IN THIS ISSUE
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NEW - SAFETY MOMENT - DIGITAL SAFETY AND ONLINE SCOUTING ACTIVITIES
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NEW - HOUSATONIC COUNCIL "SCOUTS IN ACTION"
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NEW - ORDER OF THE ARROW CLEAN SWEEP TOMORROW
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REGISTER FOR - COUNCIL RECOGNITION DINNER HONORING SUSAN STANKYE AND ANTHONY KUCZYNSKI
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REGISTER FOR - SPRING CAMPOREE - MAY 21 - 23 AT CAMP STRANG
- THE WALL THAT HEALS
- JOIN US ON MAY 14 AS WE GET CAMP READY FOR SUMMER 2022
- RETURN TO THE CAMPFIRE AT PHILMONT
- CONNJAM
- PAY PAL/VENMO UPDATES FOR BSA UNITS
- CHANGES TO DEN LEADER TRAINING AWARD
- UPDATED SAFE SWIM DEFENSE TRAINING
- SHELTON CLEAN SWEEP
- REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE 2023 NATIONAL JAMBOREE
- TRINITY SOLAR FUNDRAISER
- APPLY TO WORK ON SUMMER CAMP STAFF IN 2022
- MEMBERSHIP RECRUITING RESOURCES
- HOUSATONIC COUNCIL ONLINE STORE
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NEW - SCOUTING NEWS...
- Be Prepared for High Adventure
- Branding Guidelines for Scouts BSA
- All the advantages of recruiting new Cub Scouts in the spring
- Is your pack, troop, or crew owed money?
- The one thing you can do in high school that will be on your re'sume' for life
- OTHER SCOUTING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR UNIT...
- DERBY-SHELTON ROTARY SHREDDING DAY
- YMCA Healthy Kids Day - April 30, 2022
- Green Village Initiative in Bridgeport offers programs
- CVS offering Camp Physicals in CT
- CT Science Center Events & Programs
- Annual Catholic Scout Retreat - May 21 & 22
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SAFETY MOMENT - DIGITAL SAFETY AND ONLINE SCOUTING ACTIVITIES
As Scouting moves to virtual and online platforms, we offer the following reminders to help keep kids safe. The below guidance applies to all online Scouting activities and meetings.
Note: Some states may have legal requirements that differ from, and even go beyond, what is provided here. It is your responsibility to check and abide by your state laws and consult your local council when reviewing and applying the following guidance, which is not comprehensive. For more information CLICK HERE
Scouts and their parents expect all Boy Scouts of America activities to be conducted safely. To ensure the safety of participants, the Boy Scouts of America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting program.
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"SCOUTS IN ACTION" HOUSATONIC COUNCIL |
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TROOP 3, DERBY - held their March Court of Honor, which included a Friends of Scouting campaign for Housatonic Council and a Strang Scout Reservation Summer Camp Promotion presentation by Paugassett Lodge 553.
They also held a weekend at Strang Scout Reservation Training Facility and took a 8.7 mile hike, which included a stop for lunch at Nodine's Smokehouse.
In April they completed their 35th annual Good Friday Service Projects cleaning up at Troop 3 sponsor Derby 2nd Congregational Church and Pack 3 Sponsor Derby Ghana United Methodist Church yards as well as the "Grow Your Own" Community Garden on Olivia & 5th Streets in Derby.
PACK 27 & TROOP 27, SHELTON - worked on a clean sweep project at east village park.
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What has your unit been doing? Did you go on a special camping trip? Work on a community service project? Share your story with us and we will share it with the Council. Share with us photos and stories for "SCOUTS IN ACTION..." This section of our newsletter is dedicated to our units. Submit your stories and pictures of what your unit is doing. Add a contact email so other leaders can contact you, and do what you did in their unit. Submit your stories to John Zseller
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COUNCIL RECOGNITION DINNER - APRIL 28
The Housatonic Council invites you to join us on April 28 at the Sage Banquet Venue (Sons of Italy) in Derby to celebrate our volunteers.
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Susan Stankye will receive the Silver Beaver Award
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Anthony Kuczynski will receive the District Award of Merit.
- In addition eleven volunteers will be honored with the President's Award.
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2022 SPRING CAMPOREE, MAY 21 - 23 AT CAMP STRANG
SCOUTING AROUND THE WORLD
The theme for the Spring Camporee will be a “worldwide” experience, contained all at Camp Strang. Patrols will set out with Passports in hand and get them stamped at the countries they compete at. The Activities Committee is looking for your troop to showcase a country; try to tie a station to that country. Provide some Fun Facts about your country and challenge our scouts to know about our world.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE WALL THAT HEALS
The Wall that Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, will be at Veterans Memorial Park in Norwalk, CT from Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 5. We are looking for Scouters and mature Scouts to help volunteer during this time.
For more details, please reach out to Karen Caiati at 203-722-9177 or [email protected] if you and/or your troop are interested in helping. |
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CAN WE COUNT ON YOU TO HELP US GET CAMP READY? CAMP STRANG PREPARATION DAYS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
MAY 14, 2022 - CAMP STRANG WORKDAY #2
It is time to begin the annual Camp Strang Spring Cleaning, and dust off the cobwebs, and prepare Camp Strang for weekend opportunities, Spring Camporee and Summer Camp.
May 14 will be our second workday at Camp Strang. The day will begin at 9:00 AM. Lunch will be provided, or bring your own.
Contact John Zseller if you are interested in assisting and share with him what you are interested in working on, or if your not sure share your skills with John and we will find a project.
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PAY PAL/VENMO UPDATE FOR BSA UNITS
Beginning January 1, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) introduced new reporting requirements for payments received for goods and services, which will lower the reporting threshold to $600 for the 2022 tax season, from 2021’s threshold of $20,000 and 200 transactions. These reporting requirements are only for payments received for a good or service, and do not apply to payments from friends or family. Under the new requirements, payment service companies, including PayPal and Venmo, will provide customers with a 1099-K form if they receive $600 or more in a calendar year for payments received for goods or services.
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CHANGES TO DEN LEADER TRAINING AWARD
Three Cub Scout device pins will be discontinued from the program effective immediately.
These devices were traditionally worn on the Den Leader Training Award Knot, which recognizes Den Leaders who have completed training, tenure, and performance requirements. This Den Leader Training Award Knot (SKU 5016) will continue to be offered and is available to earn at any point throughout the Den Leader's tenure.
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UPDATED SAFE SWIM DEFENSE TRAINING
In collaboration with the BSA National Aquatics Subcommittee, ScoutingU has released an updated version of “Safe Swim Defense” online training that is also mobile compatible.
Safe Swim Defense training is required for any BSA unit who will participate in swimming activities. This online training ensures that adult leaders are prepared to facilitate safe swimming programs by reviewing the eight points of Safe Swim Defense.
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SHELTON CLEAN SWEEP
The 15th annual Clean Sweep will run the week of Earth Day 2022.
Begins: Saturday, April 16, 2022
Ends: Sunday, April 24, 2022
The 2022 iron-on patch features a red fox. Supplies are limited and handed out on a first come, first serve basis. Request free patches after completing a cleanup on public property by email: [email protected].
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TRINITY SOLAR FUNDRAISER
Is your unit low on funds? The Council is continuing their partnership with Trinity Solar. They have agreed to donate $50 to your unit for every qualified consultation that comes from your unit.
Additionally on an installation by Trinity Solar from the consultation your unit will receive $500.
For more information contact: Lori Scala, Community Outreach Program, Trinity Solar at 203-895-8968 or email at [email protected]
The link to sign up and learn more about solar for your home is.
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CAMP STRANG AND DAY CAMP ARE HIRING
Hello! Strang Scout Reservation and Day Camp is looking to fill some key positions for our Summer Camp Staff! Please share this post with anyone you know who is looking for fun and rewarding summer work! All are encouraged to apply and no prior scouting experience is necessary!
We are looking for the following team members:
- Food Services Director
- Climbing Instructor (18+)
- Program Area Instructors (Aquatics/ Lifeguards, Outdoor Skills, Ecology, First Year Camper, Field Sports, STEM)
- Dining Hall Steward
- Kitchen Crew
- Program Staff for Strang and Day Camp
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SCHEDULE YOUR SPRING RECRUITMENT NOW - Spring Recruitment is simply the process of inviting and registering new Scouts and their families in the Scouting program. Spring Recruitment is for kindergarten-age youth going into 1st grade through 4th grade youth going into 5th grade. Spring Recruitment is NOT for youth going into kindergarten. Lion recruitment should start in August.
Why Spring Recruitment? CAMPING, whether an overnight, sleep-away (resident) or a day camp, is a promise that Scouting makes to every new family. For families that join in the spring this is something that we can deliver on right away! To schedule your Spring Recruitment contact Carole Cafaro
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THE HOUSATONIC COUNCIL ONLINE STORE
- PATCHES AVAILABLE
- 2022 Klondike Patches
- 60th Camp Strang Anniversary Patch
- And other items
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SCOUTING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR UNIT... |
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GREEN VILLAGE INITIATIVE
Green Village Initiative! GVI is a Bridgeport non-profit that grows food, knowledge, leadership and community through urban farming and gardening. Food justice is at the heart of our mission. My name is Catherine and I manage GVI's 1.7 acre produce farm on land that has been reclaimed from a parking lot! I am reaching out to invite your group to come to the farm this spring and learn about urban farming in Bridgeport and volunteer with us.
This could look like a variety of things including hosting one of your regular meetings in our beautiful outdoor space, setting up educational stations or getting straight to work!.
Upcoming this spring we have a number of events, seedlings sales and our weekly farmers market starts in June.
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SUMMER CAMP PHYSICALS AT CVS
Scouts can schedule their Camp Physicals at a local MinuteClinic® at CVS®. Each year, MinuteClinic provides thousands of camp physicals for Scouts, either in clinic or at an on-site event.
MinuteClinic is open every day, including evenings. We are currently in Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland and Windham. . Find a local clinic.
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