What's Inside

2015 GOLDEN EAGLE DINNER

What’s Inside... The 2015 12th Annual Golden Eagle Dinner Council Events 2-3 Was held on Wednesday, March 11th, 2015 OA History 4-5 At The Waterfront Restaurant, Cargill Room

Winter Events 6-8 Hall of Famer, David Robinson was the guest of honor at this Help Needed/Comm.Svc. 9 year’s Golden Eagle Dinner. Dave Robinson autographed memorabilia were some of the items auctioned off. Mr. Rob- Camp 10-11 inson provided us with an incredibly unique opportunity, 100% of proceeds from the auction will benefit Scouting in Commissioners Corner 12 the Gateway Area Council. Mr. Robinson gave a very charming and entertaining speech, Council News 13 full of humor and heart that was enjoyed by all. He was very gracious following the dinner and program., meeting and talk- Training 14 ing with everyone who wished. Earth Fair 15 This year’s event was hosted by Venturer, Virginia Wightman. Pack 247 Cub Scouts enjoyed meeting Mr. Dave Robinson, Green Virginia did an excellent job and we thank her. Bay Packer legend and NFL Hall of Famer. One of the greatest Unit Updates 16-17 NFL players of all time! Scout Shop 18 Golden Eagle Sponsors: Dahl Automotive, JF Brennan Company Additional Sponsors: Coulee Bank, First Supply, Gundersen Inc. and Logistics Health Inc. Health System, Kwik Trip, Mathy Construction Company, Mayo Clinic Health System, Merchants Bank,Moen Sheehan Meyer LTD, Pepsi Cola of La Crosse, Access Commercial Real Estate, Our Eagle Sponsors for the evening: BMO Harris Bank, Davy McGladrey, MeriTrust, Order of the Arrow, Reinhart Food Ser- Engineering, Dynamic Recycling, Festival Foods, Fox vice, State Bank Financial, Sparta Community Leaders, 25/48,Friends of the Gateway Area Council, River Rocks Coffee, TrustPoint, Wipfli LLC & Xcel Energy. and Robert & Frances Skemp. THANK YOU!

Gateway Area Council, BSA | 2600 Quarry Road, La Crosse, WI 54601 P: 608-761-0074 | F: 608-784-4047 | gacbsa.org 2015 ANNUAL MERIT BADGE DAY RECOGNITION DINNER

This year’s Merit Badge Day theme was based on the STEM Program. STEM is Sci- The Gateway Area Council ence, Technology, Engineering, and Mathe- Boy Scouts of America matics. 200 Boy Scouts attended Merit Badge 2015 Annual Recognition Dinner Day Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 in Onalaska, WI at LDS Church and St. Pat’s Church We invite you to join us at the 2015 Annual Recognition Dinner To be held Saturday, April 18 2015 at Fox Hollow Banquet Hall

Our mission for Merit Badge Day: This is a special evening to say “Thank You” to some very We provide an opportunity for scouts to earn Merit Badges Deserving people who help make our communities on their path towards their Eagle Award. We pair up Merit Badges with leaders in that industry to give an opportunity A little brighter. for scouts to learn a new skill and/or a future career. We look forward to seeing you there!

This year we offered 24 merit badges! Scouts were able to earn 2015 Recognition Dinner Program the following Merit Badges: Architecture, Chess, Collections, Medi- The program will feature Scouting fellowship, reflection on an cine, Disability Awareness, American Business, Fire Safety, Ameri- Outstanding year in 2014, a celebration of Scouting, can Cultures, Chemistry, Communication, Electricity, Law, Mining Several recognitions and awards: in Society, Oceanography, Sustainability, Electronics, and Crime Prevention. 2014 Eagle Class All 36 Eagle Scouts will be recognized for their achievement in 2014. Special Note: Thank you to the Merit Badge Councilors for donat- ing their time; Ni-Sanak-Tani members by helping pre-pare and Silver Beaver Award Several individuals will be recognized serve lunch to all the attendees; Training Committee members for For their noteworthy service to your support; and Clark Garthwait for your help this year. Others. This is the highest award a Next year’s Merit Badge Day is Boy Scout Council can bestow on a February 6, 2016 Volunteer.

Special Awards Many recognitions will be presented To individuals who have distinguished Themselves through their service to Young people.

RSVP Obtain form and RSVP no later than Friday, April 10, 2015.

Gateway Area Council, BSA | 2600 Quarry Road, La Crosse, WI 54601 P: 608-761-0074 | F: 608-784-4047 | gacbsa.org This year’s event is scheduled for: PINEWOOD DERBY ** Saturday, April 11, 2015 at the Whitehall Elementary School Gymnasium ** District Derby Info. (Whitehall City Center is the old High School located on Dewey St. Enter on the east side) SEVEN RIVERS DISTRICT WINDING TRAILS DISTRICT DERBY To qualify for this event, a Cub Scout must Champion - Open Pack - Open have placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Place in their The Winding Trials District will be holding its annual Adult/Sibling -LEGO Racing Den Level within their own Pack (i.e., the Pinewood Derby on Saturday, April 11 at the Tomah TIME: 10 a.m.—Noon, Sat., April 11th Questions? Contact Tammy Schmitz 608-784-4040 top three finishers from each Den level – Fairgrounds. Registration starts at 8:30 A.M. with Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos 1, and We- WHERE: Valley View Mall (Sears [email protected] Court), Onalaska, WI racing starting at 9:15 A.M. The top three scouts in belos 2). If for some reason they are unable each age group, from each pack, are welcome to or do not wish to attend, the next runner-up Same day as the Mall Show come and race against all the other scouts in the may take their place.  3 Divisions: Pack Champs, district. Entry fee is $4.00 in advance or $5.00 at the ** PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL Open Cub Scout, Open Adult/ door. We also will be having an adult and youth PARTICIPANTS ** Siblings/Public open class for any other racers. However if a scout Pre-registration will aid us tremendously in  And LEGO cars building/ wins in his age group he is not qualified to race in planning and timing of this event. The regis- racing workshop. Free, no the open class. Entry forms are in Clarks Monday tration deadline is April 6th. If your Derby registration required, and Minute. falls within April 6th & April 11th, please just materials provided let us know of your intent to attend and we  $3 for all Pre-registered can add your Scouts’ names to the database Scouts & others by April 3 SOARING EAGLE DISTRICT as soon as they are available. We can add  $5 entry fee per PWD car after Scouts the day of the race, although we pre- April 3 and for walk-ins. Whitehall (Pack 78) 2015 Soaring Eagle District Pinewood fer not to, due to time constraints, but it Derby Finals may be done if time allows. Questions? Contact Tammy Schmitz 608-784-4040 It’s hard to believe, but another year has flown by. It is now ** There will be a $5.00 fee per Scout to [email protected] time again to plan for the Regional Pinewood Derby. White- cover costs of Trophies/Awards ** hall is pleased to host this event. for:

3 the Order.

OA HISTORY Other groups existed at Scout camps that eventually succumbed to more popu- By Chester Hilton lar programs. National Capital Area Council used Clan of the Mystic Oak (CMO) for decades before changing over to the OA. Many of these groups only changed to OA after the OA was fully integrated into the BSA in 1948 as the 2015 - Centennial year of Order of the Arrow official Scout honor society. Likewise the Tribe of Papago at Camp Lawton in Tucson, Arizona eventually became OA. They kept the name Tribe of Papago at Before Na Sanak Tani or Braves of Decorah Order of the Arrow lodges in the camp, but instead of serving as the camp honor society it became a conserva- Gateway Area Council, there was the Tribe of Gimogash. The following is from tion group open to all campers.ht not cast aside what works and is in keeping the national OA website. with Scouting principles and is helpful to the council and the lives of young men Non-OA Camp Fraternities for the purpose of stopping those other groups lacking in integrity. The motion At one time the Order of the Arrow, or more appropriately Wimachtendienk was amended to discourage groups not based on Scout ideals. Part of the out- W.W., was only one of numerous fraternal camp societies established all across come was groups like Wimachtendienk, W.W., Ku-Ni-Eh and Tribe of Gimogash the country at local Scout camps. During the earliest years of Scouting other fra- became experimental BSA societies. ternal programs developed such as Firecrafters, Ku-Ni-eh and Tribe of Gimogash. Chief Scout Executive James E. West had to know that groups not in keeping Like Wimachtendienk, these programs often spread from council to council and with Scouting’s values existed, were deeply embedded and that merely stating camp to camp becoming multi-council programs. Gimogash started by one time policy that societies not adhering to Scout principles would be banned would Kansas City and longtime Toledo Scout Executive J. St. Clair Mendenhall actually be insufficient (the BSA did ship A.S. MacFarlane off as far as possible; he be- began in 1914, one year before Wimachtendienk. Gimogash for years existed in came the first Scout Executive of Philippines Council in Manila circa 1924). In- more local councils than the Order. However, Gimogash’s rule against having a stead West observed Goodman developing as a professional and he watched national organization impeded their growth. These other fraternal programs WWW grow on its own merits. have often been labeled Pre-OA societies. While it is true that many of these The final solution for the BSA was to embrace the Order of the Arrow in 1934 as groups preceded OA in their councils, others co-existed with OA and often com- an official Scout program and to make the OA the official BSA honor society in peted or created political divides. 1948. This process extinguished almost all other camp fraternities including any In many cases a local council camp fraternity applied for the equivalent of a na- that employed inappropriate practices replacing them with the high ideals of tional charter for their local society by seeking charter from the OA. Groups like the OA. Eventually all but a small handful of local groups (Tribe of Tahquitz, Mic the Tribe of Gorgonio from Orange Empire Council, Santa Ana, California and -o-Say and Firecrafters) went extinct. One by one local honor societies joined Tribe of Yosemite, Yosemite Area Council, Modesto, California applied to become Scouting’s national honor society or died out as their council embraced OA. OA lodges. These societies provided the same significance to their brethren as One consequence was scouting lost the local traditions unique to some of these Wimachtendienk held for its members. After receiving their WWW charter all of special societies. All that remains of some of these groups are a few badges and the members were immediately recognized as Arrowmen in a single ceremony pins. without further ordeal. They became San Gorgonio Lodge and Yosemite Lodge in 4 OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA OA Reminders and Requests From Harvey Geary and Al Abrahamson

*Reminder* - for Scout Leaders for Order of the Arrow Elections— Please contact Harvey Geary via email at: [email protected] As part of the 100th anniversary of We would like to have your elections done before May 1, 2015. the Order of the Arrow each lodge is We will try to get a team to you to perform elections. encouraged to write a History of their lodge. I am in the process of writing the history of Lodge

381 and I am looking for stories that made our Thanks to the many Packs for asking for an OA Crossover. Sorry lodge. If anyone has a story that they would like we couldn’t get to everyone. to share please email them to me and I will include them in the history. The stories can be hu- morous, serious, historical, or anything in be- tween. My email address is shad- I personally would like to see more Arrowmen participate in the [email protected]. Lodge Thank you. Alan J. Abrahamson Sr. Activities. Remember youth, this is your Lodge.

5 UPDATES ON WINTER EVENTS Polar Day Camp *** Webelos Pin Day

Polar Day Camp 2015 WEBELOS PIN DAY There is only one word that can describe this camp and that word is AWSOME. We all had a great time. The whole theme for this camp Winding Trails District hosted a We- was the Winter Olympics. The opening flag ceremony started eve- belos Pin Day on Saturday, January rything off great. We raised Old Glory and the Olympic flags and lit 31st. It was held at Gloria Dei Luther- our torches. Let the games begin. Our first activity that everyone started with was listening to our guest speaker Mike Peplinski a an Church in Tomah. The church gentleman originally from the Trempealeau area. He participated basement became a place of fun, in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano Japan. He was on the first U.S. knowledge and learning. Twenty one Curling Olympic team, which placed 4th that year just, missing a scouts representing seven different bronze medal. From here the scouts broke out into groups. The packs in the district attended. Packs activities the scouts participated in the rest of the day were sled- ding, s’mores by a campfire, snowshoe, bowling and a craft. The represented included 319, 279, 77, 59, 109, 39 and 103. Lunch was best part was the boys had a great time. Were hoping to see even served and all had a good time. more boys out next year. Boys learned about blue prints, bridges, and electricity in Engineer. They also constructed catapults. Readyman taught them how to handle emergencies, deal with first aid incidents, and a hands on experience demonstrating the Heimlich maneuver, using an empty milk jug and cotton balls. In Geologist, they examined rocks, talked about minerals, earthquakes, mountains and watched a volcano erupt. Scientist showed them about inertia, atmospheric pressure, air pressure, fog, crystals and optical illusions. Some chose Artist where they designed mobiles using the twelve points of the Scout law, talked about colors, and did an art project, which became a part of an art portfolio. Naturalist dealt with birds, flyways, eco systems, poisonous plants and animals, and invasive species. Each scout earned three pins.

6 SOARING EAGLE KLONDIKE 2015

Fantastic Snow Summer Olympic Klondike was had by ALL!!! Soaring Eagle Troops unable to attend we MISSED you and hope you can join in the action next year. Attached is a little collage from yesterday's Scouting escapade. The sun was shining and temps were more balmier in the afternoon (okay it was a little colder than normal but hey it's a Klondike and not a Klondike:). Scout Spirit was running high, especially by an Alma Scout who not only made sure his Troop stayed together through the 6,000 mile Klondike sled race trek, but he also picked up and carried another scout from a different troop to help him finish the race. Session Judges were spectacular with our theme competitions: Gilmanton - Swimming SNOTS, Arcadia - Torch Race, Fountain City - Triathlon, Osseo - Discus, and Alma - Snow Put w/Ice Rescue, Grand Sled Race, and last minute session Synchronized Swimming (First Aid - thanks Rhonda). Shout outs to Aaron - we even got patches on the day of (totally wicked), Jeff for making 1st place awards, grand puba Peter for always presenting with style, and to our fabulous host Alma - your place, kitchen helpers, setter uppers, and everyone who helped in any way to make it a MEDAL winning day!!! Special thanks to the Leaders and Scouts - apprecia- tion to you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules. Leaders bringing your Scouts to events like this puts the outing in Scouting and we definitely outed it up!!! Scouts your true scout spirit makes all the difference winning in life, so keep faithful to the Scout Law and Oath - these ideals will take you FAR!!!! And CONGRATS to Troop #4 for bringing home the Gold in Olympic style (and I'm sorry for forgetting your patches - my bad).

Winding Trails Klondike Cub Hibernation

The Winding Trails District Klondike Derby was held on Febru- Cub Scouts of all ages gathered again this year at the La Crosse Area Children’s Museum for a note of fun and adventure. While it was a ary 21 at the Coon Valley Conservation Club. While is was frigid the day before and the day after the Klondike we could cold January night outside, it was a warm and full of energy on the not have asked for better weather for a Klondike Derby. inside. The theme this year was “Let’s Build” and they were able to build great things like a tower with different size blocks, a marble Units faced many challenges and showed their scouting skills race track, a straw thrower and best of all their own car. After and it was a great competition for all involved. Troop 5 from building these items there was enough time that they were able to Tomah will be hosting the next Klondike in 2016 and all units test these items out and make them better. Scouts and adults had are looking forward to coming together for more great chal- such a great time this year and we filled the museum that next year lenges. we are going to offer your choice of two sessions on January 8 & 9, 2016.

8 Good Turn Hours

Last year scouts and leaders in the Gateway Area Council recorded 20,784 hours of community service. These hours came from doing items like Scouting for Food, shoveling snow, helping out at food pantries and cleaning up parks. No matter what it was Scouts were out there doing community service and volunteering in their communities and making a presence. Not all units report- ed their community service hours and that is a shame. As we move forward we need all units to record their community service hours. You ask what does my unit get out of recording community service hours? With all community service hours recorded we can then prove that Scouting is making a difference in our communities and this means more dollar coming from grants. For your unit this means better programming resources, better camping facilities at Camp Decorah, new tents at camp, better waterfront, more kayaks, and the list is endless as to what we can do if we can just get units to record their community service hours. As we head into 2016 the goal for the recorded community service hours will be 12 hours per scout. The current Journey Family Friends of Scouting aka FOS needs YOUR help by providing financial assistance to Scouts around our ar- to Excellence standards for gold is asking for 7 recorded communi- ea. Annually, Units conduct a family enrollment campaign ty service hours per scout. Why are we setting a goal of 12 hours through the help per scout? If you think of the 12 hours over a year that is just: of parents and volunteers to generate funds that will benefit a boy’s journey in Scouting. 1 hour per month It costs about $165 annually per Scout to receive the benefits of a Scouting program. By investing in our youth 15 minutes per week through the Friends of Scouting campaign, you can directly help fine How many of your scouts do 1 hour of community service young men in a program that stands for what is good and over a month? That is recorded hours. right in today’s world. Your financial contribution will ensure that a quality That is why for 2016 our council goal will be 31,000 hours Scouting program is delivered. Regardless of the amount of recorded community service hours. you can provide, all support is appreciated. So THANK YOU for helping the Can your unit help us reach that goal!!!!! Boy Scouts of America prepare our youth through the values of Scouting. Send contributions to Gateway Area Council today:) Lisa S. Schock 9 CAMP DECORAH UPCOMING EVENTS

Winding Trails Spring Camporee

Fellow Scouters. At the La Crosse County Landfill Keep the first weekend of May open. Round up the boys, 6500 State Road 16 La Crosse, WI 54601 air out the tents, and pump up the camp stoves. Join us at Ju- Friday, May 15- Saturday, May 16, 2015 neau County Castle Rock Park for a weekend of fun and adventure. We have an exciting program being put together by our Come out to the La Crosse Landfill for a Cub Scout Camporee like no other! Learn own group of experts. all about some of the dirtiest jobs around, and have a blast with your friends on an amazing camping adventure! There will be skills, a service project, and some awesome Packs are encouraged to bring all of their Scouts! Remember to have one adult cooking. Add to that a setting on beautiful Castle Rock Lake. guardian for each boy spending the night, and Tigers need their adult partner all What a great tonic for Spring fever!!! weekend. Don’t forget to invite the Webelos. Camping at the Landfill and all planned activities are 100% safe, educational, and fun! If you have any questions or concerns, contact Tammy Schmitz at 608-784- 4040 or [email protected].

10 CAMP DECORAH UPCOMING EVENTS

Cost and Options New this year: Early “Sustainable” Discount Siblings going $125 if Registration, fees, and Health Forms A&B in by June 19, into grades 2-5 2015 in Fall 2015 are Regular Fee

$140 Registration, fees, and Health Forms A&B due by July 31, 2015 Single Day(s) Option

Available for $30 per day Extended Care Option August 17-21, 2015—Camp Decorah Runs from 7:30am-5:30pm for an additional $5 per day Busing Option Camp runs from 8:15am-4:15pm each day. $25 for the entire week in La Crosse/Onalaska area. No single day busing Week Long Day Camp 2015 presents to you: Minecraft and Sustain- options. 72 spaces available. Possible busing for other areas if enough ability in Our World! This year’s theme will bring plenty of learning, interested Scouts, contact Tammy for details. adventure, and fun. Build your Minecraft world throughout the 5 Camping Option days of Camp. Just as importantly, learn about renewable resources, sustainability, and conservation to ensure that your Mine- Contact Tammy for details on Pack Camping! craft world and our real world are healthy. Amazing adventures Week Long Day Camp staff are volunteer parents like you! await your Scout through expert guest speakers and so much more! If interested in helping out, contact: Tammy Schmitz at 608-784-4040 or *Remember: Tiger cubs for the 2015-2016 school year need an [email protected] adult partner present at all times.

Summer Camp will be here soon! Badgetracker opened on March 15th for units that had made deposits prior to that date. You can always add more Scouts by calling the Gateway Area Council Office. Summer Camp is the highlight of the Scouting year; a Scout receives more hours of Scouting during their week at camp than the rest of the year combined. Make plans for your unit to attend Camp Decorah's National Accredited Summer Camps!

Webelos Camp is also looming for those boys entering 4th and 5th grade in the fall. This year we will focus on the new Cub Scout programs, but we will make sure those Senior Webelos working on their Arrow of Light are taken care of with the old program requirements. Talk to Aaron, the Camp Director, for specific questions regarding Webelos Camp Advancement.

Commissioners Corner. Gateway Area council will be adopting Commissioner Tools on May 1st, CT will be replacing UVTS and other commissioner tools we use. For this issue of Commissioner Corner I am attaching an article from the National BSA Commis- sioner Newsletter that explains what CT will do for us Commissioners. UVTS will no longer be available to Unit Commissioners on May 2nd, so if you have contacts to enter into the system that must be entered by that date. I will be developing a roll out and training schedule and get this out to you. Alan J. Abrahamson Sr. Why Use Commissioner Tools? Commissioner Tools was developed to enable commissioners to provide unit service quicker and more efficiently. While the data from UVTS will be re- tained, UVTS will no longer be available to councils once they convert to Commissioner Tools. The mission of unit service is to help units better serve more youth through Scouting. To accomplish that, commissioners must accomplish four objectives: 1. Support unit growth through the Journey to Excellence. 2. Contact units and capture their strengths and needs in Commissioner Tools. 3. Link unit needs to district operating committee resources. 4. Support time- ly charter renewal. Commissioner Tools was designed to help commissioners fulfill their mission by providing benefits in four areas: 1. Enabling easy access to actionable information Commissioners, in real time, will use dashboards to view summary information about a unit’s membership, the status of its leaders’ Youth Protection and position-specific training, their participation in district roundtables, and the unit’s current needs and opportunities to improve performance. As additional My.Scouting Tools are released (such as Advancement and Charter Renewal), commissioners will also have direct access to that information. 2. Enabling improved focus on their primary objectives Commissioners will be able to work together with a unit’s Key 3 to develop a Unit Service Plan: an assessment of the unit’s strengths and needs and a prioritized list of action items, including accountability and target dates for completion. Completion of those tasks will enable continuous improvement in planning and budget, membership, program, and volunteer leadership. Through ongoing unit contacts, commissioners will be able to identify unit needs and capture periodic updates of the collaborative assessment of unit health and ensure the plan for improvement is moving forward. 3. Supporting roundtable administration and promotion Roundtable commissioners will be able to publish dates of upcoming roundtables, agendas, and unit participation information, and note key developments. That will enable unit commissioners to effectively promote participation. 4. Supporting commissioner administration Administrative commissioners will be able to assign unit commissioners and identify their training needs, and identify units that need a commissioner assigned. They will also be able to identify newly formed units so they can be assigned a dedicated new-unit commissioner. Reports will be available online and can be downloaded in Excel format. All of Commissioner Tools’ benefits are available to all district and council commissioned professionals. They, too, are encouraged to become familiar with it and use it to support volunteers more effectively. Simply stated, Commissioner Tools is a better way to: 1. Improve the retention rate of traditional units. 2. Support implementation of the Unit Service Plan through detailed assessments and an increased number of significant unit contacts. 3. Improve the performance rating of units using Journey to Excellence metrics.

12 Spring Recruitment 2015 Eagle Class Month Troop Eagle Scout Cubmasters It’s that time of year to look at scheduling the spring Tiger January 51 Derek Vonderole Cub round-ups. As you know, one of the keys to a healthy and exciting pack is keeping new boys entering the program. The Tiger Cub round- January 53 Carter Chiglo up is one of the best ways of getting boys interested and excited about the scout program. January 85 Tom Malzacher Voice of Scouting

January 64 Kyle Boos Your District Executive can help you get your Tiger Cub round- up scheduled. These usually take place in late March, April, or early February 5 Erik Stoikes What is Voice of Scouting? May so boys who will be finishing Kindergarten can learn about the Voice of Scouting is a survey that is Tiger Cub program and then participate in any activities you may have March 15 Trent Nelson in late spring or over the summer and then be all ready to go when the sent out to five different groups of fall cub scout schedules start. Middle of April is ideal for a spring re- March 83 Nolan Hammer participants in the Scouting program cruit because when May rolls around the weather seems to have an twice a year and asks their opinion of effect on how many families show up to the recruit night. And people March 168 Mathew Herro are itching to hear about camping, fishing, hiking when April rolls how we are doing in managing the around! March 33 Andrew Woxland program. The surveys are entirely anonymous and use the email ad- March 51 Nicholas Loging This isn’t a replacement for the fall Cub Scout recruiting that dresses that are entered on both will take place in September. This is another way of getting young March 33 Michael Brewster youth and adult applications that have boys interested in Cub Scouts and a way to grow your pack. If you been returned to the Scout Office. If have questions or would like more information about the Tiger Cub round-up, please contact either your District Executive or your District you received a request to take a short Membership Chair. Your DE can get you as many recruitment flyers or survey we ask that you please take the stickers as needed! time fill out the survey. At the end of

the survey cycle the results are availa- Also, don't forget to check with your PTO to see when their ble and can tell us on how we are do- Spring event is! Especially in schools where we are not able to go into the schools to talk with the kids and hand out flyers. Check with your ing as a council and district in sup- PTO to hand out flyers inviting kids to your porting you in bringing the Scouting spring recruit at the PTO spring event! program to your communities. If you

have any questions please contact Thanks for your time your District Executive. Yours in Scouting

Chester Hilton

13 TRAINING OPORTUNITIES NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING

The Training Committee has been hard at work planning NYLT completion is a prerequisite for all and finalizing some great opportunities for all leaders Scouts who wish to serve as CITs at Camp from Cub Scouts to Boy Scout leaders and give them the June 7-12, 2015 Decorah’s summer camp. training that they need to succeed in their unit. Now (June 9-14 if lots of snow days) What is this ILST thing I keep hearing about?? that the snow is gone and the grass is turning green we @ Camp Decorah Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops have some great trainings coming up in the next couple What is it? of months. Also keep an eye out at summer camp as we ILST introduces scouts to troop structure, the patrol have volunteers that will be offering some great special- This fun week-long leadership experience provides scouts method, and the basics of the various troop leader-ship ized trainings at summer camp. If you have any ques- with the advanced skills needed to be effective leaders in their positions. It also offers basic tools to assist in fulfilling tions on any of the training please get in contact with troops and crews. the expectations of each position. your District Executive and they will be happy to answer Unlike most BSA courses which have curricula which your questions. Remember that every boy deserves a Skills taught and applied include: trained leader. must be followed, ILST is a flexible format designed to communicating well be adapted to the needs of your unit. 4-18 Archery Training leading yourself When should we run it? BALOO Training – Basic Adult Leader finding a vision Outdoor Orientation. Required for all units to have at Every time you bring new scouts into the troop. Ideally least one leader that is BALOO trained in order to con- setting goals at least once a year. duct a pack campout (overnight) activity. the stages of group formation How do we do it? Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster valuing people 1. download the manual (it’s free!) Leader Specific Training. A course that will provide www.scouting.org/Training/Youth.aspx adult leaders basic information and tools they need to conflict resolution lead a successful Boy Scout Troop. making ethical decisions 2. Adult leaders go through the manual with SPL and other suitable youth leaders, and plan the course. 5-15 ITOLS Training – Introduction to Out- servant leadership door Leader Skills. Working as a patrol unit leaders will 3. Youth leaders present the course to the other Leading EDGE & Teaching EDGE learn the basic outdoor skills they need to lead Scouts in scouts. Adults stay out of the way! the out doors. troop planning tools This can be done over a series of troop meetings, but OWSLS Training – Outdoor Leader NYLT Registration forms are available soon at the council many units find it more effective for continuity to Skills for Webelos Leaders. This course will equip you to office and on the Gateway Council website. schedule a weekend campout and intermix the mod- lead action packed, skill developing, and safe Webelos For more info contact NYLT Course Directors: ules with fun activities. den campouts that your Webelos will find both fun and Jon Thometz, [email protected], 608-498-8215 Venturers: Change the word “troop” to “crew” and all challenging. Harvey Geary, [email protected], 608-792-4144 of the above applies to you as well 14 Earth Fair Celebration 2015

Date: Sunday, April 26, 2015 Time: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Where: Myrick Park, 789 Myrick Park Drive, La Crosse, WI This year, the Gateway Area Council will have a vendor booth. Contact Tammy Schmitz if you or your Scouts would like to volunteer 608-784-4040 or [email protected]. The 7th annual Earth Fair will be held on Sunday, April 26, from 11 am to 5 pm, at the Myrick Park and Myrick Park Center and hosted by Coulee Partners for Sustainability, La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse Area Family YMCA and the Earth Fair Committee. This free family event will have many activities for everyone and will include children’s crafts, first-of-the-season farmers market, outdoor tours, green workshops and vendors, a live raptor demonstration, and a con- cert by popular children's singer Hans Mayer. There will also be live music and food vendors. Door prizes will be given throughout the day along with a Grand Green Prizes drawing towards the end of the day. A bike valet will be provided for bikers. There will also be tours of Western’s energy efficient Passive House at 737 24th St. North from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. The annual Recycling Fair will be held nearby at Emerson Elementary School from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, hosted by Firefighters Credit Union. Free electronics recycling for households – sponsored by Dynamic Recycling (go to www.earthfairlacrosse.com for a listing of electronics accepted). Also have your confidential documents shredded – sponsored by Confidential Records and the La Crosse Public Library. For a full list of events and times please go to www.earthfairlacrosse.com and follow us on Coulee Partners for Sustainability Facebook.

15 What is your unit up to? PACK 55 Made turkey decorations for Thanksgiving December pack meeting – Caroling for residents January pack meeting – Tools == Bird house activity Community Dinner at La Crosse Center. at three local facilities.

Boys: Cashton Newgaard, Josh Newgaard, Carter VanMinsel, Xander Lewis, Jackson Ben Udstuen, Jackson Moen, Hunter Holland, Logan Moen, Logan Brumm, Hunter Holland, Hunter Brumm, Hunter Alfson, Xander Lewis, Bryce Berns, Ben Udstuen, Logan Brumm, Bryce Berns, Carter VanMinsel, Alfson, sibling, Zach Brumm, Bryce Berns., Zach Brumm Josh Newgaard, Carley Lewis, Xander Lewis

TROOP 15 Troop 15 scouts helped with the Atomic Ice Derby on Lake Onalaska. We helped put up the sides of fest tents and re-arrange hay bales then measured fish, sold coffee and baked goods.More than 800 fishermen participated in the hopes of qualifying for a top prize of $10,000.

We also made and cooked two dutch oven dinners while hosting our webelos at winter camp. Mason (blond) was a webelo last year who has just earned his second class. He's showing current webelo Pierce how to cook breakfast.

We're also working on the game design merit badge and play a mean game of risk!

On March 1st we will host the advancement of 5 Eagle scouts in our troop. Four Eagles are on the varsity football team at Logan High the 5th Eagle is a stand out cross country and track athlete. Congrats to Aaron Wuttke, Ben Pierce, Andrew Metcalf and Joel Cunliffe- this represents the highest number of scouts advanced to Eagle in recent history. 16 WHAT HAS YOUR UNIT BEEN UP TO CONTINUES

Pack 248 (no photos) Pack 248 last night held a collections display by a least nine of our Cub Scouts and one adult. Pokémon was the most common, a 20 cent piece the least common Last month we ice skated and had a popcorn sales reward party at the Omni center.

FOUR Arcadia Troop 64 Senior Scouts ACHIEVE Eagle stressed the importance of the Scout Oath & Troop 64 proudly recognized four Senior Scouts – Taylor Misch, Brady Schock, Calvin Corey, and Kyle Boos at their Eagle Court of Law, to serve God and Country, while helping st Honor on 2/21/15 at HFCP St. Stan's Church. These Scouts have been scouting since the 1 grade and made it all the way together others at all times. Adult leaders: SM Dr. to their senior year of high school. Well over 125 Scouts, family, and friends gathered to watch the ceremony MC'ed by Eagle Nick Todd Fetsch, ASM Jeff Hulberg, ASM Lisa S. Nelson, bestowing the highest BSA achievement a Boy Scout can earn - the Eagle. Father Sebastian delivered the Invocation & Ben- Schock, and Troop Chair Lori Boos congratu- ediction as Troop 64 Scouts Tony, Marshall, Aaron, Ian, Gage, and Collin provided a helping hand with the solemn ceremony that late each of the newest Eagles on attaining Boy Scout’s highest rank as they soar to new heights.

To earn an Eagle a boy must fulfill requirements in the areas of its outdoor program, leadership, and a service project. Tay- lor’s project consisted of refurbishing the "Our Lady of Fatima" statue garden at Holy Family Catholic Parish. Schock’s endeavor was for the Arcadia Aquatic Center, building benches and shelving units. Calvin erected a 300 ft boardwalk for the Trempealeau Wild- life Refuge. While Boos’ constructed a new shelter including handicap accessible bath- rooms and a picnic area front for the City of Arcadia. Each of the Scout’s projects will benefit many and will stand as a testament to the Scout Slogan – do a good turn daily.

17 GATEWAY SCOUT SHOP PAGE You Know You're A Scouter When : 2600 QUARRY Road. La Crosse, WI 54601 608-784-4040 * [email protected] You take the family on vacation, Stop in to the Scout And you stop at the Scout office to pick-up a tour permit. Shop and check out You pack to go on a weekend trip to visit friends And you take your backpack instead of your suitcase. the many items we You pack your suitcase(backpack) for the weekend have for your Scouts And roll your clothes up instead of using hangers. spring and summer- You are in a large group of people and someone tries to talk time fun. Camping And you hold up the Scout sign to get them to quiet down. equipment, bird You go on a family walk around the block houses and bird feed- And you take a map and a compass along. er kits, tool box kit, You go to a public campground with the family pinewood derby, And you rope off your site and put up the patrol flag. NEW CUB SCOUT PRODUCT TRANSITION space derby and Instead of building a fence around the yard with nails and wood, New Cub Scout literature and Tiger uniform You lash it with poles and rope. pieces have been pre-ordered and will be avail- raingutter regatta. able in the Scout Shop prior to the May 1st Instead of teaching your 1 yr. old son his ABC’s launch date. The Scout Shop has a You teach him the Scout Law and the Scout Oath The old books and uniform pieces will be re- variety of Eagle Instead of a Flower garden in the middle of the backyard turned to National in early May. Scout, Cub Scout and You have a fire pit, with logs and stumps to sit on New advancement and recognition items will be pre-ordered 6/15 to 6/26/2015. Boy Scout scrapbook- Instead of passing by an open meadow or a grove of trees You stop to enjoy its beauty Old advancement and recognition items will be ing items for keeping returned to National in the beginning of July. New advancement and recognition items will your Scouts Scouting Instead of looking at mountains in brochures arrive late June. You are backpacking up them with scouts memories. If anyone has Scouts working on advancements Instead of watching the water run for the current program and would need me to hold back any current advancement/recognition We have a large se- You are running with the water in a canoe items for you, please let me know. lection of Eagle Scout Instead of sitting home and watching the boob tube We will still be able to order and receive the You are helping boys grow to men. current/ending books, uniform pieces and ad- gift and party –ware vancement and recognition items until 7/31/15 merchandise to cele- Instead of watching someone else’s adventure for the books and uniforms and until 9/30/15 You are helping Scouts live their own. for the advancements. brate your Eagle Instead of wondering who God is and what he does Scout accomplish- You teach Scouts about reverence and show them the awesome things he has given us because he loves us. 18