A Shining Light - National Broadcast from the National Jamboree!

With the 100th Anniversary National Jamboree in full swing at Fort AP Hill in Virginia, the Boy Scouts are truly celebrating this momentous occassion with tens of thousands of Scouts and units from across the country!

You too can join in the celebrations! Join Scouting friends and families across the country on Saturday, July 31st for a historic nationwide broadcast, "A Shining Light Across America"!

This historic broadcast will start at 2:30 PM PST with the Jamboree Arena Pre-Show and is followed by the highlight event - the spectacular Centennial Celebration Show which starts at 5:00 PM PST.

"A Shining Light Across America" is a unique opportunity share in the celebration of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary with not the tens of thousands of Scouts at Fort AP Hill, but with the hundreds of thousands of Scouts, families, and friends who can join in across the country!

For more information about the webcast, check out details below or visit: http://scouting.org/100years/100years/ShiningLight.aspx

Join us in celebration of 100 Years of Scouting as we "Celebrate the Adventure and Continue the Journey" to the next 100 Years!


HOW TO VIEW THE CELEBRATION:
Saturday, July 31st
Jamboree Arena Pre-Show: 2:30 PM PST
Centennial Celebration Show: 5:00 PM PST

Webcast (for those with a high-speed internet connection)
Go online to www.ustream.tv/shininglight to view a webcast of the entire show! If you miss out on the show, visit this site later on to view archived videos from the show.

Cable TV Broadcast (for those with BYU-TV with their cable package)
BYU-TV will be showing "A Shining Light Across America" live on their channel and will also rebroadcast the show at 6:30 PM PST on Tuesday, August 3rd as well as at 4:00 PM PST on Saturday, August 7th.

For another webcast option, http://www.byutv.org/ will also be streaming the show live from their website.

Two New National Outdoor Awards

As we celebrate 100 Years of Scouting for the Boy Scouts of America, the National Council has released two new awards specifically recognizing the "Outdoor" part of the Scouting adventure! Check out the two awards below:

The National Outdoor Challenge
The National Outdoor Challenge (No. 430-016) is a unit award that recognizes troops/teams that maintain or increase the amount of outdoor activity when compared to the previous year. The award is due at the end of 2010. With the release of this award, the National Camping Award has been discontinued; however, patches for camping nights will be available until the inventory is depleted.

The award can be achieved by Troops meeting the following requirements:
1. Develops annual plan for the current year.
2a. Conducts at least 10 outdoor activities for the year with at least 50 percent of registered youth participating.
OR 2b. Increases the number of outdoor trips or activities compared to the previous year.
3. Attends long-term resident camp or a local/national high-adventure experience of at least six days/five nights
4. Conducted at least one outing with a Webelos Scout den.
5. Earned at least one outdoors-related merit badge per Scout.
6. Conducted at least one Leave No Trace program during the calendar year for at least 50 percent of members.

For more information about this award and others:
Boy Scout Adult and Unit Awards
The National Outdoor Challenge Application


The National Outdoor Achievement Award
The National Outdoor Achievement Award (No. 430-509) recognizes Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts that excel in outdoor participation. The award consists of five areas of emphasis (camping, aquatics, hiking, riding and adventure) with rigorous requirements to earn each segment.

Scouts looking for an extra challenge can earn the National Medal for Outdoor Achievement. This challenging award requires earning at least three of the National Outdoor Achievement segments, planning and leading a trek, earning Wilderness First Aid and becoming a Leave No Trace Trainer as well as several other requirements.

For more information about this award and the application:
The National Outdoor Achievement Award

A New Recruiting Tool: Introducing BeAScout.org!

On Friday, the National BSA launched a NEW recruiting initiative called Be A Scout! The initiative is focused around a new website: http://www.beascout.org/ that will also be linked to the national Scouting website.

A View of the BeAScout.org Homepage

When interested youth or parents want to find more information Scouting and to join the unit nearest them, they can simply visit the new website, enter their address, and find the closest Pack, Troop, or Venturing Crew!

The Map View After An Address Search Is Entered

The search produces a google map with pins indicating all local units that fit the search criteria. From here, prospective youth and their parents can click on an individual unit link and find information about that unit. Information that can be displayed includes items like: unit number, meeting location and address, point of contacts with e-mails and phone number, unit website, and more!

With BeAScout.org, youth and parents now can find YOUR unit directly to fill out a quick form if interested in checking your unit out. Even better, the "lead management system" allows you to manage any leads that come in for your unit so you always know who has expressed interest, who has been contacted, and what the results might even be.

Of course, in order for BeAScout.org to function, we need unit leaders to go in and update their pins with the information they would like to display! Unit leaders (Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Varsity Coach or Crew Advisor), Committee Chairs, and Chartered Organization Representatives all have immediate access through MyScouting.org to update their respective unit pins.

Units can also designate a primary point of contact as well as two alternate points of contact to manage the leads - meaning a total of up to SIX individuals with access to BeAScout.org!

A view of the BeAScout.org pin update page - where you can insert a multitude of information for users to see!

Below, check out two resources that will guide you through the set-up and management of your BeAScout.org unit profile! The guides are filled with photos that show you step-by-step how to update your pin, manage leads, and more.

If you have any questions, contact your local District Executive for help!

Check Out Resources Available To You:

www.BeAScout.org

 A Unit's Guide to BeAScout.org and Your Pin Activation (PDF)

A Guide to Managing Unit Leads (PDF)

Padres Scout Night: July 16, 2010!

(photos coming soon!)

On Friday, July 16, 2010 - thousands of Scouts and families converged upon Petco Park, home of the Padres for our first Padres Scout Night of the year! With the Boy Scouts of America covering nearly 10% of attendees at the game, our Scouts cheered on as the Padres beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1!

The excitement of the evening, however, came not simply because of a fantastic game played by our home team, but also from the patient Scouts and families awaiting the unique opportunity to participate in the overnight campout.

As the game came to an end and the fans left the stadium, over a thousand Scouts, family members, and friends waited anxiously for the next part of the evening to begin. Thousands of sleeping bags, pillows, backpacks, and more had been dropped off prior to the game, and as Scouts were able to pick up their belongings in preparation for the campout, they were treated to a postgame snack of hot dogs, cookies, sodas, and more.

Finally, the time came when they opened up access to the field and the thousand lucky overnight campers spread out across the green looking for a place where they could relax and enjoy the rest of the evening. With sleeping bags, pillows, air mattresses in hand, our Scouts got a chance to enjoy the movie "Rookie of the Year" on the jumbo screen.

While at first, Scouts could be found running around the field, taking photos, and visiting their friends, soon a peaceful silence fell upon the stadium as tired feet and eyes found rest beneath the bright lights of the stadium and the night sky. Of course, by peaceful silence we also mean against a backdrop of white noise as leaf blowers and pressure washers punctuated the silence throughout the night as Petco staff worked to clean the stadium.

Not before long, the night was over, and as families packed up and headed home, we were able to celebrate another successful Scout Night out at Petco Park. Many thanks go out to all those who made this event a fantastic success, including the entire Padres organization and representative Logan Washburn.

Special thanks to BSA coordinators Brian Ruark and Conrad Olson as well as Vic Enchelmayer. The event would also not have been a great success without the volunteers who showed up early Friday afternoon and stayed halfway through the game to help check in overnight campers and collect gear, and of course the thousands of Scouts and families that came out to enjoy a night of great baseball, a fun movie, and a chance to lay on Petco field underneath the open night sky!

Cub Scouts Celebrate 100th Anniversary with USS Midway Overnighter!

On Friday, July 9th, 2010 over 550 Cub Scouts, Parents, Leaders and Volunteers from all over San Diego gathered aboard the USS Midway Museum to continue the Boy Scouts 100th Anniversary Celebration!

By 5pm, Cub Scouts in all shapes, sizes and rank, began to gather outside the great ship docked near the corner of Broadway and Pacific Hwy.  Despite the June gloom had continued into the first week of July, the spirits of the eager Scouts and their leaders was high for this special event. Everyone was excited and well prepared (as they should be) to have a great evening.

Soon, all Scouts and their leaders were aboard, sleeping bags were placed under fighter jets, and the opening ceremony was ready to begin! Over 250 Scouts and parents on each side of the deck created a walking lane for a special flag ceremony and Eagle Scout dedication.

As an opening ceremony finale, an overhead professional photograph from high above the flight deck was taken. The full group of Scouts and leaders gathered around to create a “100” on the flight deck in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Scouting. It was a special moment (and a difficult one to organize I might add with the number of Cub Scouts present). This photo is coming soon!

After the photo, the boys quickly scattered to their colored wristband stations to begin the evenings activities. The energy was high and the Scouts were anxious to explore! Behind the scenes tours, flight simulators and HAM Radio were just some of the main attractions of the evening as Cub Scouts and their leaders snaked their way through the historic ship. For more information about the USS Midway Museum, visit http://www.midway.org/. 

By 9pm, the Scouts had a choice to continue enjoying the flight simulators and HAM Radio, or to stop for a BIG SCREEN showing of Disney’s “Up”, with a cookie and popcorn as snacks. By the end of the movie, the Scouts and especially the leaders were ready for lights out. Thus, up they went to the flight deck where they climbed into their sleeping bags. From their special view, the Scouts looked up to see a panoramic view of fighter jet wings, the backdrop of Downtown San Diego and the starry night sky.

Soon it was 6am, and while there were many tired eyes, they were only matched by even more smiles. After a quick “leave no trace” walk-through, the Scouts began departing the ship. As they left, a Midway and event patch was handed out, as well as t-shirts and hats to those taking them home as souvenirs. Lastly, a small brown bag breakfast was given, and with that, the Cub Scouts completed their celebration of 100 Years of Scouting. Yet, one can only note that for these young Scouts, this was only the beginning of their Scouting journey as we all look forward to the 100 years ahead! Needless to say, it was a great event!

A BIG salute and thank you goes out to the amazing volunteer staff that made this event possible: Becky, Ken Jr., Ken Sr. and Zack Powalisz, Paul and Tammy Hammond, Rich Marzec, Debbie Oberg, Barry Holm, Joseph Deen, Jon and Julie Sivers, Brian Ruark, The Babbe Family, Vic Enchelmayer and Troop 346 !! Thank you for putting on a fantastic event!

Thought this fantastic event has passed, there are more 100th Anniversary Celebrations ahead including the Council Camporee this October 8-10!

Sincerely,
Max Cutrone
100th Anniversary Staff Partner

New Youth Protection Training Requirements

As an organization that has served millions of youth through the century of Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America places the greatest importance on not only developing our youth but on providing them the most secure environment possible for them to learn and to grow.

Starting June 1, 2010, the Boy Scouts of America instituted a National set of guidelines requiring Youth Protection Training for all registered adults regardless of their leadership position. Two major results of this requirement are that:

• New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before submitting an application for registration. The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time the application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
• Youth Protection training must be taken every two years. If a volunteer’s Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be reregistered.

These new guidelines works to ensure that every adult volunteer be trained in youth protection prior to their service with youth and protects not only the youth but the adult as well!

In order to take Youth Protection Training, new adult volunteers should visit www.MyScouting.org and create a username and password. Existing volunteers may already have an account on www.MyScouting.org and can use that to log in and check on their training records, print certificates, or retake courses.

Once logged into www.MyScouting.org, you can then look on the left-hand side under "Training --> E-Learning" to find the available online courses. You can then take the Youth Protection Training course and print your certificate for registration!

Once you have registered, make sure to get your membership ID number either from your unit or from the Council office. You should also receive a membership card each year. Once you have your membership ID number, you can visit www.MyScouting.org and click on "Update My Profile". On the bottom of this page, you can tie your MyScouting.org account with your member ID. Simply find our Council (San Diego - Imperial Council) and then enter the member ID and submit.

Important Notes:
- Sometimes after completing the training, the window may close - do not panic. Simply visit your www.MyScouting.org page again and click on e-learning. You should be able to view your certificate again there and verify completion of your training.
- Should you encounter any problems or have any questions, please feel free to contact us so that we may further assist you!

Introducing SDICBSA's NEW Beaver Log E-Newsletter!

San Diego - Imperial Council is proud to present it's NEW Beaver Log E-Newsletter! The Beaver Log has a rich history of providing you with up-to-date news on happenings all throughout San Diego - Imperial Council.

This new and improved newsletter format allows us to better collect, prepare, and present articles on a ranging number of topics. Moving away from our bi-monthly newsletter, we will now be able to share recaps of events with you the week after they happen, make announcements on an as-needed basis, and provide YOU with a constant stream of Scouting news from across the Council!

We are excited to adapt with and utilize new and exciting methods to share Scouting with all of you through this new newsletter format. In addition to the Beaver Log E-Newsletter, San Diego - Imperial Council will also put together two major newsletters throughout the year in the traditional format that can be printed and shared.

Check out the new features of our Beaver Log E-Newsletter:

- Continuous and multiple updates on new and upcoming events and activities!

- Roll-out of new program materials and resources!

- Training updates, class announcements, and more!

- Recaps of recent Council and even District events complete with photos!

- A monthly feature of an Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project!

- Future monthly highlights of fantastic volunteers!

- Keyword searches so you can find specific articles by month or by topic (ie "Mataguay" or "Training")!

- An ability to easily comment and/or share articles you like through different forms of social media!

- And finally, SDICBSA is excited to include the ability for YOU to submit articles for possible publication!

So subscribe to our new newsletter and check back often for updates and more! Be sure to let us know if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions as well.

Sincerely,

The Beaver Log E-Newsletter Editor

San Diego - Imperial Council