagle and to maintain the integrity of that rank. Thank you Roxanne!
With the change in Eagle Committee Chair, the Eagle Board and Proposal Re- view night is also changing. Beginning with April 2017, the Eagle Board and Review night will be held on the 3rd Tuesday night of each month at 7PM at East Hills Mora- vian Church. So the first Tuesday night Eagle Committee meeting will be held on April 18th, 2017. Please mark your calendars accordingly and share within your units.
Thank you,
Mike Caffrey South Mountain Eagle Advancement Chair
Around the District
South Mountain District Roundtable - St. Luke’s Priscilla Payne Hurd Education Center March 8, 2017 APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter -4- Around the District South Mountain District Volunteer Appreciation and Recognition Dinner Hellertown American Legion March 18, 2017 APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter -5- APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter -6-
2017 “National Treasure” Spring Hike-oree
Historic Philadelphia 10-Mile Hike Saturday, May 13, 2017 (This hike is in lieu of the annual Spring Camporee)
Important Pre-Hike Information Please read carefully! We are proud to once again hold the “National Treasure” 10-mile hike through Historic Philadelphia. This hike is, which counts towards the Boy Scout’s Hiking Merit Badge, is loosely based on events in the movie “National Treasure”. It takes us by historic and cultural landmarks such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown, the Betsy Ross House, Penn’s Landing, the Irish Museum, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and so much more! While you won’t have time to actually “visit” these sights, you’ll be able to see them and perhaps plan another trip to spend more time.
Registration & Payment Deadline: April 14, 2017 This is NOT flexible. We know this sounds early, however SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) is requiring several weeks advance notice for the final headcount because they will be adding train cars just for us. They need to allow enough time to plan for appropriate number of rail cars and additional staff. (In 2006, they added extra staff and 4 extra cars for us!)
Note: If your unit does not register on time but wishes to participate, you will have to purchase rail tickets on your own: both to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia where the hike begins and to return back to the Lansdale station.
Who should you invite /encourage to attend? Everyone!!! Boy Scouts, Venture Crews, Cub Packs, leaders, spouses, siblings, other family members, neighbors, and anyone else you thing would like to experience this hike!
Cost: $9 per person This fee includes a group rate round-trip train ticket, event patch, and a hard copy of the Hike Booklet and map for each person registered. Register at http://minsitrails.org/NVhikeoree. Payment MUST be received by deadline also as the group train tickets must be purchased.
Hike Day Schedule 7:45 - 8:10 AM Check-in at SEPTA’s Lansdale Station (80 W. Main Street, Lansdale, PA 19446) There’s en o ree r n on ee en s
8:36 AM Train leaves Lansdale SEPTA station for 30th Street Station in Philadelphia (Event staff will also be departing at this time, so BE ON TIME.)
9:37 AM Train arrives 30th Street Station in Philadelphia
9:50 AM Begin Hike
4:50 PM Arrive back at 30th Street Station
5:11 PM Train leaves to return back to the Lansdale Station
6:23 PM Train arrives back at Lansdale Station
NOTE: If your group does not arrive on time for either or both trains, you will be required to purchase individual tickets at regular price. Pre-paid group rate fees cannot be refunded.
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Hike Booklet/Map - Event Patch - Train Tickets Upon check-in at the Lansdale SEPTA station, unit leaders will receive a packet containing the following for each person registered with their group:
A hard copy of the Hike Booklet/Map which includes directions and information about what to look for along hike route (similar to the Heritage Trails Hike booklets). Food/Restroom facilities are denoted throughout the booklet. Please carefully review the booklet ahead of time so that you and your Scouts can be better prepared. There’s no need to print it out for the hike since everyone will receive their own copy.
Event patch (Additional patches may be ordered with registration. If there are extra, you can purchase more the morning of the hike.)
The train “ticket” is actually one ticket for the entire group therefore each person will not receive an individual one. If, for some reason, you do not make the scheduled train the group is on, you must purchase individual tickets. All parties traveling with the group must travel together.
Tour Permits (Tour and Activity Plan form) Because this is an out of Council event, ALL participating Troops/Crews/Packs MUST submit a tour permit (Tour and Activity Plan form.) A blank form is included in this packet. Use this information where requested: Description of tour or activity: 10 mile hike through Philadelphia From (city and state) YOUR unit’s town to Philadelphia PA Itinerary chart line 1: YOUR unit’s town to Lansdale, PA Itinerary chart line 2: Lansdale, PA to Philadelphia PA via SEPTA Train Party will travel by (check all that apply) – Check boxes for car & train
Submit form by: 1. Sending hard copy to Minsi Trails Council office 2. Emailing to Bonnie Keller at [email protected], or 3. Logging into My.Scouting.org to submit online
What to Wear Class “A” Uniform Scout hat Comfortable/well cushioned sneakers for walking on sidewalks (remember that walking on concrete all day is MUCH different than hiking on a trail or in the woods).
What to Bring Money for food - or bring lunch & dinner Non-messy breakfast to eat on train if desired Sunglasses Water bottles (2) – or a camel pack would be perfect Day Pack or small back pack (light-weight …. Remember, you have to carry it all day) Extra socks Poncho (just in case) Pens/pencils Cameras/Phone (charged batteries & empty memory card) No Pets – they won’t be allowed on the train! NO KNIVES - Due to public transportation and secure areas, do not bring anything that would not pass through “airport” type security screening.
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Advancement Notes Several requirements can be earned while on this hike: Boy Scouts Merit Badges Hiking - counts towards 1 of the 5 required ten-mile hikes Citizenship of the Nation 2.(a) (d)
Cub Scouts Tiger-Elective: Tiger Tails #7 Wolf Elective: Finding Your Way #3(a & b if you bring a compass) Bear Adventure #1 (loosely) Webelos Walkabout
Movie “National Treasure" (2004 - PG - Starring Nicolas Cage & Diane Kruger) While watching it is not required, it is an interesting and entertaining way to learn about some of our nation’s history. A good portion of the movie was filmed in areas along the hike route. Quite a bit of information in the hike booklet references events in the movie.
This symbol in the Hike Booklet denotes info/questions based on the movie.
Questions? Contact Fall Hike-Aree Chairmen, Michele & Ken Morrow 610-393-1016 (cell) or 610-837-9499 (home) [email protected] APRIL 2017 South Mountain District Newsletter -9-
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HHeerree’’ss hhooww yyoouu ccaann hheellpp…… You can be directly involved with a unit in your area – you don’t need to have a son or daughter in the program! South Mountain District has great units in: Cub Scouting – boys aged 6-11 Boy Scouts – boys aged 12-18 Venturing - boys and girls aged 14-21 You can serve as a Unit Commissioner – help multiple units in your area to deliver a quality program You can serve on the District Committee – various roles are available to help deliver district level programs, promote the Scouting experience, help with fundraising, promote and deliver training, and much more!
The mission of the BSA is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. We have many roles to chose from and areas where we can use your help!
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