Spring: A Season of Renewal and a Time to Freshen Up (cont.)

The changing of seasons brings several imperatives as we prepare for the end of the school year and the coming summer camp season in Scouting. Each unit should take the time to prepare by accomplishing a few important things. So here is my BIG NINE list for your consideration.

  1. Packs should be wrapping up advancement and helping all Scouts complete their rank advancement. This is especially important for those Scouts that joined later in the fall or even the winter months. The curriculum is easy to complete and there is still plenty of time to earn rank badges, even if someone new joins the Pack in the Spring. It is so important that all of the Scouts cross over to their next rank level together by the end of the year. It helps with retention, bolsters the self-esteem of the individual Scouts, and rewards them for their work. Moreover, there are plenty of elective achievements to keep their interest and engage them until June 1st when all Cub Scouts transition to the next rank level.
  2. Planning for Summer Camp should be in full swing now. Every Scout deserves an opportunity to discover the fun and adventure of the outdoors, camping, hiking, swimming and boating, and trying out all of the activities made available through our excellent camp program. Now is the time to confirm family support and Scout interest in attending camp. There is still plenty of room in camp, and for those Scouting America Scouts whose troops are not planning to attend summer camp, there are provisional troops available at Bear Paw where they can join in the fun as individuals.
  3. This is often a time when adult leaders transition into new positions or move up with their Scouts as they cross over from Den to Den or into a Troop. Succession planning is essential. Identifying those who will step in behind a leader transitioning out, providing them with an opportunity to attend Roundtables, take advantage of training opportunities, and shadow the leader they will replace before he or she steps aside can assure a smooth transition and a seamless experience for our Scouts.
  4. Spring recruitment infuses our Packs and Troops with new enthusiasm and energy. Intentional efforts to bring in Scouts and their families will help fill in existing Dens and Patrols, bring in new adult leaders, and support numbers as Arrow of Light Scouts cross over and older Scouts age out. The Golden Ticket program offers a fun reward for those Scouts who recruit their friends, classmates and neighbors. The real reward, of course, lies in a more robust and fun group of friends working together in Scouting.
  5. The Spring product sale begins April 1st, offering excellent coffee from a supplier in the Council grinding beans from South America fresh just prior to delivery. Sign up at the Center for Scouting and help your Scouts or unit to earn 30% of the proceeds from the sale!
  6. This is also the time to complete the charter renewal process. Most units began the process in the fall and gathered the information needed to complete in December. However, many units are still incomplete, due in part to missing adult leader requirements such as Youth Protection Certification, incomplete payments or missing roster information. There were some problems with the e-payment process originally set up by the National Council, so it was dropped earlier this winter. As a result, some units that submitted information to pay fees through a bank draft were interrupted in process. If you are having any difficulty with renewal, please reach out to the staff at the Center for Scouting and/or your unit Commissioner for help.
  7. Now is the time to check on your unit pin information in BeAScout.org. It should identify contact information for your leadership, location of your meetings, meeting schedules, etc.
  8. One final update should become a part of your annual renewal process. Each unit has an “In House” account set up through the Center for Scouting. This allows you to put money on account which can be used to charge camp fees for campsites and building rental, pay membership fees, or charge advancement materials and supplies at the Bay Lakes Scout Shop. The unit must designate and update the names of those adult leaders authorized to charge things against your unit’s account. We had a charge come through a couple of weeks ago that was questioned by the unit treasurer and when the authorized leader was contacted, we discovered that she had lived I Texas for several years and had no contact with the unit any longer. In order to protect your assets, only authorized leaders should be able to charge against your account, so please update your list by simply contacting the Center for Scouting by phone, email or in person.

Many outdoor events are being offered this Spring and Summer by the Council and our Districts to supplement the activities planned by your unit. To have a successful and engaging transition into Spring, now is the time to plan ahead, set some calendar dates for the summer and year ahead, line up leadership and provide them with the training and support they need, supplement unit funds with the Spring Coffee sale, update unit information, wrap up advancement and award ranks to those who have earned them, and register for Summer Camp. As you shake off the cobwebs of winter, shed winter clothes for shorts and t-shirts, and move from indoor to outdoor activities, don’t forget to do your Spring cleaning and tidy up your unit’s affairs. What better way to freshen up?

As always, I thank you for your commitment to Scouting, for the faith and trust you place in your leaders and units every day throughout the year. I’m looking forward to seeing you down the trail with a spring in your step.

Paul Shrode
psshrode@aol.com