Boy Scout Program Newsletter

Winter 2008	Scouting is about building character & leadership. Boy Scout programs make building character & leadership FUN!

Click here to forward Program News

Coming Events...

Winter Camp - Dec 26-30
US Cavalry Camp - Dec 26-30
Trout Fishing Tournament - Feb 7
Klondike Derby - Feb 28
Philmont 2010 Contingent
Spring Orienteering - Mar 29-30
Spring Canoe Race - Apr 26
Rock Climbing Trainings
Adventure Race 2009 - May 17

New Programs and DECEMBER DISCOUNTS

December Discount: get FREE Custom Camp T-Shirts
Troops and Crews registering for summer camp, high adventure, or Road to Ranger in the month of December will get FREE Custom camp T-Shirts with their Troop or Crew number printed on them. Contact new Camping Registrar Jane Narvaez for summer camp and high adventure information. The Camping Committee and the Longhorn Council are working hard to add new programs and camp improvements.
New Programs and DISCOUNTS for December
Camps and High Adventure 2009 Book

Viking Ship Contest: Name the new Longship

Open to all youth registered in the Longhorn Council. The winner will christen the new Longship, sail on its maiden voyage, be the guest of honor at the christening ceremony & medieval banquet, and receive a commemorative plaque with a photo of their family on the ship. The ship is the centerpiece of a new Viking Living History program with Viking clothing, food, weapons, medieval combat, and a Viking village. The shipwright is a nationally known craftsman specializing in authentic reproductions from the Viking era. The ship's design is based on the Ralsweig / Rugen II Viking longship found off Rugen island Germany in the Baltic Sea.... more information.

Council Camporee T-shirts

Additional Council Camporee T-shirts can be purchased online until 12 noon Dec. 10. All T-shirt Orders will be available for pickup at the council offices at 2 PM on Dec. 12th. Click on ORDER T-SHIRTS. Over 7200 Scouts and Scouters attended the 2008 Council Camporee. Congratulations to John Park and the huge team of volunteers who made the event a great success! A few remaining patches are on sale at the council service centers.

Winter Camp

A week of Boy Scout fun and merit badges at Lakeview Lodge during the week of December 26th to December 30th.. ... more information.

US Cavalry Winter Camp

Learn the the history of 1870's frontier Texas as you serve for a week as a Cavalry soldier. The 1872 U.S. Cavalry Company program is for Boy Scouts age 13 and older, and Venturing Crew members age 14 and older. Includes an overnight stay in the barracks at Fort Richardson. Cavalry Outpost includes authentic uniforms, food, and equipment, a large battle reenactment against local Civil War reenactment groups. ... more information.

Philmont Scholarships for Scouts

Philmont camperships are usually available for underprivileged Scouts to attend Philmont with their unit. Applications must be filed by 5 PM January 20th. ... more information.

Summer Camp and High Adventure STAFF Interviews

Staff interviews for Worth Ranch, SR2, and High Adventure will be conducted at the Hurst Council office. Staff interviews for Camp Tahuaya will be conducted at the Camp Tahuaya office. ... Camp S taff Application .
Sunday, January 4th. 2-5 PM..........all camps
Saturday, February 28th, 2-5 PM.....all camps
Sunday, March 14th, 2-5 PM..........all camps

Klondike Derby

The Klondike Derby is a great test of your winter camping and outdoor skills. Each patrol/crew must build and bring a sled. Wheels allowed. At Camp Tahuaya on February 16th. ... more information.

Philmont 2010 Council Contingent

The Longhorn Council Camping Committee will choose 20 units for Philmont Council Contingent treks in March. Selection criteria and score sheet are based on a unit’s support for the Longhorn Council’s camps and programs. Please submit the form with the required deposit no later than March 14, 2009.. ... more information.

Tools for Boy Scout Leaders

Scroll down or click here to find useful program, training, and HOW-TO links for Troop leaders. ... more information

NEWS and COMING EVENTS

Spring Orienteering Meet - Spring-O is a “Cross-Country Orienteering” competition for teams of two and for individual competitors. You follow a set course to find 10-15 orienteering flags in a specific order. It’s a race: your time on the course is your score. It’s a test of your map reading and decision making skills. Co-sponsored by the Longhorn Council and the North Texas Orienteering Association. Group map hikes are available for casual orienteers and hikers. At Sid Richardson Scout Ranch. ... more information.

Spring Canoe Race. A 6-mile Fun Race from Worth Ranch to the Highway 4 bridge and a 14 mile Race for experienced canoeists from Possum Kingdom Lake Dam to Worth Ranch. 100-yard War Canoe Race in the afternoon. Parent/Youth teams welcome. ... more information.

Spring Adventure Race. 5 part Adventure Race for teams of 2, 3, or 4 racers, or for individuals. Run, Canoe, Kayak, Mountain Bike, and Climb. Intermediate and advanced courses. At SR2. ... more information.

More Wilderness First Aid Courses. The Red Cross Wilderness First Aid Basics course is for those who live or play in remote areas - away from the usual EMS service. Starting in 2008 Philmont requires all crews to have at least one adult with WFA certification. Class participants must be 16+. There are more courses being planned. . ... more information.

CPR & 1st Aid Online Courses. Red Cross CPR and First Aid online courses. Study at home online, take an online test, and then take the In-Person practical testing on the 1st Thursday of each month at 7 PM at Westminster Presbyterian, Fort Worth, TX. CONTACT Tim Habinak of Troop 499 at AggieScouter@charter.net at least 5 days before the date you would like to test.

Wood Badge – The premier training course for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing Leaders. Spring courses at SR2 and Camp Tahuaya, and a summer course at Lakeview Lodge! ... more information

Volunteer to Help at Events – Your unit can volunteer as staff for weekend program events. Earn points for a Philmont Trek (on the Camping Committee’s Philmont Council Contingent - 20 treks each year), earn certificates for weekend equipment/boat/tower rentals, gain access to some facilities at Council camps on large Cub Scout events weekends, give back to Scouting, and accrue service hours for the BSA’s Good Turn for America Program. ... more information.

Weekend Campmaster Corps - Campmaster are experienced Scouters who help the Camp Rangers assist units using council weekend camps. ... more information. Contact Head Campmaster Bob White campmaster@longhorn.org for information on training and volunteering.

Camp Commissioners - Experienced Scouters are invited to spend a week at Boy Scout Summer Camp sharing their scouting skills and experience. Each week during the summer camp a corps of volunteer camp commissioners assist the Scoutmasters and staff to handle challenges and make sure each troop has a successful camp experience. The Camps provide housing, meals, and staff T-shirts and patches. Contact Camp Commissioner Coordinator Scott Lindgren lindgrens@sbcglobal.net for information on volunteering. ... more information.

DON'T FORGET: Welcome Home A Hero! – Show our soldiers how much their commitment means to the North Texas community! Every day more than 100 soldiers come through DFW International Airport on their way home for two weeks of much anticipated R&R with family and friends. The R&R flight arrives daily around 10:30 a.m. DFW Airport invites Packs, Troops, Teams, and Crews to volunteer to help welcome our Troops back home to the USA. If your unit or your church or chartered organization would like to help. Just call 972-574-0392 the morning of your visit to confirm the Terminal, gate and approximate landing time. Contact Liz Samuel, 972-621-0400, liz@ntc-dfw.org, heroes@dfwairport.com, for more info.

Twin Arrows JLT: National Youth Leader Training – Winter, spring, and summer JLT Courses at Camp Tahuaya and Sid Richardson Scout Ranch. ... more information.

Order of the Arrow - Click here for the new OA web page.

Spring Climbing Courses – Tower: March 14. Rock: April 17-19. Tower course and recerts is now Saturday only. Rock course is still a full weekend and includes Tower. ... more information.

National Jamboree 2010 Registration

All registration will be done through BSA's new National Jamboree website. Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts must be at least First Class Scouts. They must have completed the sixth grade or be at least 12 years of age by July 1, 2010, but not have reached their 18th birthday by August 4, 2010. All Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts must participate in a prejamboree training experience; file a complete Personal Health and Medical Record, No. 67-34412, prior to the prejamboree training; have been active in a troop or team for at least six months prior to July 1, 2010; and be approved by the unit leader and local council.

To submit an application for the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, go to www.MyScouting.org and log in. After logging in, go to “Event Reservations” then “Jamboree.” Then choose the Youth Participant or the Adult Troop Leader Application link. When submitting the application, there will be a $10 nonrefundable processing fee payable by credit card. This is not part of the jamboree fee if you are selected to attend the jamboree. ... more information.

Camp Volunteers

Volunteers who can give a few Saturdays a year to help with the upkeep of our camps are encouraged to contact the maintenance committee chairman for their favorite camp!

Camp Tahuaya - Contact Maintenance Chairman Ken Driska for more information. ... KenDriska@ctwa.com. Next workday December 13th.

Worth Ranch - Contact Troy Langston if you would like to help the Worth Ranch Committee work on Worth Ranch. ... tlangston@juno.com. Next workday January 3rd.

Sid Richardson Scout Ranch - Contact: Steve Adams if you would like to help the Ranch Committee at SR2. ... Bubba2121@aol.com, Sadams2121@charter.net.

Employment

Camp Staff 2009 – Talented adults are invited to join the High Adventure and Summer Camp staffs at Worth Ranch, Sid Richardson Scout Ranch, Camp Tahuaya, and the Chisholm Trail Adventure Base. ... Camp Staff Application.

BSA Online Learning Center - Latest News

Online Training Courses and Supplemental Training packages to help leaders. Anyone may create an account, take courses, track their training progress, & reprint their cards. ... more info.
Early Rank Requirement Videos: Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class - ... more information.
Troop Committee Training - New interactive training. ... more information.
Staffing the District Committee. ... more information.
Safe Swim Defense Training. ... more information.
Safety Afloat Training. ... more information.

TOOLS for Boy Scout Leaders

Where to Find Training Courses - The Training Course Calendar is your resource for finding training courses in all of the districts of the Longhorn Council. ... Go to Training Course Calendar

Scouts Can Invite Friends by Email - A new feature is available to Scouts and leaders on the www.thescoutzone.org Web site to help a Scout complete the new First Class requirement that states he must invite a friend to a troop meeting or activity. ... more information.

Supporting Scouts with AD/HD – New BSA Training Module. The aims and methods of the Scouting program make it an outstanding opportunity for those with AD/HD characteristics to develop and enhance the skills that can lead to success in school, in relationships with others, and in life. ... more information: (Powerpoint 755 KB). (Word 231 KB).

Merit Badge Resources - Resources for Merit Badges are available on the BSA Merit Badge requirements page. You'll find lists of publications, organizations, web sites, and more listed with requirements for each badge. ... more information.

Introductory Guide for Merit Badge Counselors
Boy Scout Advancement and Awards Info
Alternate Requirements: Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class
Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Rank Merit Badges
Selecting Eagle Scout Leadership Service Projects

BSA Board of Review Training - This 60 minute module will train troop committee members and others in the purposes of the board of review, offering suggestions for the types of questions that can or should be asked. ... more information.

New Troop Leadership Training - Troop Leadership Training, No. 34306A, has been rolled out to replace the Scoutmaster Junior Leader Training Kit. It is organized into three one-hour modules, which can be taught individually or all in one session. ... more information.

Boy Scout Advancement - New Videos - A video overview of the Boy Scout advancement program. 9 separate videos: Introduction, History,System of Learning, Scoutmaster Conferences, Advancement Tracking Tool, Service Projects, Merit Badges, Boards of Review, & Courts of Honor. ... more information.

Varsity Leader Fast Start - This is a brief video overview of the Varsity Scout program and how it works. ... more information.