Four Things to Know for December 12, 2022

December 12, 2022

Is everybody ready for winter?! As we rapidly approach the New Year, here are your

Four Things To Know for December!

Training for Citizenship in Society Counselors - December 18
District Annual Meeting - January 9
District Roundtable - January 10
Eagle Scout Recognition Luncheon - January 14

Plus, Dates to Know, this month's Safety Minute, and a new Fun Fact.

Training for Citizenship in Society Counselors - December 18

Are you interested in helping Scouts in the Constellation District achieve their goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. If so, you can help by becoming a counselor for the new Citizenship in Society Merit Badge. Training for this important unique badge is provided by the BSA, including an "in person" Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training with the Council. To meet this requirement, you need to complete this 90 Minute Zoom session hosted by the Council that includes an overview of the material, suggestions on how to facilitate this badge, and links to useful resources. The next opportunity to take this training is Sunday, December 18, from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

No preregistration is required, however, you will be asked to submit your contact information in the chat so you can receive the supporting links after the meeting.

Questions? Please write to Frank Prohaska, our District Merit Badge Coordinator.

District Annual Meeting - January 9

Unit Leaders, District Committee Members, and Charter Organization Representatives are invited to join us at the District's Annual Meeting. You will have the opportunity to meet the old and new members of the Committee prior to 2023 slate being introduced and voted on for approval. This meeting will be virtual, use this Zoom link, or the following Meeting ID: 827 2530 4632 and Passcode: 978505.

District Roundtable - January 10

The quarterly Constellation District Roundtable is back in January! Get the New Year off to a good start by joining us on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 pm at the Merion Square Scout House (355 Conshohocken State Road, Gladwyne, PA), home of Troop 181.

Our theme for this Roundtable is Favorite Trips and Activities. Leaders and Committee Members from Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing Units are encouraged to join us to share their ideas for trips, activities, and service projects :

Hear about plans for Cub and Scout summer camps in 2023.
Discuss ideas for the next Tri-District Camporee
Discuss great trip and activity ideas with other Units.
And learn about opportunities to help promote Scouting with the 2023 Annual Campaign.

Now that Roundtables are only once every three months, we hope you can make a special effort to join us for learning, sharing, and fellowship.

Eagle Scout Recognition Luncheon - January 14

While there are many organizations that do good work in our community, it could be argued that none has an award for youth that is as recognized in the public and private world as that of the Eagle Scout Rank. Nationally, fewer than 6% of Scouts who join will earn the Eagle Scout Rank, This achievement is often recognized by higher education institutions, employers and the general public as representing a young man who has the drive, determination, organization and leadership skills to set a goal and accomplish it.

For the first time in several years, the Eagle Scout Award Event is back! Join us in recognizing the Eagle Scouts from the Class of 2020 and 2021, along with the recipients of the 2022 NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout Award. Family, Friends, Scout Leaders, and

Eagle Alumni are all invited to this event; you don't have to be an Eagle Scout to attend.

This Luncheon will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

at the Franconia Heritage Banquet & Conference Center (508 Harleysville Pike, Telford, PA 18969).

Eagle Scouts from the Class of 2020, and 2021 are FREE. All others attending are $50/person. Sponsorship opportunities also exist.

Click here to Register.

Eagle Scouts are encouraged to be in full BSA Uniform, as a class picture will be taken.

Dates to Know

For an additional list of Council events, check out the Council Program Update.

Citizenship in Society Merit Badge Counselor Training - December 18

See the notice above for details.

Wilderness First Aid Training - January 7 and 8

Info and registration here

District Annual Meeting - January 9

Join us at 7:00 pm to meet the District's slate of committee members for 2023.

District Roundtable - January 10

Join us at 7:30' see notice above for additional information

Gold Rush Klondike: Weekend of January 27 to 29

Contact Barry Kauffmann to join this annual winter camporee.

University of Scouting: February 4

A variety of courses for Unit Leaders. Save the Date!

District First Aid Derby: Saturday March 11

Test your First Aid skills in our annual competition.

Click here for information and to register.

Pilgrimage and Encampment: March 10 to 12

A full weekend of the Pilgrimage and Encampment returns in 2023 with a visit to Fort Washington State Park! Click here for registration and information.

District Pinewood Derby - evening of Friday, April 28

Canadian Scout Exchange at Resica Falls: May 27 to 28

Share a weekend of Scouting adventures with Canadian Scouts. More info here.

District Safety Minute

It's that time of year when Scouts hope to get some great new camping gear. Looking for an idea for your Scout? Consider a daypack for their Scouting trips, so that they do not need to use their school backpacks. Why is this a safety minute? Scouts will often bring items on camping trips which are inappropriate in schools, such as pocket knives and matches, and can get in trouble at school if they forget to remove them from their school backpacks after a camping trip. So, check those backpacks!

Fun Fact to Know

Troop 181 in Gladwyne has been serving Scouts on the Main Line since 1921. They meet in the historic Merion Square Scout House, which was built in 1884 as a mission chapel of Bryn Mawr Baptist Church. In 1952, an anonymous donor provided a $20,000 gift for "scouting in the Youngsford Valley", which was used in 1957 to purchase the then vacant Merion Square Baptist Mission Chapel.

Key People to Know

Constellation District Volunteer Leadership (Key 2)

John Cluver, District Chair

Rob Shillingford, District Commissioner

Service Area 2 Professional Team

Ryan Martin, Team Lead and Fundraising Specialist

Rhys Wallace, Membership Specialist

Aaron Munson, Service & Program Specialist

Constellation District Website: Click Here

Constellation District Instagram: @constellation_district

Constellation District Facebook page: Click Here

Do you have news or photos on a new Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow induction, or anything else to share on the District's Facebook page? Contact our Public Relations Chair, Rose Sutkowski, to get it posted.