Official newsletter of the Stonewall Jackson Area Council!
Featured Article

2017 SJAC National Jamboree Patch Sets are now for sale.  See below for more information.
Links
Jamboree Patch Sets
Popcorn & Peanuts
2017 Cub Scout Camps
Webelos Resident Camp
Sea Base
Summer Camp Tax Credit
Scout Shop Hours
Breaking Clays 2017
MedExpress
Scouters In Need

Connect With Us

Join Our Mailing List
Words From Our Scout Executive
Dear Leaders, Parents and Supporter,

Camp Shenandoah is in full swing!  We are in week 4 of our 67th Anniversary of this great camp.  I am proud to report that our camp received full accreditation from the National BSA visitation team with no deficiencies!  Congratulations to Matt Dale, Camp Director and new Program Director; Alex Maneval, Program Director; Brian Lynn, Camp Ranger; Scott Lancey, Business Manager and District Director; and Daniel Marshall, Camp Commissioner, for a phenomenal job getting ready for this season with over 50 staff members helping it happen!

C amp Shenandoah received our 2017 NCAP Flag. Pictured left to right - Jim Milham, Brian Lynn, Alex Maneval, Matt Dale, Ken Badget (Southern Region NCAP Team Lead), Bradley Taylor (Southern Region NCAP Team Member), Jeff Holsinger, and Sam Saunders (VP of Administration).

This process started four+ years ago, when we received our five-year certification as a summer camp in the Boy Scouts of America called the National Camp Accreditation Program or NCAP.  It continues every year with our camp achieving over 65+ standards of excellence in providing a fun, safe and excited summer experience for our Scouts.  We are thankful to our Camping Committee (lead by Jay Fox), Properties Committee (lead by Jeff Holsinger) and OA (lead by Mark Schoenster, Chef and Roger Burke, Advisor) for helping get camp ready.  It is with volunteer support and dedication that makes all of this happen every summer.

Here are some camp pictures from the first few weeks of camp!




Thank you and hope to see you on the trail.

Jim Milham
Scout Executive 
 
Personnel Changes

I am pleased to inform you that Matt Dale has been promoted to Council Program Director for the Stonewall Jackson Area Council effective July 1, 2017.  Matt has been an asset to this council for over five years.  He has successfully served as District Executive and Senior District Executive for Massanutten District.  Massanutten District was a JTE Gold District in 2016 and is on track to achieving their FOS goal for 2017.  Currently, Matt is serving as Camp Shenandoah Camp Director.   In his new role, he will focus and coordinate all Council Programs including Camp Shenandoah.       

Please join me in wishing him well in his new position with our council. 



Also, I would like to announce the promotion of Briana Haley to Senior District Executive for Valley District effective July 1, 2017.  Briana joined the staff in April, 2015 and has served successfully for the past two years earning Gold JTE both years and membership growth.  She also helped develop our new Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner which is now in the third year.  Briana is in her second year as the Council Popcorn and Peanuts staff advisor.  In her new role, Briana will continue as the Valley District Executive and help oversee Southern District's new Para-Professional Tom Greenwood. 

Please join me in wishing her well in his new position with our council and congratulations on her recent marriage



Next, I would like to announce the promotion of Zahra Ihsan to District Executive for
the Massanutten District effective July 1, 2017.  Zahra joined the staff in April, 2015 and has served successfully for the past two years earning Silver JTE and helped Monticello District lead the council with a 3.8% membership gain.  Zahra is also Cub Camping Coordinator for the second year and coordinates all Day Camps and the Cub Family Weekend at Camp Shenandoah.  In her new role, Zahra will become the District Executive for Massanutten District.

Please join me in wishing her well in his new position with our council. 
 


Lastly, I would like to announce the hiring of Anna Mills as District Executive for the Monticello District effective July 15, 2017.  Anna is a recent graduate from James Madison University with a degree in Hospitality Management and a minor in Business.  Anna is no stranger to Scouting as she earned the Silver Award as a Girl Scout.  Also, Anna's father is a Scoutmaster in the Shenandoah Area Council where both of her brothers earned their Eagle Rank.

Please join me in wishing her well in his new position with our council.
 
National Jamboree Patch Sets


 
Galaxy Wars.....

 
Have you heard about our Galactic-wide kickoff on July 29th?  Make sure to save the date as we will have training for everyone including our Pilots (Scouts)!  Register here:

   Haven't had a chance to register you Unit to sell?  Do so here:
 
2017 Cub and Friends Overnighter




If your Cub Scout loves overnight camping, sign them up. 
Pre-registration has started. Please see flyer for Cub and Friends Overnighter.

Webelos Resident Camp

                           



Our Council's Cub Scout Camping Committee would like to personally extend an invitation to your Pack to attend Webelos Resident Camp with us this summer! All information regarding our 2017 camp can be found in the 2017 Webelos Resident Camp Leader Guide.
 
This year we are again offering two sessions of Webelos Resident Camp:
                Session #1 - 23 - 26 July, 2017 (Sunday afternoon through Wednesday morning)
                Session #2 - 26 - 29 July, 2017 (Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning)
 
 All information regarding Webelos Resident Camp can be found on the Stonewall Jackson Area Council website at:   http://bsa-sjac.org/Camping/CubScoutCamping/ResidentCamp
 
 
How to get started
 

1.       If you have already sent in your Hold A Site form and payment that's great! We'll be in touch soon.
 

2.       If your Pack is planning on attending, please fill out the the Hold A Site Form and mail to the Council Service Center along with the $50 reservation fee.

 

3.       You can mail the completed form and payment to:


Stonewall Jackson Area Council, Webelos Resident Camp
801 Hopeman Parkway
Waynesboro, VA 22980

OR

E-mail the completed form to director@campshenandoah.org and call the Council Service Center at 540-943-6675 to make payment over the phone either via credit card or as a charge to your unit's Scout Shop account

 
What will happen next
 
Registration has changed this year!  Once we have received the Hold A Site Form and payment, registration for Webelos Resident Camp will continue through an online system called Tentaroo, which we have been using with great success for the Boy Scout Resident Camp since 2011. 
 
You will receive an e-mail with instructions on how to login.  Then, beginning on May 1st, you can follow the steps found in the 2017 Webelos Resident Camp Leader Guide to add Scouts to your roster and schedule classes.
               
I, along with the Summer Camp Staff and the rest of the Cub Scout Camping Committee, look forward to seeing you at Camp Shenandoah this summer!  If you have any questions or need assistance please contact our 2017 Camp Director, Matt Dale, at director@campshenandoah.org .
 
Yours in Scouting,
 
Karen Hostettler |   Vice President of Cub Scouting  

Scuba Live Aboard Adventure




Do you have your scuba certification?  Do you want a chance of a lifetime and visit the acclaimed BSA Sea Base in the Florida Keys?  Troop 81 from Valley District is looking for a few interested Scouts to attend the Scuba Live Aboard Adventure at the Sea Base - http://www.bsaseabase.org/Adventures.aspx . The trip is planned for March 25 to April 1, 2018.  Scouts must be 13 years of age and graduated the 8th grade or 14 years old by September 1 of that year.  Cost is $1,200 plus travel.  Interested?  Contact Mike Brown, Scoutmaster at dreambuilder@ntelos.net or call him at 540-578-2588.

Summer Camp Tax Credit

Here's a Summertime Tax Tip directly from the IRS. 
 
Along with the lazy, hazy days of summer come some extra expenses, including summer day camp. But, the IRS has some good news for parents: those added expenses may help you qualify for a tax credit.
 
Many parents who work or are looking for work must arrange for care of their children under 13 years of age during the school vacation.
 
Here are five facts the IRS wants you to know about a tax credit available for child care expenses. The Child and Dependent Care Credit is available for expenses incurred during the summer and throughout the rest of the year.
 
  • The cost of day camp may count as an expense towards the child and dependent care credit.
 
  • Expenses for overnight camps do not qualify.
 
  • Whether your childcare provider is a sitter at your home or a daycare facility outside the home, you'll get some tax benefit if you qualify for the credit.
 
  • The credit can be up to 35 percent of your qualifying expenses, depending on your income.
 
  • You may use up to $3,000 of the unreimbursed expenses paid in a year for one qualifying individual or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals to figure the credit.
 
For more information check out IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses. This publication is available at www.irs.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
 

 
Scout Shop Hours


A FRIENDLY REMINDER ABOUT THE SCOUT SHOP HOURS FOR SUMMER!

The office and shop hours changed effective May 22, 2017:

-  Monday, Wednesday, Friday   9:00AM - 5:00PM

-  Tuesday and Thursday   9:00AM - 7:30PM


 

Saturday hours will resume on August 12, 2017


Breaking Clay for Scouts


If you would like to join us by becoming a Sponsor or by coming out and shooting with us, you can obtain the flyer here.
 
MedExpress Partnership


MedExpress wants to help make sure your Scouts and family members are healthy and ready for the upcoming season. Open every day with no appointment necessary, MedExpress camp physicals offer a convenient way to help you check one more thing off your to-do list. And if an injury or illness does happen, our full medical team is ready and waiting to help you and your camper get right back at it.


 
Scouts In Need!
We are currently running a drive to collect used Cub Scout and Boy Scout uniforms. With these uniforms, we will be able to supply units necessary patches and shirts for scouts who need them. If you are able to donate any items, please drop them off at the Stonewall Jackson Area Council Office in Waynesboro.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, you can click on the DONATE NOW picture.
 
Thank you for your support in Scouting. 
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