October 2025

A Message from our District Chair

Dear Scouting Leaders, Volunteers, and Friends,

Across our communities, in every troop, pack, and crew, Scouting continues to stand as one of the most enduring forces shaping the character and leadership of young people. The work we do together is not simply about merit badges, camping trips, or ranks—it is about nurturing integrity, resilience, and a spirit of service that will guide our youth for a lifetime.

At its core, Scouting is a movement grounded in values—those of honor, responsibility, and respect for others. These values are not taught in a single moment; they are lived through shared experiences, challenges, and moments of discovery. Whether standing before a campfire or serving a neighbor in need, our Scouts learn what it means to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, and kind—not just in words, but in action.

As leaders and volunteers, we hold a sacred trust. We have been entrusted with the responsibility to model the very ideals we hope to instill. The character and community leadership we seek to develop in our Scouts begins with our own example—our commitment to serve selflessly, lead with integrity, and create a culture where every young person is encouraged to reach their full potential.

The impact of Scouting is profound and lasting. The lessons of leadership learned in a patrol, the teamwork built on the trail, and the pride of service to others—all prepare our Scouts to become citizens who strengthen their communities and uphold the best of what America stands for.

As we look forward to the year ahead, I am excited to share wonderful news for our Scouting family. Please join me in giving a warm Hunterdon Arrowhead District welcome to our new District Executive, Alice Hillary! Alice brings with her a deep passion for youth development, strong leadership experience, and a genuine enthusiasm for the mission of Scouting America. We look forward to working alongside her as we continue to grow and strengthen Scouting throughout Hunterdon County.

I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Magne Gundersen for his dedicated service as our Interim District Executive. Magne's leadership, support, and steady hand helped guide our district through an important period of transition, and we are truly grateful for his commitment to our Scouts and volunteers.

As we embark on this next chapter, let us reaffirm our commitment to the mission of Scouting America: to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. It is both an honor and a responsibility to help guide the next generation of leaders—leaders our communities will depend upon.

Thank you for your dedication, your leadership, and for the countless ways you help our Scouts grow into men and women of character and purpose. Together, we are building the future—one Scout at a time.

Yours in Scouting,

Christopher J. Phelan

Chair - District Committee

Hunterdon Arrowhead District

Scouting America, Washington Crossing Council

District Executive

We are pleased to announce Alice Hillary has joined Washington Crossing Council as the District Executive for the Hunterdon Arrowhead District.

Alice brings both a strong professional background and a deep connection to Scouting. She has been an active volunteer within the Mercer Area District, where she has served in a variety of key roles including Pack Committee Chair, Troop Committee Member, District Membership Chair, District Popcorn Kernel, District Advancement Committee Member, and Proud Scout Parent. Her hands-on experience gives her a well-rounded understanding of the Scouting program and the volunteers who make it possible.

Professionally, Alice has held leadership positions with SAP, John Wiley & Sons, and McGraw-Hill, where she led large-scale system implementations, global sourcing initiatives, and business process improvements impacting teams around the world. A continuous learner and strategic coach, Alice holds a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Global Business Management from the University of Phoenix and a certification in Generative AI for Business from Cornell University.

We are thrilled to have Alice join our team. Her leadership experience, professional expertise, and passion for Scouting will help strengthen our relationships and service to the units and volunteers across the Hunterdon Arrowhead District.

Please join us in welcoming Alice to Washington Crossing Council.

Time to Renew for the Next Scouting Year!

It’s renewal season! Make sure your families log in and get their Scouts—and themselves—renewed for another great year of adventure.

Renewing on time ensures every Scout stays covered by Scouting insurance and is eligible for advancement and upcoming activities. Don’t wait—take a few minutes today to make sure your unit is ready to go strong into the new year!

Scouts BSA Webinar Series

The BSA currently has two additional monthly webinars coming up:

November 5 - Click, Learn, Earn: Digital Tools for Merit Badge Counselors

December 3 - The Power of the Panel: Elevating You Boards of Review

You can submit questions in advance to advancement.team@scouting.org.

New Merit Badges Introduced!

Scouting America has introduced two new merit badges: Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence. The Digital Resource Guide is already up on the merit badge hub (use link below).

Interested in becoming a merit badge counselor for the new badges or know someone who is? Merit Badge Counselor Information can be found on link below.

Fall Recruitment

Membership Matters – Let’s Keep Growing!

We are nearing the end of October and making great progress—756 new Scouts have joined this year! For comparison, we welcomed 977 new Scouts total last year, and we’re on track to surpass that milestone.

If every Pack, Troop, Crew, and Ship brought in just five new members, we could secure the long-term strength and vitality of every unit in our district.

Haven’t hosted a recruitment event yet? It’s not too late! Reach out to your District Executive for help planning or promoting your next opportunity to grow your unit.

Popcorn Season – Let’s Finish Strong!

Popcorn season is almost over, but it’s not done yet! Many units are wrapping up their sales, and this is the perfect time to move those last few cases instead of sending them back. Every sale counts—and every bag gets us closer to supporting more great Scouting adventures.

Set up a quick booth at a new location or jump into a local fall festival to reach new supporters. A little extra effort now can make a big difference for your unit’s success!

Remember, the Take Order deadline is October 29—let’s make the most of these final days and finish the season on a high note!

Time is Running Out!

Registration closes Sunday, October 26 at 11:59pm

Start Your Engines! Pinewood Derby Car Kits Are Here!

It’s that exciting time of year again—Pinewood Derby season! Packs can now pick up their official Pinewood Derby car kits at the Council Scout Shop so their Cub Scouts can start designing their winning creations.

Each kit includes everything you need to get started: a wooden block, wheels, and axles—ready for your Cub Scout’s creativity, craftsmanship, and competitive spirit. Whether you’re planning to build a sleek speedster or a wild themed racer, now’s the perfect time to grab your kit and start shaping your design.

Don’t wait until the last minute—supplies go fast! Stop by the Scout Shop today to get your Pinewood Derby car kit and join the fun of one of Scouting’s most beloved traditions.

Price: $6.99

Bulk purchase of 12 or more $5.99 each

Visit our Council website for Scout Shop hours.

The Newest Tool to Help Den Leaders is Now Here! 

The Den Meeting Deck makes planning a den meeting fun, simple, and easy. There is a deck for each badge of rank and contains all the activities needed to earn all six required Adventures and four or five elective Adventures.

Be sure to stop by the WCC Scout Shop to purchase your Den Meeting Deck!

The weekend COPE & Climbing program offers the opportunity for your Troop, Crew, Ship or Post to experience a team building program like no other. Low COPE consists of warm-up activities and initiative games in the field before moving on to the Low COPE course. This course includes 12 elements low to the ground, ranging from the Archimedes Bridge to the 12-foot Wall. Adults are invited to participate.

Upcoming dates: November 8-9

Throughout the year, the Council's Range & Target Committee offers several different activities for Cub Scouts. For all activities, an adult is required to be present to satisfy the 1-to-1 adult participant ratio.

Slingshot Adventure

November 2

BB Gun Adventure

December 7

Do you have a Scout that has a partial Rifle or Shotgun Merit Badge from summer camp?

The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of Scouting America.

The award is given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service.

Washington Crossing Council Recognition Dinner will be held on November 11 from 6-9pm at Villa Mannino, 73 Route 130, Bordentown, NJ 08620. Event information and registration is available at the button below.

The evening includes fellowship, great food, and the presentation of the Silver Beaver awards, Veteran Status awards, and James E. West fellowships.

This event will feel like gathering at grandma’s house! Everyone brings their specialty dish to share at one big dinner table.

• A full day of cooking, fun, and spending time together.
• Picnic tables will be set up in the center of the field so we can all sit down for dinner at the same time.

Let's cook over wood fires raised off the ground—this way we protect the site, make cleanup simple, and leave no trace.

If there’s enough interest, we may even be able to put together a special event patch!

Dates: November 21 – 23

Location: Ockanickon Scout Reservation

Registration fee: $20 per person (no late fee)

If interested, please reach out to DJ Lapczynski or Alex Fritz

2026 Klondike Derby - Save the Date!

Hello Hunterdon Arrowhead District!  As you head into your annual planning for the coming year, please be sure to SAVE THE DATE for the 2026 Klondike Derby this winter!

More details including registration will be coming soon. We look forward to seeing you all there!  

Date: January 23-25

Location: Lebanon Township Memorial Park, 67 Bunnvale Road, Glen Gardner, NJ 07830

2026 Reservations

Troops can start planning now for Summer Camp 2026 at Ockanickon! With over 80 merit badges to choose from, every troop should consider OSR as a summer camp option. Troop deposits are now being accepted!

The theme for 2026 will be based on America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

Troops can choose from six different sessions:

Troops that sign-up with a $150 deposit by October 31 will lock-in a special discounted rate guarantee allowing Scouts & families to have until April 30 (two extra months) to qualify for the deepest discounts in camp pricing.

HAD Information

HAD has several Google Group communities used for communicating information to HAD Scouters. 

If you want to be part of our google group communities use these links to sign up and be sure to answer the questions.  

Campbuilder Days

November 15

Chainsaw Work Day

November 8

Program Opportunities Beyond the District

Don't miss out on some great Scouting events beyond your District!

• One World Observatory, NYC - offered Saturdays & Sundays at 9am
• Eastern State Penitentiary - Saturday, November 15 (in-person) & Sunday, December 7 (virtual)
• 2025 Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope
• PSATS Youth Awards - deadline for entries: December 31
• 2026 National Jamboree - July 22-31
• 2027 World Scout Jamboree

For more information regarding these Events please refer to the Council newsletter.

Get Caught Up

Looking for a previous newsletter? Archives are now included on our Council website under the ABOUT tab.

Annual Appeal

Upcoming Meetings

Commissioner Meeting

November 3

District Committee Meeting

November 5

Roundtable

November 12