Volume 7, Issue 8 April, 2021

Visit us on the web at http://www.pequott.org District Commissioners Meeting: – Wulihan Chapter UPCOMINGWed. February 6 thMEETING 2019 @ 7:45pm DATES Visit the website!! Council Service Center, Massapequa Pequott District Roundtable Mtg. th th TentativeTue. February date 12May2019 12 @ 7:30pm Massapequa H.S. Cafeteria District Committee Meeting: District Committee Meeting: Wed. Apr 28th 2021 @ 7:30pm http://www.troopwebhost.org/OAWulihanChapter Wed. January 23rd 2019 @ 7:45pm Council Service Center, Massapequa Important OA Dates: LODGE LEADERSHIP THE PEQUOTT DISTRICT IS ON DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM! In May, date to be determined Search for Pequott Point SPRING WEEKEND June 4th to June 6th at Schiff Reservation https://mycouncil.trcbsa.org/Event/7500

GOOD TURNS DURING THE 2021 DUES ARE DUE 2021 dues may be paid at CORONAVIRUS https://mycouncil.trcbsa.org/Event/7406/Register Acts of service Note that Ordeal members inducted after July you can do from home 15, 2020 are covered for 2021. For ideas on how to carry on the tradition of Good Turns for others while staying home, check out this article from the Bryan on Scouting KEEP THE SCOUTING webpage: ADVENTURE GOING AT HOME https://tinyurl.com/ycbzy3f4 For ideas on how to continue the Scouting adventure at home, visit UNIT LEADERS… Be sure to log your https://www.scouting.org/scoutingathome/ unit’s service hours online at Additional info on Scouting during COVID-19 can https://servicehours.scouting.org/UI/Security/Logi be found here: n.aspx https://www.scouting.org/coronavirus/

Youth Protection Training for Adults Must be renewed every two years in order to maintain your BSA membership. If yours is expiring soon, take it again. It’s offered online at: http://www.scouting.org/Training/YouthProtection.aspx

INTRODUCTION TO OUTDOOR BASIC ADULT LEADER OUTDOOR

LEADERSHIP SKILLS (IOLS) ORIENTATION (BALOO) This “hands-on” training, for WHAT IS BALOO? BALOO is a all second-year Webelos two-day training course being Leaders, Troop, Crew & held Sat., Apr. 17th to Sun., Apr. Ship Adult Leaders, will be 18th at Schiff Scout Reservation. held April 17th & 18th at It is targeted for one or more Schiff Scout Reservation. Attendees should members of the Pack Committee have already attended a prep session held on and will give your pack’s outdoor activity leader, Tuesday, March 30st via Zoom. who has minimal camping experience, the tools Join an experienced and dedicated training staff to conduct a safe and successful “entry-level” for a weekend of learning and fun. You will learn overnight camping trip. We recommend a about, and practice, basic outdoor Scouting skills representative from each den attend this – and everything you learn can be brought back training. Online prerequisite training is at to your units! https://tinyurl.com/2w5svddv. More info & to register: More info & to register: https://mycouncil.trcbsa.org/Event/7492 https://mycouncil.trcbsa.org/Event/7493 Contact Vinu Jacob at 212-960-8047 or at [email protected], or Frank Honerkamp at LEADER [email protected] with any questions. POSITION-SPECIFIC TRAINING

Cub Scout leaders and committee members are encouraged to 2021 experience the recently revised Wood Badge training is being Cub position-specific held April 16th to 18th then online training courses. again from May 15th to 16th, Offered in bite-sized modules, these segments 2021 at Schiff Scout are interactive and fun. Accessed through your Reservation. dashboard in my.scouting.org (that means you need to log in to get credit for training), select Developed for adults 18 years “my training” and go to the “training center” for and older in the Cub Scout, Scouts USA, and the list of courses by program. programs, as well as District and Select “Cub Scouting” and enroll to train for your Council leaders, Wood Badge builds upon the registered (or desired) position in Cub Scouts. best traditions and experiences of the and also draws from a wide Choose from: range of courses within and beyond the bounds • Pack Committee chair of Scouting to present the latest in leadership • Pack Committee member theory and team development, providing the • Cubmaster and Assistant Cubmaster participant with a “toolbox” of leadership skills. • Cub Scout Den Leader and Assistant More info & to register: (Tiger, Wolf, Bear or Webelos) https://mycouncil.trcbsa.org/Event/6310 …or take all of them! Contact Peter Muzia at Many of the modules are the same across all [email protected] or 631-935-2184 positions and only need to be taken once! with any questions. Questions? Please contact Faun Guarino, [email protected] (or 516-997-5426). A TRAINING REMINDER FROM MERIT BADGE WORKSHOPS THEODORE ROOSEVELT COUNCIL The earning of merit Online training is available badges by Scouts is a big for all programs and levels part of the Scouting in scouting. program, especially for Adults and youth can take the higher ranks. To aid advantage of some great Scouts in earning various training opportunities with online courses now merit badges, the and registering for advanced & in-person training Theodore Roosevelt Council holds Merit badge courses in the future. workshops. Online training is available for youth and adults. These workshops offer Scouts USA the It is informative, user-friendly and fun! opportunity to spend time working on select Adult training can be found at merit badges (available merit badges vary with https://www.scouting.org/training/adult/ each workshop). Training for youth can be found at Upcoming workshops will be held at Schiff https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/ Scout Reservation and are scheduled for April 24th from 9am to 1pm. A small fee is charged CUB-O-REE during registration. Prepare for an Alien Registration is open but don’t delay registering, Invasion! This one-day as they tend to fill-up quickly. event is being held May 1st, from 9am to 5pm, at Schiff Registration is at Scout Reservation. https://www.onteora.org/mbw. COVID-19 protocols will be followed & are listed on the Enjoy Archery, BB-Guns, website. Field Games, Sling Shots, Nature Activities, Crafts and much, much more! Email any questions to Robert Wolf at All in the beautiful spring weather! [email protected]. Events will also include the Push Cart Derby, where dens and/or Packs will race carts that SAGAMORE TRAINING they’ve made. The Sagamore Service Troop, More info & to register: founded in 1923 as a https://www.trcbsa.org/landing/cub-o-ree/ brotherhood of trained adult Contact Peter Shields at 516-790-9044 with any leaders, offers training for units questions. & scouts of the Theodore Roosevelt Council. YOUTH PROTECTION Programs include Backpacking, Fishing, Cooking, Nature, Youth Protection and Barriers to Cold Weather Camping, Abuse FAQs were recently updated Mountain Biking, & Orienteering. by the national office. Most of the programs cover a The updates include answers to number of the requirements of their associated recent frequent questions and a new merit badge. section on maintaining program integrity. They For more information on how your unit can may be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/5bf6bnsv. benefit from this training, contact Christopher Carroll at [email protected]. SEABADGE SCHIFF SCOUT RESERVATION PROGRAM UPDATE Seabadge is leadership and management training Schiff Scout Reservation will focused on the “how-to” begin hosting overnight adult aspects of managing a leader training, as permitted successful youth-led Sea by the Suffolk County Scout program. Department of Health. Seabadge is an advanced leadership training More information can be found program for experienced adult here: leaders. However, the course is open to all adult https://www.trcbsa.org/camping/schiff/ Scout leaders. The theme is “Focus on Youth”, Contact Bill Scanlan at which makes the course especially valuable for [email protected] with any questions or any Scout leader dealing with older youth. This concerns. course will be virtual over four days (two week- ends): Sat., Oct. 2nd & Sun., Oct. 3rd, 2021, and Leaders are also reminded that Schiff is open for Sat., Oct. 9th & Sun., Oct. 10th, 2021. unit daytime activities. If you are interested in booking a daytime activity for your unit at Schiff More info & to register: please contact Dave Swartz at https://mycouncil.trcbsa.org/Event/7392 [email protected]. If you have any questions, concerns, or would SERVICE PROJECTS like to place a reservation please contact Dave at Despite the pandemic, Scouts continue to serve the email above. their communities. It’s important to remind ourselves what we need to do to keep safely

ONTEORA SUMMER CAMP STAFF serving. Units should be utilizing risk assessment tools, Applications are being as well as other resources, as they take on accepted for those these “Good Turns”. interested in serving as camp staff as well as Safety checklists as well as the aforementioned counselor-in-training. risk assessment tools, along with additional resources, can be found at Applications can be found on the Summer Camp https://tinyurl.com/cs547y23. Resources & Forms page at https://www.onteora.org/resources.

UNIT RECRUITING & RETENTION The Boy Scouts of America provides a wealth of information, resources and materials for all REALTOR® SCOUTING units, for use in strengthening & growing your unit. SCHOLARSHIP The Marketing & Membership Hub, found at The Long Island Board of https://scoutingwire.org/marketing-membership/, REALTORS®, Inc. is awarding provides almost limitless ideas on growing and a $1,000 scholarship to one maintaining your unit. Eagle Scout in each of Queens, See how one Massachusetts Pack is marketing Nassau, and Suffolk. itself: https://tinyurl.com/fnebuxww. More info: http://tinyurl.com/fib53fqs.

SCOUTING FOR FOOD WEBELOS TO SCOUT

Today more than ever, there are TRANSITION families that need our help. Congratulations to Scouts & families of the all the Webelos that Theodore Roosevelt Council, have crossed over BSA will be collecting food for or are getting ready those in need. Please mark the to cross over to month of April as “Scouting for Food” month. Scouts BSA. Enjoy Island Harvest will accept your donation at 15 the next phase of Grumman Road W., Bethpage, NY 11714, your adventure! Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM. Thank you to all the units for providing the You may also make your donation at a local information on Webelos to Scout transition. If pantry of your choosing. If you don’t know how to anything has changed, please let Barbara Arnold locate a pantry in your area, you can text your zip code to 631-450-3775 and Island Harvest will text know. you the locations of pantries nearest you. All Scouts transferring from a Pack to a Also, please remember, while April is the Council- Troop need to fill out a paper youth wide month for Scouting for Food, you can report application as soon as they cross over. food donated at any time in the coming months towards the Council Scouting for Food total. Troops • Submit the paper application to TRC as ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION soon as possible with completed signatures so it can be processed. AGENCY AWARD • Have you held a New Parent meeting? In celebration of the This can be done virtually if you cannot do EPA’s 50th anniversary, it in person. the agency has • Encourage your new Scouts to camp at partnered with the Boy least once with the Troop before they go Scouts of America to to Summer Camp. create an award for • National Recommends that in April Troops should attend a meeting of Bear Scouts to members of troops, introduce them to Scouts BSA. crews, and ships. Packs This new award will recognize youth who research and learn about the subjects of human • Encourage your Scouts to take advantage health and the environment. of the outdoor programs - Cuboree, Cub Family Weekend. Members must earn the Public Health merit • Invite Troops in to teach skills. badge and three additional merit badges from • Packs please update your transition selected categories. Finally, they must participate information if necessary - How many in an environmental/public health community Scouts continued, onto Scouts BSA and service project as part of an approved Scouting what Troop did they go into? Please program. include if any did not continue and why. For more info & the application: Contact Barbara Arnold at http://www.scouting.org/wp- [email protected] with any questions. content/uploads/2021/01/512- 09821_EPAAward.pdf. EAGLE SCOUT SERVICE PROJECT ATTENTION UNIT LEADERS OF THE YEAR Do You Need a Certificate of Insurance, The Glenn A. & Melinda W. Adams especially if your meeting location has changed? A Certificate of Insurance is a National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award document that gives evidence that you have recognizes the valuable service insurance to cover claims for which you may be of an exceptional nature by a responsible and are usually required by the

Scout to a religious institution, a operators of the campground or activity your unit is attending, or your unit’s meeting location. school, a community, or another entity while doing his or her Eagle Be sure the activity is not an unauthorized Scout service project. It is presented to select Scouting activity. For fundraising activities, be Eagle Scouts based on their Eagle Scout service sure the fundraising application was filed & project. approved. Requests for certificates must be To qualify for consideration, an Eagle Scout, his submitted at least two weeks in advance. Include the following with your request: or her parents, or any registered BSA volunteer (with the Eagle Scout’s permission) may submit • Two certificates are available: either 1-10 the Eagle Scout service project for consideration million or 6.5-13 million dollars. Ask the by filling out a nomination form. facility for whom you need the insurance The nomination form, as well as further details, how much they require & indicate this in your request. may be found at https://nesa.org/for-eagle- scouts/awards-and-recognition/service-project- • Ask the facility how their name should be of-the-year-award-2/. listed on the certificate of insurance, along with their address, and include this with your request.

UNIT NEWS • Advise what date you need the certificate

Is your unit doing great things that can be by. showcased to our local elected officials? If so, Send this information to the District Executive, please send a small paragraph with details, Kristin Lindman, at along with a photo, to the Theodore Roosevelt [email protected].

Council Director of Development, Jennifer Note, certificates are NOT issued for Eagle Grignoli, at [email protected]. projects.

BSA HIGH ADVENTURES News flash! Registration for 2021-2022 seasons at all four Due to email server issues, many e-mailings are high adventure bases (, not reaching the families and Scouters in Pequott Florida Sea Base, Northern Tier and the Summit District. Bechtel Reserve) is now open. The Pequott Charger is available on-line! Keep Go to: up with the month ahead by going https://www.scouting.org/outdooradventures/find to www.trcbsa.org/Pequott . Please spread the youradventure/ word to your families – and give them the link! As always, share your news and photos by sending your scoop to Phil Nicola at [email protected] and be sure to cc to Noelle Bloom at [email protected].

YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING UPDATED ANNUAL HEALTH & The Boy Scouts of America is dedicated to MEDICAL RECORD creating and maintaining a safe and environment for youth and families. To accomplish this, Youth The BSA Annual Health & Medical Record form Protection Training is required for all BSA was updated in 2020. registered volunteers and must be taken every two years. In accordance with this national BSA Only the new form is acceptable as of January 1, policy, the Theodore Roosevelt Council requires 2021. All units should be using the new form in that every registered adult volunteer complete 2021. Youth Protection Training before submitting their More info is available at registration renewal paperwork in order to remain https://tinyurl.com/yk4hyzju and the new form can in good standing. be downloaded at Questions pertaining to Youth Protection? https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/ahmr/. Contact the Council office at (516) 797-7600. Any questions can be directed to the Council More info: Service Center at 516-797-7600. ”How To” guide for taking Youth Protection Training Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse SCOUTING IN THE Social Media Guidelines MIDST OF COVID-19 JONES BEACH ENERGY & Although not all-inclusive, helpful info can be found NATURE CENTER on the scouting.org Are you looking for website at fun and interesting https://www.scouting.org/c activities for your unit? oronavirus/covid-19-faq/ The Jones Beach and on the Bryan on Energy & Nature Center may be just what you’re Scouting website at looking for! http://tinyurl.com/4kgtj6yl. The center has numerous programs and events happening throughout the year. For example, MEET SAFELY REMINDER the month of February includes activities such as Geology Time, Discover Winter, All About Owls, As a reminder to all Scouts, Leaders, & Reptiles & Amphibians, and Marine Mammal Volunteers, please remember to meet safely. Day. This includes: Activities are held on-site and also virtually. The • Make sure your meetings do not exceed Center, located at the West End of Jones Beach 50 people State Park, presents exhibits, educational • Mask Up programming & public events, to show you how to become conscientious stewards of the • Maintain Social Distance environment. • Stay in contact with your Charter Organization More info: https://www.jonesbeachenc.org/ More tips: https://tinyurl.com/er9uz8wd In Memory of Al Gast Al Gast was a longtime, active and dedicated Scouter with the Theodore Roosevelt Council. He held many positions over the years, among them with the Sagamore Troop, Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 776, Assistant District Commissioner, as well as a member of the Pequott District Committee.

Here are memories shared by a couple of fellow Scouters: Ken Guarino Quite a few years ago I took over the role of Pequott District Training Chairman from Al and he was an invaluable mentor while I held this position. He continued serving on the District committee, volunteering his time to support our district activities. His longtime knowledge of our district and council history helped keep our traditions alive and he was willing to adjust as necessary to meet the needs of the youth he served. He will surely be missed.

Noelle Bloom This photo is of Al and me at one of the District events. Notice the tiny umbrella in his hat and the one on my head. We were laughing about the silliness so much that I made him take a picture with me. We had both just enjoyed smoothies from the Marsh’s at the derby. Al was a friend and mentor to me for many many years. Al was known far and wide. I imagine he must have known that. I even had the husband of a friend that lives in Pennsylvania tell me he went to Philmont with Al years ago. He’s left an impression on all of us that won’t be forgotten. Our District Committee meetings will never be the same. Al was a man that pretty much had an opinion on everything and wasn’t afraid to voice it. He was always looking out for the program, Pequott, his units and the kids. Always. We are all going to miss you terribly.

Jim Rapp I’ve known Al for a long time. Two of my boys grew up with two of his boys. He was the Scoutmaster of Troop 776 before me. While he was Scoutmaster, I watched in amazement, how he worked with the boys. I called him the Pied Piper, because of the way the boys followed his lead and put his plans into action, without realizing it. He had such an easy-going temperament. He never got excited, even when things didn’t go as planned with the boys. He would sit back, ask questions of the boys and watch them resolve the situation and learn in the process. He always seemed to have everything under control. Nothing ever riled him. He tells a story of when he was in Philmont, with one of his crews, he realized that they had taken a wrong turn. They had gone quite a distance out of the way. In Philmont that can be a major deal. He had the boys look at the map again and had them determine they were off course and what to do. He stayed calm, he never got concerned. He quietly guided the boys and always made them think that it was their idea. He used what he and I both learned in Wood Badge, to ask questions of the boys, to get them to think about the situation and for them to come up with the solution. The boys learned a lot from doing that and it made them feel as though they were a part of the process. You can’t learn unless you make a mistake. Al would always say, “Never do what a boy can do”. If you point them in the right direction, they will always do the right thing. Al was my mentor and friend. I will miss him, his smile and his jovial words of encouragement.

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YOUR UNIT’S PICTURES AND STORIES COULD BE FEATURED HERE AND IN YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER!

Get your pictures and stories to Noelle Bloom at [email protected]!

TROOP 581 WINTER CAMPING

Troop 581 went to Camp Trexler to work on requirements. They found time to do a little sledding as well. They had a great time enjoying camping again!

TROOP 339 KEEPING BUSY

Muttontown Preserve orienteering course Five-mile bike ride then a cookout in Brady Park TROOP 339 AT ADVENTURE PARK LONG ISLAND

The Scouts tackled a course featuring ziplines, rope bridges, and various bridges TROOP 339 MOUNTAIN CREEK SNOWTUBING

PEQUOTT DISTRICT ADULT TRAINING

On February 27th, the Pequott District Boy Scout training team hosted its first in-person training in over a year, at St. David’s Lutheran Church in Massapequa Park. Pequott Scout Training Chair Joseph Marsh was joined by first-time trainer Adam Villalobos, and Ken Guarino dusted off his training hat to help out as well. Seven dedicated adult leaders completed the training, and completed the classroom requirements for the Scoutmaster/ASM and Committee Member Position-specific training.”

This is our 67th issue of the Pequott Charger!

Please share it with the Leaders and Parents of your unit.

The Pequott Charger is emailed to all who request to receive it.

Send your email address to [email protected] and put Pequott Charger in the subject line to make sure you don’t miss any Pequott District News.