IN THIS ISSUE
HOUSATONIC COUNCIL SERVICE CENTER WILL BE CLOSED
MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021 IN OBSERVANCE OF THE 4TH OF JULY
NO ROUNDTABLE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER
AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN AUGUST!
CONGRATULATIONS TO...
PACK 65, OXFORD - Recently Pack 65 held an exciting summer hiking and geocaching event at Naugatuck State Forest. I see some happy faces. For more information contact Karl Best.

THANK YOU to all our units who contributed photos and stories for "CONGRATULATIONS TO..." This section of our newsletter continues because of your contributions. Continue to submit your stories and pictures of what your unit is doing. Please add an email for other leaders interested in contacting you, so they can do what you did in their unit.
SAFETY MOMENT - TRANSPORTING SCOUTS SAFELY

It's that time of year as families and units begin to take longer road trips and youth join us at summer camp. Scouting takes the transportation of youth seriously. Click here for more information.

Many Scouters need to have a greater awareness of the risks of transporting Scouts in vehicles.
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.
CAMP OPENS NEXT WEEK ARE YOU JOINING US?
PREPARING FOR SUMMER CAMP...

As the month of June draws to a close and thoughts turn to summer camp this year is a little different from past summers. First we are celebrating our 60th Anniversary at Camp Strang, and as always we want our staff, adult volunteers and youth attending to have a safe and exciting time please review our recommendations prior to attending camp this summer.

The Housatonic Council realizes that the current guidelines continue to change, but your health and safety is of our greatest concern while you stay with us at Camp Strang.

JUST IN AT THE COUNCIL ONLINE STORE

  • PRE-ORDER 60TH ANNIVERSARY CAMP STRANG GEAR
  • ORDER OF THE ARROW 60TH ANNIVERSARY PATCHES
ALUMNI DAY AT CAMP STRANG - JULY 17, 2021

Join us for the 2021 Council Alumni Day WHO CAN ATTEND? EVERYONE Become a youth again, rekindle your love for Scouting, introduce your family to the place where you grew up, or come and enjoy our waterfront, climbing wall, and rifle range. Come and see the improvements and changes to Camp Strang since we were last together.
CUB SCOUT OVERNIGHTER - JULY 23, 2021

Cub Scout Overnighter at the Huntington Chapel. Arrive Friday night at 5:30 PM enjoy dinner, and entertainment while sleeping in a tent. Saturday morning wakeup and enjoy a Continental breakfast and leave at 10:00 AM.
TERRIFICON is this summer at the Mohegan Sun Expo Center, in Uncasville CT, on July 30-August 1, 2021. The event coordinators have allowed the Boy Scouts of America to provide 10-12 volunteers each day to be runners.

Because of the responsibility the Scouts will need to be 14 years old or older. Their role will be directing people where to go in the Expo Center, and assist booths when they need someone to watch their booth while taking a quick break.

Other roles will include:
  • Assisting at the Boy Scouts of America display
  • Getting a bottle of water for VIPs
  • Passing flyers
  • Escorting celebrities and special guests to their appointed locations
  • Deliver supplies
  • Assisting in other events like the kid’s parade.

Scouts and Scouters will be required to wear their full class A uniform for the entire event. Lunch is scheduled to be provided by TERRIFICON. Volunteers get in for FREE. It’s a great opportunity to help volunteer, showcase and promote Scouting in Connecticut to our youth. People come from all over CT for this event. 


Schedule of Events:
  • Friday July 30: set up shift: 10am to 12:30pm, event shift: 12:30 pm to 9:00 pm
  • Saturday July 31: event shift 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
  • Sunday August 1: event shift 9:00 am to 6:00 pm   

If you are interested email Gabriel Zayas of the Connecticut Yankee Council.
BSA MEMBERSHIP FEE INCREASE AS OF AUGUST 1, 2021

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has worked to keep the membership fee as low as possible. Unfortunately, operating costs have continued to rise, and COVID-19 has compounded the need to increase the fee to maintain the program.
To ensure we have the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting, the updated national membership fee is
  • $72 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts participants
  • $45 for Exploring participants
  • $30 for council-paid memberships
  • $45 for all adult volunteers (includes cost of background check)
  • $75 for a unit charter fee
The membership fees will take effect August 1, 2021, for the 2021-2022 program year.
The one-time $25 joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts is still required; however, there is no joining fee for Exploring participants, participants previously registered in any BSA program, those transferring from one program to another, council-paid memberships, or adult volunteers. More...
SCOUTBOOK FOR DEN LEADERS
This all-in-one tool makes planning your year, preparing for meetings and tracking advancement so much easier – and right at your fingertips!

Plan The Year In a Snap!
Building a den meeting calendar used to be tricky and time-consuming. But not anymore, thanks to Scoutbook. Now you can plan out the year using an easy drag-and-drop tool. Follow the pre-planned calendar or customize your own. Either way, it’s a snap!

Prepare for Meetings in Minutes - Not Hours!
Scoutbook has taken the time-consuming hard work out of preparing for meetings. Now everything you’ll do and say in a meeting is laid out right there in the app so prepping for meetings is short and sweet.

Tracking Advancement Is Easier Than Ever!
Now, in Cub Scouts, advancement is based on meeting attendance, so simply follow along with the meetings online and take attendance using Scoutbook’s one-click attendance tracker and we’ll take care of the rest!
ORDER OF THE ARROW UPDATES
JUNE 2021 - JUNE 2022 LODGE LEADERSHIP

On June 5, 2021 at the Spring Service / Ordeal Weekend elections were held for the Leadership of Paugassett Lodge. Below is the new Paugassett Lodge Leadership.

Lodge Chief - Joseph C. - Troop 55
Vice Chief of Administration - Ben R. - Troop 11
Vice Chief of Membership - Aaron C. - Troop 28
Vice Chief of Ceremonies - Ken M. - Troop 55
Treasurer - Tim C. - Troop 65
Secretary - Evan W. - Troop 55
Do you need an escape from that 9-5 job, summer classes, or the monotony of staring out of your bedroom window longing for something new? If your answer is yes, the Order of the Arrow has the answer for you!

Each summer, the Order of the Arrow offers a myriad of different High Adventure opportunities to meet your summer needs. Maybe it's wetting your appetite by going for a plunge in the Atlantic Ocean with the Ocean Adventure at the Florida Sea Base. Or maybe hiking is your passion; if so, what better place to go than the Philmont Scout Ranch, where you can hike the same trails as your Scoutmaster or Scouting ancestors as a part of your Trail Crew experience? Have you ever thought about what the Native Americans and early explorers did to be avid traders? Maybe the OA Voyage is your calling. Whatever your summer aspirations may be, these National High Adventure bases have put together a multitude of options for you.
OTHER RELATED SCOUTING EVENTS AND BENEFITS FOR YOU...
MEMBERSHIP HAS BENEFITS - CHECK OUT HIKER DIRECT

Hiker Direct is a program that offers discount camping and backpacking gear such as tents, sleeping
bags, backpacks and other great camping products to members of various scouting organizations in
the United States. If you are a member of such an organization, you can register for our program to
browse the camping gear that we offer at discounted prices exclusive to scouts.

Am I eligible for Hiker Direct discounts?
If you are a scout, scout parent, scout leader, or have any affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America, you are eligible for Hiker Direct pricing.
CONNECTICUT YANKEE COUNCIL OFFERING WOOD BADGE
What is Wood Badge? Wood Badge focuses on preparing adult leaders to deliver the mission of Scouting.

By attending Wood Badge you will:

  • Learn contemporary leadership concepts and discover how these apply to our value-based program.
  • Understand Scouting as a family of interrelated programs providing age appropriate activities for youth.
  • Revitalize your commitment to Scouting, sharing in an inspirational experience.
JOIN SCOUTING IN THE SUMMER OF SERVICE

Join Scouting families across the country in a spirited Summer of Service! As we have throughout our history, Scouting families are answering the call to work together in service of the greater good. From public health drives, to caring for the environment, to assisting neighbors in need, Scouts have always been a force for positivity and goodness in our communities. Now more than ever, our world needs that Scouting spirit once again. Let’s step up! Together, we can answer the call to make a positive impact in our neighborhoods and communities. Join us today, with projects big or small, in a Summer of Service!