OCTOBER 2024

NEW CUB SCOUT WELCOME KITS

All new Cub Scouts who register online between August 1 and October 31 will receive a "New Scout Welcome Kit" in the mail! The welcome kit includes a vinyl sticker, Scout Life mini magazine, magnet, and information card. Plus, new Scouts will have the opportunity to earn their first patch by recruiting a friend. Details on that opportunity will be included in the welcome kit.

MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES

A number of great resources for Cub Scout packs to use as part of the fall membership campaign are available online at the WCC webpage. Nearly every resource shared at the August 1 and August 7 Membership Rallies is available at the site.

The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of Scouting America. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service.

The Washington Crossing Council Recognition Dinner will be held on November 12 at 6pm at Giuseppe's Pizza & Family Restaurant in Richboro, PA. Event information and registration is available at the button below.

The evening includes fellowship, great food, and the presentation of the Silver Beaver awards, BSA veteran status awards, and the James E. West fellowships.

After five years of registered service in Scouting America, an adult Scouter may apply to receive the designation of being a “veteran” Scouter.  

SUMMER CAMP AT OCKANICKON SCOUT RESERVATION

2025 SUMMER CAMP INFO IS NOW AVAILABLE!

MAKE A RESERVATION NOW!

Troops can make a reservation for a week of camp by making a $150 site deposit. It's that easy!

Troops can choose from six different sessions which are:

• June 15 – June 21
• June 22 – June 28
• June 29 – July 5

• July 6 – July 12
• July 13 – July 19
• July 20 – July 26

SUMMER CAMP JOBS

Ockanickon Scout Reservation will be hosting an interview weekend for counselors and training (CITs) and paid staff on November 2-3. Candidates (and their parents) can learn about life as a camp staff member and interact with staff alumni. Paid staff members must be at least 15 years of age by the start of the camp season. CITs must be 14 years old or older.

UPCOMING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

DEN LEADER TRAINING: IN PERSON SESSIONS

The council’s training committee is hosting several opportunities for in-person den leader training. Benefits of in-person training include:

• Ability to meet other leaders
• Ask questions or ask for clarification
• Share ideas
• Provide a quiet place to concentrate and/or focus
• Resources for more information

Dates and Locations:

Friday, October 4, 6-9:30pm: Ockanickon Scout Reservation 5787 State Park Road, Pipersville, PA

(This is the night before BALOO training begins and has a $10 fee for overnight accommodation & breakfast before BALOO)

Sunday, October 6, 1-5pm:

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 177 Princeton-Hightstown Road, Princeton Junction, NJ

Thursday, October 24, 6-9:30pm:

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1203 Pine Grove Road, Yardley, PA

Tuesday, December 10, 6-9:30pm: Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce, 119 Main St, Flemington, NJ

Reminder: This training is also available online in the BSA learn center.

NATIONAL YOUTH LEADER TRAINING

WOOD BADGE

Wood Badge is Scouting’s premiere adult leader training program. The Washington Crossing Council and Cradle of Liberty Council joined forces to offer the course at Ockanickon Scout Reservation. 

The course will be held at Ockanickon Scout Reservation over 2 weekends: February 21-23 and March 8-9. Please contact Course Director John Nieradka with any questions.

It’s been nearly a year since the new membership renewal system was announced by the BSA National Office. Here are a few updates to help units remain current with some more recent changes and on track with upcoming tasks:

• 60 days before a leader or youth registration expires, a communication will be sent from the National Council that will prompt user to renew. User will receive a link that will direct them to my.scouting.org to renew the registration. This will allow individuals to pay online and renew registration in a few clicks.
• Parents will have to create a my.scouting account if they do not already have one. The parents must be linked to the Scout for the registration to be completed.
• Units can decide if they will handle the renewals for Scouts and leaders. If a unit is using the "unit pay" option, the renewal reminder from the National Office can be disregarded. 
• Membership Renewals can be found in My.Scouting.Org – Organization Manager – Roster – Membership Renewal Orders.
• A representative from Unit Key 3 will need to approve renewals for youth members.   Only the COR or the COR Delegate can approve adult renewals.
• There is an “auto approve” button - but at the time of this writing it has been deactivated due some technology issues. It is anticipated that this feature will become available again later this month.
• Go to Membership Renewal Orders (under the Roster Page) and find any members that are waiting for “approval”.
• Units using the "unit pay" option can select which members by clicking RENEW in the header bar. There will be a summary page showing the totals and directs the Unit to Pay. There should be an Option to pay to National (3% credit card fee or $1 ACH Payment fee) or pay at Council. For those “paying at council” should be sure to send in the Summary Page with their payment.
• Adults must be current with YPT for membership to be renewed.

Some units may have scouts or adult leaders that have an expired registration of July 31 or August 31. It’s not too late to renew their registration! If the parent link is no longer valid, parents should be able to renew registration through My.Scouting.org Account – My Application – Renewals. Remember, Scouts and Leaders should not be participating in Scouting events with an expired registration. Any issues, contact Anna Marie Pepper at the council service center.

Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is an annual Scouting event sponsored by the World Organization of the Scouting Movement (WOSM), will be held on October 19. This is the largest Scouting event of the year, with thousands of Scouts around the world talking to one another!  Amateur radio stations around the world help Scouts participate - including three sites within WCC.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Committee on Scouting will be holding a Scout Retreat on Saturday, November 2, at Ockanickon Scout Reservation.

SCOUTS BSA & VENTURING

Air Rifle Competition

• No pre-registration required; $5 to be paid at the door; 12-4pm
• October 6
• November 3
• December 8

Order of the Arrow Fall Fellowship

• October 18-20
• Click here to learn more

COPE & Climbing Weekends

• October 11-13
• November 8-10
• Click here to learn more

Jamboree on the Air

• October 19

Order of the Arrow Fall Fellowship

• October 18-20

Blood, Bones & Boo-Boos Fall Camporee

• October 25-27

Camp Staff Tryout Weekend

• November 2-3

National Youth Leadership Training

• November 8-10
• November 22-24

Catholic Scout Retreat

• November 2

CUB SCOUTS

Shooting Sports Events

• Archery: October 6
• Slingshots: November 3
• BB Guns: December 8
• Click here to learn more

ADULT LEADERS

Camp Builder Days

• October 19
• November 16
• December 21
• Click here to learn more

Chainsaw Work Days

• October 12
• November 9
• December 14
• Contact Ranger Alec to learn more

Cub Scout BALOO Training

• October 5-6
• Click here to learn more

Scouts BSA IOLS training

• October 5-6
• Click here to learn more

NRA Shotgun Instructor Course

• November 8-10

NRA Range Safety Officer Course

• November 16
• Must be 21+
• Bring lunch

Find copies of the most recent (September) district newsletters by clicking below:

The Washington Crossing Council has a number of special newsletters. Scouters may self subscribe to any of them by using this subscription link.