JANUARY 2025

This training has been mandatory since 2018 for all "direct contact leaders" and should be renewed every two years. In December 2024 (last month), this course was properly tied in to the training dashboard. So, leaders who have completed position specific training but have expired "hazardous weather training" are now showing as not being fully trained. Unit leadership should take note of this and follow-up with any adult leader who is not current with this training.

Any Scouter who needs to take "hazardous weather training" for the first time or renew it can access the course by logging into their account on My.Scouting.org, selecting My Learning, and typing "hazardous weather" in the search box.

LEARN MORE

The camp program team is available for in-person unit visits to answer questions about Ockanickon summer resident camp. This is a great opportunity to get Scouts excited about summer camp. The team can also provide units with a scheduled tour of the camp. This can be with key members of the unit or can be scheduled for a weekend camping trip at OSR.

Interested units can contact Todd Warner to schedule a unit visit or tour.

PLANNING RESOURCES

The "Forms & Resources" page has a wealth of information for units to plan their summer camp adventure including this summer’s program guide, tentative merit badge list, Dan Beard (first-year Scout) program, camp fees, and more.

For questions about camp program, reach out to the OSR team.

2025 RESERVATIONS

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

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 of eight or more Cub Scouts can earn free adult slots.

ZOOM INFO SESSIONS - EVERY PACK SHOULD SEND A REP

Want to know what Cub Scout Adventure Camp is all about? The camp program team will host two information nights via Zoom meetings. The team will give a brief program overview and then answer questions. There are two opportunities scheduled: Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, March 19. Both sessions start at 7pm.

Cub Scout Day Camp will be offered to Cub Scouts throughout Washington Crossing Council in July and August of this year. Day Camp is a week-long program that runs from 9am-4pm each day. Day Camp programs will be offered in four separate locations throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania in order to cover as much of the council’s geography as possible.

WHAT HAPPENS AT DAY CAMP?

Cub Scouts of all ranks can attend (although Tigers will need to register with an adult Tiger Partner). Like a regular Cub pack, Cub Scouts are assigned a den with Scouts in their own 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. 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.

SAVE THE DATES

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 tentative 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: Aug 4-8

Interested in volunteering for a week of camp? Contact Kevin Ott

*Dates and locations could change based on park availability; finalized schedule will be available by the end of January.

SPRING NYLT DATES

National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is a 6 day, 2 weekend-long leadership training programs designed for Scouts BSA, Venturers, and Sea Scouts who want to develop leadership skills to effectively lead units and prepare them for future leadership roles beyond Scouting.

Youth above the age of 14 who achieved the required prerequisites are invited to attend.

Sign up for the Spring 2025 course on March 14-16 and March 28-30, unit leaders start to consider and recommend Scouts ASAP!

ONLINE DEN LEADER TRAINING AVAILABLE

One of the most important parts of having a successful Scouting program is having trained leaders. For a den leader, his/her knowledge of the program and how to conduct it directly impacts the Scouts’ experience.

There are a number of ways for a new leader to be trained. A series of in-person trainings were just conducted in Q4 of 2024. However, an online version of the training is always available.

To access:

1. Login to my.scouting.org and select the “My Training” on the home screen.
2. Scroll down the page to the “Training Courses by Program” section and click on “Cub Scouting.”
3. On the Cub Scout Learning Page, select Den Leader Training and enroll!

UPCOMING EVENTS

The council training committee will offer training opportunities for both adults and youth.

Wood Badge – Scouting’s premier leadership training for adults. The course runs over two weekends: February 21-23 and March 8-9.

Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) – This training course is for Scouts BSA youth and is a pre-requisite before attending NYLT. The course is on Saturday, March 1.

A website has been put together to help unit leaders and families work through the "unit renewal" and "membership renewal" processes.

Ajapeu Lodge is hosting its annual lodge banquet on Saturday, February 8. Arrowmen and guests are welcome to participate in training, fellowship, and food!

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

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