FEBRUARY 2025

 
 

SAVE THE DATE: ADVENTURE CON

 

SCOUTING AMERICA

Last spring, the Boy Scouts of America national council announced that it will be changing its name to Scouting America. This change reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to welcoming every youth in America to experience the benefits of Scouting. The name change will formally go into effect on February 8, 2025, which is the organization’s 115th birthday.


Locally, the council will still be known as "Washington Crossing Council", and formally will appear as "Scouting America, Washington Crossing Council".

UNION LEAGUE GOOD CITIZEN AWARDS

CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP

Cub Scout Day Camp will, once again, be offered to Cub Scouts throughout Washington Crossing Council in July and August of this year. Day Camp will take place in four different locations in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania in order to cover as much of the council’s geography as possible.


For Cub Scout parents asking “What is Cub Scout Day Camp?”; it is a nationally accredited program run by Scouting professionals and trained volunteers. These camps are assessed annually to ensure the highest quality and safety.


Cub Scouts of all ranks can attend (although Tigers will need to register with an adult Tiger Partner). Much like a regular Cub Pack, Scouts are placed into dens with other Scouts of the same grade. They will stay in these dens for the week while participating in outdoor skills, STEM activities, games, cooking, crafts, nature, and much more! Campers will learn new skills, make new friends, and earn recognition for their accomplishments.

DATES AND LOCATIONS


The 2025 Cub Scout Day Camp “Passport to Adventure” will be here before you know it! Registration will begin on February 1. Below are the dates and locations of each camp: 


Rosedale Park, Pennington, NJ

July 7-11 


Core Creek Park, Langhorne, PA

July 14-18 


Mercer County Park, West Windsor, NJ

July 21-25 


Ockanickon Scout Reservation, Pipersville, PA

August 4-8 


Day camp takes place from 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday, at each location. Each camp also has a check-in on Sunday to pick up camp shirts and take care of any last-minute paperwork.

PRICING 


$235 Early Registration Fee - Wolf thru AOL ranks (entering grade in Fall) 


$265 Standard Registration Fee - start date varies based on start of camp 


$120 Tiger Scout Registration Fee - Tiger partner must attend (entering 1st grade in Fall) 


Registration closes 2 weeks prior to camp week. 

REGISTER NOW!

VOLUNTEERS WANTED: DAY CAMP STAFF



There is an opportunity to volunteer to help run day camp programs and there are discounts available for the children of day camp staffers!

DAY CAMP STAFF OPPORTUNITIES

CUB SCOUT ADVENTURE CAMP AT OSR

INFO SESSIONS


Want to know what Cub Scout Adventure camp is all about? The camp program team will host an information night via Zoom on Wednesday, March 19. The team will give a brief program overview and then answer questions. 

RSVP FOR INFO SESSION

ACTIVITIES & THEME


This year’s Adventure Camp theme is Ockanickon Olympians. Cub Scouts will have an opportunity to test skills and battle against the gods while visiting ten different program areas including: archery, arts, BB guns, boating, climbing, ecology, fishing, swimming, scoutcraft and slingshots.  

ATTENDANCE OPTIONS


Cub Scouts can attend as part of a pack contingent or as a family (an individual Cub Scout with a parent). Only youth registered in Cub Scouts may attend. A pack must have at least two registered adult leaders to attend the camp. In addition, a Tiger Scout must have an adult partner attend. Packs with eight or more Cub Scouts can earn free adult slots. 

Check out this awesome video to learn what camp is all about!

FREE CUB SCOUT CAMP PROMO PLACEMATS

The Washington Crossing Council is offering printed placemats for pack Blue and Gold banquet. These placemats include fun games and promote the Cub Scout day camp and adventure camp programs. Pack leaders can use the link below to plan an order.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN ORDER

OCKANICKON SUMMER CAMP NEWS

SUMMER CAMP MERIT BADGES

Over 80 different merit badges will be offered at OSR this summer! Check out the link for the full list. 

2025 OSR MERIT BADGE LIST

Note: The final merit badge list will be published at the end of February.  

2025 RESERVATIONS STILL AVAILABLE


Units can select a week of camp and make a deposit through the unit’s Tentaroo account at www.ockanickon.org. Need assistance with an account? Contact our camp business manager, Michelle Cathers.

INDIVIDUAL CAMPER PROGRAM

The individual camper program allows Scouts to participate in Ockanickon’s program when their troop is not at camp. This program is perfect for Scouts who cannot attend with their unit or for Scouts that wish to come to camp again to earn additional badges or complete partially completed merit badges. Individual campers are hosted by another unit in camp; the camper becomes part of the host troop for that week – a great opportunity to meet Scouts from around the region.  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

SUMMER JOBS AT OSR

Looking for a unique summer opportunity? Serving on the Ockanickon Scout Reservation staff is the opportunity of a lifetime. It offers an unprecedented chance to lead, teach and work with over 2,000 Scouts from the region. Staff members get to work as part of our family at camp. 


Every staff member gets an opportunity to: 

  • Apply the leadership skills they have learned through Scouting.  
  • Be part of a team that enjoys bringing Scouting to others.  
  • Make connections and friends that will last a lifetime.  

Positions available: 

  • Aquatics Staff (Minimum age 15) 
  • Aquatics Lake Direct (Minimum age 18) 
  • Aquatics Pool Director (Minimum age 18) 
  • Health Lodge Staff (Minimum age 18) 


  • Dan Beard First-year program (Minimum age 15) 
  • Maintenance & Trades Staff (Minimum age 16) 
  • Range & Target Staff (Minimum age 15) 
  • Scoutcraft Director (Minimum age 18)
CLICK HERE TO APPLY

COUNCIL STAFF UPDATE

Assistant Scout Executive Michael Kostic will be departing from the council staff later in February in order to move back to his hometown to care for an ailing family member. The WCC family thanks Michael for his service to this council and his 26 years of work with the Boy Scouts of America. The council will work through and announce some staffing assignments in the near future.

ADVANCEMENT UPDATE

The national Scouts BSA committee announced updates to the Guide to Advancement (GTA) and 41 merit badge requirements for 2025.


The GTA updates cover a range of topics to clarify things that were being misinterpreted.


A Scout who has previously started a merit badge under the old requirements may continue to use the previous set of requirements to complete the badge. Scouts starting a badge in 2025 must use the new set of requirements.

2025 GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT
MERIT BADGE UPDATE

TRAINING NEWS

Sign up for the Spring 2025 course! March 14-16 and March 28-30.

LAST CALL FOR SPRING

2025 NYLT


National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is a 6 day, 2 weekend-long leadership training program designed for Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts who want to develop leadership skills to effectively lead a unit and prepare Scouts for future leadership roles beyond Scouting. Scouts above the age of 14 who achieved the required prerequisites are invited to attend.


NYLT PREREQUISITES


Unit leaders should start to consider and recommend Scouts ASAP!

DEN LEADER TRAINING OPPORUNITIES


A trained Den Leader is the key to retaining Cub Scouts in the program. To assist packs, the council’s training committee provides several different options for training including:  

In-person pack visits.

  • Have a few leaders in your pack in need of training? The training committee has trainers who will come to your pack and provide Den Leader training. For more information: Contact John Nieradka

Regional Training Meetings.

  • The training committee will hold Den Leader training meetings Friday, April 25 and Friday, October 10 at Ockanickon Scout Reservation in Pipersville PA and Saturday, November 1 at Fisher Middle School in Ewing, NJ. 
DEN LEADER TRAINING INFO
ONLINE TRAINING

WINTER EVENTS AT OSR

SCOUTS BSA & VENTURING


Air Rifle Competition


Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops


National Youth Leadership Training


OSR Summer Camp Staff Tryout

CUB SCOUTS


BB Gun Adventure

  • February 9

Slingshot Adventure

  • March 23

Archery Adventure



ADULT LEADERS


Campbuilder Days

  • February 15
  • March 15


Chainsaw Workdays


Wood Badge


Wilderness First Aid & CPR/AED

SCOUT SHOP & COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER HOURS

Scout Shop Hours:

  • Monday-Thursday: 10am-6pm
  • Friday: 10am-3pm


Upcoming Hour Adjustments:

  • Monday, February 17, closed in observance of Presidents' Day

Upcoming Select Saturdays

10am-1pm:

  • February 8
  • February 22
SCOUT SHOP WEBPAGE

DISTRICT NEWSLETTERS FROM JANUARY 2025

Find copies of the most recent district newsletters by clicking below:

HUNTERDON
MERCER 
TAMANEND
TOHICKON

The Washington Crossing Council has a number of special newsletters. Scouters may self subscribe to any of them by using this subscription link.