Good afternoon, Constellation District. It is great to see and hear about so many great Scouting events that are underway to start our Scouting year. On top of the camping trips, service projects, popcorn sales, and other activities our units have going on, check out these additional things to know about in the District and Council.

• District Roundtable: October 8
• Cub Scout Fall Festival: 6 Dates in October and November
• District Cooking Competition Recap
• Scouting for Food: November 9 and 16

Plus, some Dates to Know

this month's Safety Moment on Safety Afloat, and

Council's DEI Nugget on Scouting with Disabilities

District Roundtable

October 8, 2024, 7:30 to 9:00 pm

Location TBD

The quarterly Constellation District Roundtable is back in October! Our theme for this Roundtable is Rechartering. With some changes in store for this year, it isn't too early to get started. While an introduction to the process can be found here, come to the Roundtable to learn more, get help, or just catch up with some other units.

Roundtables are at their best when we can learn from each other. So whether you are new to Scouting or a seasoned veteran, we hope you can make a special effort to join us for learning, sharing, and fellowship.

Cub Scout Fall Festival

Six Dates to Choose From

October 19, 2024

October 20, 2024

October 26, 2024

October 27, 2024

November 2, 2024

November 3, 2024

Get excited for the most fun you can have as a Cub Scout this Fall - join us for FALL FEST at Camp Hart!! Cubs will have a chance to carve pumpkins, go bouldering, shoot BB's and Archery, learn about STEM, make crafts, and more! There are 6 days to choose from, but register soon, as dates will sell out.

Best part - bring a friend, because new Cubs attend for free!

Click here for more information and to register.

District Cooking Competition Recap

The Constellation District held its first Cooking Competition a week ago. How did it go? Let's hear about it from one of the Scouts who participated: Richard from Liberty Troop 71.

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, the Merion Liberty Troop benefactors hosted a lively district cook-off that brought together families, friends, and community members for a day filled with delicious food and friendly competition. Four competing teams from Liberty 71 and 176 Narberth showed their astute culinary skills. The event took place in the Merion Tribute House.

The teams were given a pantry list of various ingredients and asked to prepare three

dishes. The participants had 5 minutes to gather all their items, after which the judges would announce the secret ingredient. The secret ingredient had to be part of the main presentation.

Participants showcased their culinary skills across several categories, including an

appetizer, main dish, and dessert. The judges would rank on teamwork, taste, creativity

presentation, and how well they included the secret ingredient. Dishes included chicken

mushroom kabobs on mini skewers, fresh-made pasta (from scratch) with chicken carbonara, and crispy escalope. The winning teams were awarded certificates and gift cards at Rita’s Ice Cream, a trophy wooden spoon from the Troop, and a Dutch oven lid holder as a gift from District Commissioner Rob Shillingford.

Plans for next year’s event are already in the works, promising even more excitement and delicious dishes. Stay on the lookout to sign up your troop!

Scouting for Food Collection

Door Tag Drop-Off November 9

Collection November 16

Every year, the Constellation District helps collect food for families in need in our communities. Last year we filled close to 400 boxes with over 6.5 tons of food (roughly 13,000 packages) at our collection site, which was supplemented by other Units who organized their own collections directly. Start planning now to be a part of Scouting's national service project this year. Questions about how to do so? Contact our District Scouting for Food Chair, Kate Hiebert, for information.

Dates to Know

And take a look at the Council's Calendar and Council's Program Update for other opportunities and to learn more about each event.

National Youth Leadership Training: Sept 27-29 & Oct 4-6.

Scouting-focused leadership training opportunity for Scouts, at Camp Musser.

District Roundtable: October 8, 2024

Join your fellow Unit Leaders to discuss topics of interest. No registration required.

Cub Scout Fall Festival: Six Dates in October and November at Camp Musser

October 19, 20, 26, and 27; November 2 and 3.

Halloweekend at Resica Falls: October 26, 2024

Come for the day's activities or camp for the whole weekend.

Incident Reduction & Reporting Training: October 26, 2024

BALOO Training: November 2 to 3, 2024

Training for Cub Scout leaders, held at Camp Musser. 

IOLS: Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills: November 2 to 3, 2024

Training at Camp Musser for Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, and any Adults who regularly attend camping trips. 

Scouting for Food Collection: November 16, 2024

With Door Tag Drop-Off November 9.

Questions? Contact our District Coordinator, Kate Hiebert, for info.

Eastern State Penitentiary Scout Day: November 17, 2024

Scout Night at the Flyers: November 19, 2023

Activities, patches, and photos on the ice. Information and registration here.

District Safety Minute

Campfire Safety

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting chillier, making the perfect conditions for the ultimate Scouting activity: the campfire. Now is a great time to refresh yourself on the basics and to make sure your Scouts know them as well.

BSA Guidelines on Campfire Safety

Behavior Around Campfires

Council DEI Nugget

Talking About Accessibility and Disabilities

The basic premise of Scouting for youth with disabilities is that all youth want to participate fully and be respected like every other Scout – and Scouting provides that opportunity. While physical accommodations are critical (see last month's DEI Nugget), equally important is using the right words and phrases when talking to and about people with disabilities to make sure they feel welcome. Some basic concepts:

• Put the person first! Such as "a person with a disability"
• Refer to "accessible parking" instead of "handicapped parking"
• Talk directly to the person with the disability, not their assistant
• Think about the tone & intent of your conversations

Learn more here.

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.