From Explorer to Firefighter

February 26, 2025 | Greater LA Scouting, Scouting America

Calling Scouts Who’ve Earned Every Merit Badge!

We’re excited to honor the incredible achievements of our Scouts and Scouters at the Annual Recognition Dinner on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at Quiet Cannon.

This special night will celebrate many outstanding individuals, including the 2024 class of Silver Beavers, Scouts who’ve earned every Merit Badge, Spurgeon Award recipients, NOVA Award recipients, National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award recipients, and many more! If you know a Scout who has earned every Merit Badge, please contact Cicily Gardea to ensure they’re recognized at this special event.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening celebrating the achievements of our Scouters across our Council. Please purchase your tickets now and join us for an evening of community, recognition, unity, and appreciation.

From Explorer to Firefighter – Congratulations Probationary Firefighter Nolan Lasky!

A huge congratulations to Nolan Lasky, now a Probationary Firefighter, for successfully completing the LAFD Drill Tower Academy! Nolan began his journey as an Explorer in 2019 with both LA County Fire Department Post 22 and LA City Fire Department Post 81. He continued with Post 81 until he aged out in 2023, dedicating countless hours as a volunteer LAFD Cadet and serving his community.

On behalf of LAFD Post 81, Greater LA Scouting, and your entire Exploring family, we are incredibly proud of your achievement! We wish you all the best in the year ahead and applaud you for making Post 81 proud. Congratulations, Nolan!

Wildfire Support & Community Resources Hub

How can I get Help from Scouting?

Gear Replacement Fund

Support Scouts in Rebuilding Their Scouting Gear

As families recover from the devastation of the fires, we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from our volunteers. Now, our focus shifts to helping replace essential camping gear. While many have generously offered equipment, we want to ensure that impacted Scouts can select the gear best suited for their adventures.

Please consider donating to the Gear Replacement Fund. All funds raised will be distributed to affected families through REI gift cards, allowing them to purchase exactly what they need to continue their Scouting journey. Together, we can help them get back outdoors and back to what they love most!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this possible! We’d love to hear how your experience went—please share your story with Cicily Gardea at Cicily.Gardea@scouting.org.

Cushman Watt Scout Center Closed on February 26 for Staff Planning

The Cushman Watt Scout Center will be closed on Wednesday, February 26 for Staff Planning. Regular business operations will resume on Thursday, February 27.

Thank you for your understanding, and we appreciate your support as we work to better serve our Scouting community!

Welcome to the Board!

We are excited to welcome Dr. Travis Williams to the Board! Dr. Williams is a tenured professor of chemistry at the University of Southern California, with a Ph.D. from Stanford. His work spans energy storage, medical imaging, and sustainable manufacturing, and his research on hydrogen storage has gained international recognition. He is also the founder of two clean-tech startups, Catapower, Inc. and Closed Composites.

Dr. Williams has received numerous prestigious awards, including the DOE Hydrogen Technology of the Year and the 2020 Breakthrough Energy Ventures Climate Change Prize. He has published over 90 scientific papers and raised more than $2M annually for his research.

A 35-year Scouting veteran and Outstanding Eagle Scout, Dr. Williams has served over 10 years as a unit leader and led contingents to national high adventure bases. He is also an active ham radio operator and serves in the communications auxiliary of the Los Angeles Fire Department. We are thrilled to have him on the Board!

Introducing Virginia Wetzel the New Pio Pico District Chair

We are excited to welcome Virginia Wetzel as the new Pio Pico District Chair! With 25 years of experience at CoreLogic, Virginia currently serves as a New Vendor Specialist in the Strategic Data Sourcing department. Her role involves collaborating with product managers, negotiating vendor contracts, and ensuring data compliance. Virginia also mentors new hires within her department.

A lifelong Scouting enthusiast, Virginia is a First-Class Girl Scout and was an Explorer Scout in 1972. She is the proud mother of an Eagle Scout, and she has had the honor of serving as his leader. In 2018, she helped launch a Scouts BSA Girl unit that has grown from 7 to 39 Scouts. Virginia’s hands-on experience with Scouts and their families, coupled with her ability to see the big picture, makes her an invaluable asset to the district. We look forward to her leadership and contributions!

The time is now to honor and celebrate the incredible contributions of our Scouters - District Dinner is just around the corner

March 1 – El Camino Real District

March 1 – Pio Pico District

March 21 - Rose Bowl District

April 24 - Pacifica District

This is your chance to recognize our dedicated volunteers, connect with fellow Scouters, and celebrate the spirit of Scouting. Don't miss out - register now before it's too late!

Blast Off at Cub Rocket Academy!

Last Chance to Register!

Cub Scout families, get ready for an out-of-this-world adventure at Firestone Scout Reservation, March 14-16, 2025!

Build and launch your own rocket, test your skills on the range, get creative with crafts, and end the night with a movie under the stars. Don’t forget your camp chair—you won’t want to miss the epic launches!

This event sells out fast, so sign up early for a thrilling weekend of family fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories!

Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills Training Calling all Adult Leaders!

March 15-16, 2025

Join us for IOLS Training at Firestone Scout Reservation. This hands-on course provides essential outdoor skills to help Scouts advance to First Class and enhance your Troop leadership.

IOLS, along with Scoutmaster/Scout Leader Specific Training, is required for direct-contact leaders to be "trained." (Scoutmaster/Scout Leader Specific recommended before attending.)

Space is limited—register now!

Exciting Summer Day Camp at Cabrillo's Innovation Outpost!

Looking for an action-packed summer camp for your child? Cabrillo's Innovation Outpost offers a fun-filled experience with science experiments, archery, creative art projects, and refreshing swimming sessions to keep cool!

Open to kids ages 5-10 (no Scouting experience required—just bring your sense of adventure!), this is the perfect opportunity for a fun, safe, and enriching summer. Sessions run weekly from June 16th to August 8th, at $250 per participant (lunch included!).