IN THIS ISSUE
SAFETY MOMENT - DISTRACTED DRIVING

Distracted driving is considered “any activity that diverts the driver’s attention away from driving,” according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The distractions can include a wide range of a driver’s or passenger’s personal actions or activities while in a vehicle. Even if a driver is only trying to keep Scouts in their seats while the vehicle is in motion, that is a distraction. CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

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.

"SCOUTS IN ACTION" HOUSATONIC COUNCIL
PAUGASSETT LODGE - held their first annual earth day project doing a clean-up at Indian Wells State Park.
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
Dear Housatonic Council Family,

It is once again time for the 13th Annual Great Give. A wonderful opportunity to support Scouting and provide the necessary financial resources to support the Housatonic Council.

Please consider contributing a gift through the Great Give by Clicking Here.

Your gift might even become a BIGGER GIFT by winning one of these prizes for the Council:

  • Valley Early Bird - May 4 - Give a gift between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM on May 4.
  • Lunch Hour Double Draw - May 4 - Give a gift between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
  • May the Fourth Be With You Happy Hour Double Draw - May 4 - Give a gift between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
  • Valley Early Bird - May 5 - Give a gift between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM on May 4.
  • Valley Lunch Hour Draw - May 5 - Give a gift between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
  • Last Call Happy Hour Draw - May 5 - Give a gift between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM

Thank you for your gift to Scouting.

Yours in Scouting

John Zseller
Scout Executive
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.
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 karen.caiati@gmail.com if you and/or your troop are interested in helping.
Beaver with a white tshirt
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.
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.

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 lori.scala@trinity-solar.com

 
The link to sign up and learn more about solar for your home is.
 
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

MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES
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 


THE HOUSATONIC COUNCIL ONLINE STORE

  • PATCHES AVAILABLE
  • 2022 Klondike Patches
  • 60th Camp Strang Anniversary Patch
  • And other items
SCOUTING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU AND YOUR UNIT...
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.
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.
CONNECTICUT SCIENCE CENTER EVENTS