February 2021

SSC Scouting News

Keeping you up to date with what is happening in the Southern Sierra Council.

SSC Website Link

Due to the state mandate concerning the COVID-19 pandemic - Staff & Visitors are required to wear a mask while at the Trading Post

The Trading Post and Scout Office hours are Monday thru Friday - Noon to 5:00 pm SSC Operations Meeting (Council/District Restructure) The Trading Post and Scout Office will be closed on: Thursday, February 4 via Zoom 6:30 pm Monday, February 15, 2021 for President's Day holiday The SSC Operations Meeting will roll out the new combined Council/District structure designed to mobilize resources direct to the Orders can be emailed ahead to be pulled and packs, troops & posts. This new structure ready when you arrive. Email (Advancement eliminates duplicate efforts and streamlines reports and a PO) to Mary Castaneda at the four standard functions of Scouting: [email protected] or membership, fund development, program, by calling (661) 325-9036 and unit service. Shipping is available All interested adults are invited to attend as Scout Executive, Randy Saunders, shares the new vision for So. Sierra Council operations.

All registered leaders will receive the Zoom link on Tuesday, February 2.

Council Office Contacts (661) 325-9036

Scout Executive - Randy Saunders [email protected] Amazon Smile is the same Amazon you know Office Manager - Mary Castaneda and love, but for every purchase you make, [email protected] Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price to your selected organization. District Associates Greg Etheridge Simply click here for AmazonSmile, select [email protected] “Southern Sierra Council, BSA” as your organization. and start shopping those after Blake Nettleton Christmas sales & January White sales. [email protected]

Welcome New Council President Kristen Beall-Watson

Kristen Beall Watson is President and CEO of Kern Community Foundation – an organization committed to Growing Community, Growing Philanthropy. Mrs. Watson has more than 30 years of leadership experience in a unique combination of public and private accounting, education, and philanthropy.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, a master’s degree in Education from Point Loma Nazarene University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of California, Los Angeles.

Kristen has spent a large portion of her adult life involved in Kern County philanthropy, serving as president of the Lori Brock Children’s Museum, treasurer of the Junior League of Bakersfield, board member for the Girl Scouts, Joshua Tree Council and steering committee member for the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference, American Cancer Society’s Oktoberfest, and as a founding member of the Women’s and Girls’ Fund of Kern County Vision Committee. She currently serves on the Boards of Kern Health Systems, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Bakersfield Rotary Club Waterman Foundation, Southern Sierra Council, and is a Trustee for California Health Science University.

Thank you for your Leadership Stephen Boyle Council President - 2019 to 2020

Thank you to the council's outgoing president, Stephen Boyle!

Stephen's first year in the position he led the council through standard council operations with little to no hiccups. Then came 2020's challenges of Covid-19 Stay-at-Home Scouting, major staff changes and the fire at Camp Kern. Through this all, Stephen kept his Scouting Spirit, made sure virtual and in-person Scouting activities were able to happen, delivered cookies and donuts to multiple training events, and never lost his vision for the council.

Stephen, thank you for your leadership, your friendship, and your never ending Scouting Spirit! Your term was like no other!

Celebrate BSA's 111th Anniversary with a Gift to Scouting

February is an excellent month for Scouting. On February 8, Scouting will celebrate its 111th anniversary. Scouting is more important to our families and communities now than ever. Invite a friend to your next Scouting activity, virtual or in-person.

The leadership and staff of the Southern Sierra Council are working hard to create the resources and funds needed to keep Scouting alive and well in our area. We need your help.

Please consider making a donation to honor BSA’s 111 th anniversary to the Southern Sierra Council this month. You can donate any amount online HERE.

Please share this link with your friends and contacts that are interested in supporting our young people. Your generous gift is greatly appreciated and very important to keep Scouting alive in our area.

Thank you for your support! Randy Saunders - Scout Executive

SPECIAL TOPIC ROUNDTABLE

A New Way to Recruiting

Thursday, February 11 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

While we are still uncertain how this Spring will look concerning the reopening of schools and our recruitment efforts for inviting more youth to participate in our programs…We do know Presented by: for certain, that we must continue to ask our friends and neighbors to join. We do this by District Associate providing as many opportunities to Blake Nettleton communicate the message that Scouting is an outstanding value and an outstanding program for preparing our youth for their futures! Zoom link will be sent to all Registered Leaders by Tuesday, Feb. 9 We will discuss Organizing a Virtual Scout Join night as well as the New National Standard for NEXT GENERAL TOPIC ROUNDTABLE - School Nights (Physically Distanced In-Person Thursday, March 11 and Drive-Thru Format)

Most Effective Recruiter is a Scout A steady flow of youth into a Scouts BSA troop, post, or a pack is essential to maintaining the unit’s health. Plus, new Scouts bring energy and enthusiasm to the unit program! To avoid the pitfall of shrinking membership, a troop or pack should add at least 10 new Scouts every year. Having a year-round growth plan in place will help attract new Scouts.

The most effective recruiter in Scouting is a Scout who is enthusiastic about their unit. We are offering the following incentives for each Scout who recruits one of their friends to join the troop, post, or pack:

All Scouts: A Southern Sierra Council Recruiter Patch Cub Scouts: Car Kit Scouts BSA: Pocket Knife Explorer: Lapel Pin

Scout On!

Action Needed Order 2020 Popcorn Sales Patches

All Scouts that participated in the 2020 Trail’s End popcorn sale earn a special patch .

Please send a note to [email protected] with the number of patches you need for your Scouts and they will be sent to you ASAP. If you have Scouts that sold $100 in “heroes” donations, please send list to [email protected] in order to receive the military sales shoulder patches. We will continue this reward incentive into the spring and via online sales.

Trail’s End is continuing the Online Direct Sales into 2021. Your Scouts can sell popcorn online at any time. This is an excellent opportunity for Scouts to earn money to help pay for summer camps and adventures.

Later this spring, as restrictions from the pandemic are eased, storefront sales will become available for units looking for a camp fundraiser. Dates have not been set as of yet. More information will be forthcoming. In the meantime, your leaders and parents should discuss participating in the popcorn sale this spring.

For more information or to get answers to your questions, contact Randy at 325-9036 or [email protected].

Council-wide Annual Day of Service What is your Pack, Troop or Post planning to do for their Day of Service project? Saturday, February 6

Food Drive - The Scout office has plenty of "Scouting for Food" door hangers available. Graffiti Removal Neighborhood Clean-up Hygiene Kits for the Homeless Center or Mission Mask construction for the local hospitals/care centers Possibilities are endless

Select the project that interests the Scouts in your unit. Each Scout is asked to do 2 hours of service on the first Saturday of February each year.

Individually or as a socially distanced unit - it's an opportunity to help the community.

Special 2021 "Day of Service" Patch Units that record their project in Scoutbook and turn in the report form to the Scout office by Friday, February 12 will earn a patch for each Scout/leader who participated.

Day of Service Report Form

Restarting Scouting - Latest Check List

Symptoms and close contact aren’t the only considerations you should take into account before meeting. Scouting’s COVID-19 page provides a Restart Scouting Checklist, which provides guidance on group sizes, travel and dining and tenting protocols.

The COVID-19 FAQs page has also been updated this month to include additional guidance on advancement and extensions.

New - Restart Scouting Checklist

Cub Scout STEM Activity Day Register for STEM Activity Day

Order of the Arrow

Upcoming OA Events: Watch for Emails & Reminder Notices

Feb. 2 - LEC - Lodge Executive Committee Meeting

Note to all Scoutmasters: During the month of February the OA will be calling to schedule unit election

Eagles Nest

If you have any questions or need assistance with the Eagle process please contact the Council Office for direction.

Congratulations to two new Eagle Scouts during the month of January! These scouts are members of Troops: 194 & 2119.

Congratulations to Troop 2119 for celebrating the council's first female Eagle Scout!

Class of 2020 Eagle Scouts, Parents, & Leaders - Mark your calendar for the March 9 Eagle Dinner.

Camp Kern Kits & Clothing Now Available

Camp Kern holds a special place in the Southern Sierra Council. It represents a time in a Scout’s life when they get to wholeheartedly experience nature or one of their favorite interests. For generations, Scouts have spent their summers at Camp Kern, trying new activities such as swimming, hiking, and various sports. Many former Scouts will warmly remember summers spent gazing at the stars, trying a new sport, horseback riding, cooking delicious foods, sailing, or countless other fun and special activities. These nostalgic memories are priceless, but you can now bring a part of Camp Kern home with you. The Southern Sierra Council’s Trading Post is now selling Kits and Clothing sold at Camp Kern’s Trading Post…minus the bears.

Are you working on the Wood Carving, Leatherwork, or Basketry Merit Badges? We have the kits for them! Lost your red Camp Kern Lifeguard Hoodie? We have them in stock for $5! Have you worn your KWEST or ACE moisture-wicking shirts so much they are beyond repair? We have them here for $5! Plus much more!

Hurry in and catch these deals while supplies last!

Adult Leader Recognition Awards

All volunteers and leaders are valued and we want to recognize their work and achievements.

Why recognize adults? - We get the privilege of appreciating our adult volunteers and you show scouts and families you are invested in the BSA program, mission, and values too.

Many of the leader knot awards are earned with tenure plus position training and scouting activities you are already accomplishing.

All BSA awards: https://www.scouting.org/awards/awards-central/

Award of Appreciation District-Unit Award of Appreciation: Nominate anyone with your Unit, registered or not, who helps your scouts grow and go! No restrictions on who can be nominated for this award.

E-mail Appreciation Award nominees to Cindy Basham, [email protected].

Unit Award of Appreciation form

Save-the Dates: District Volunteer Recognition Events March 13 - Ridgecrest March 27 - Bakersfield

Training News & Upcoming Courses

Questions about training or training requirements Contact Council Training Chairman - Carolyn Forster at [email protected]

Training Attendance Prerequisites

For all in-person or virtual trainings, the following requirements always apply:

All participants must have Medical Forms A&B (680-001_ABC.pdf (scouting.org); Medical Form Part C for camping 72 hours+ and/or high adventure activity

Adult participants must have current Youth Protection Training (taken during 2020 or 2021) - My.Scouting.org

BASIC ADULT LEADER OUTDOOR ORIENTATION (BALOO)

Saturday, March 20 AND Sunday, March 21 Camp Hamilton, Bakersfield

All Cub Scout level leaders - BALOO training is required for registered adults to be qualified to take Packs or Webelos Dens on outdoor activities and overnight campouts. BALOO training is only offered 1x per year in Southern Sierra Council.

REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE

Questions about BALOO? COST: $35 by 3/5; late registration $40

Contact Carolyn Forster [email protected]

Saturday, April 10, 2021 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Virtual training on Zoom

Trainers EDGE helps develop the skills of a trainer. Participants improve their individual trainer skills levels by learning presentation behaviors, gaining resources, and practicing presenting methods using Recommended for Council, various media. District, and Unit Trainers, Youth* and Adult Leaders Required for NYLT*, Wood REGISTRATION: CLICK HERE Badge, and Commissioner College staff ​COST: $20

*Youth Leaders in attendance may also Contact Carolyn Forster complete Public Speaking and a partial [email protected] Communication Merit Badge.

WOOD BADGE

​Wood Badge is the premier leadership training for all Scout Leaders who are involved at any level of scouting: Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and , as well as Council and District leaders and professionals.

If you are sending your scouts to NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training) you should attend Wood Badge. All adults gain valuable and current leadership skills. Work with your unit if you need assistance with the registration fees.

2021 WB Registration will open soon - Tri-Council Wood Badge: August 27-29 AND October 1-2, 2021

Sequoia Council Wood Badge : September 10-12 AND September 25-26, 2021 Scholarships are available - ask your Pack/Troop, Council, or Wood Badge Course.

Questions about Wood Badge: Carolyn Forster, [email protected] Maria Brown, [email protected] Chris Moore, [email protected]

COUNCIL TRAINING COMMITTEE The Training Committee is the best opportunity to coordinate training for your unit’s needs. Join us at Council Training Committee to give your input on training needed for your Unit, your leaders, and your scouts.

Who should attend: ALL Pack or Troop Committee Training Chair or Committee Chair Trainers Wood Badgers are also encouraged to attend for support with your ticket activities and how you can continue to promote Wood Badge to all leaders.

New Date - next Meeting: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 @ 6:30 pm Location: Zoom

Please contact Carolyn Forster, [email protected] if you have questions or would like to provide input for the next meeting. Dates to Mark on the Calendar

Council Pushmobile Delayed until December 4, 2021

Leave No Trace Trainers Course Postponed until later in the Spring