Scout Shorts - January 2025

January Scout Shorts

Resolve to Improve Scouting in 2024!

Are your New Year's Resolutions Scouting related? Are you resolving to improve scouting for your unit or your area?

Share your Scouting Resolutions with us!

Need some resolution recommendations?

Volunteers Needed to Help Make

Scouting More Accessible

The Adaptive Scouting Committee is seeking volunteers to help ensure that Scouts and Scouters are aware of ways to include youth with any type of need in Scouting and to help make our programs and facilities more accessible. The committee provides education, support, and resources to accommodate Adaptive Scouting needs. If interested, Learn more here.

Don't Miss the NESA Scholarship Deadline

Must have completed Eagle BOR before: January 24, 2025.

Application Deadline: January 31, 2025

Award Announcement: June 10, 2025

Apply Here!

Is it time to renew your membership?

Make sure your membership was renewed for 2025 and check your Training status at the same time! Make sure you are helping deliver the best program possible in 2025.

My.Scouting.org

Pay 2025 Membership Registration here.

My.Scouting.org you ready for Spring Recruitment?

Download Council Recruitment Guide Here

See Membership Fees Here

Learn About New Re-Registration Process Here

Explore the BSA Brand Center Here

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

Other Upcoming Activities

For Scouts and Leaders

Check out the Indian Waters Council website at www.indianwaters.org for more upcoming activities.

Save the date for these great activities.

Wilderness First Aid Training, January 18-19, 2025 Camp Coker

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation, February 15-16, Camp Barstow

Merit Badge University, Saturday March 29, 2025

University of Scouting, Saturday, March 29, 2025

IMPORTANT UPDATES

BSA Changes to Range and Target Activities

Became Effective in September

These changes affect where Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA and Venturers can take part in range activities...they can now only take place at BSA-Approved or Commercial sites. There are also some changes to advancement and program offerings. For more specifics on these changes, click HERE.

2026 NATIONAL JAMBOREE

Mark your calendars! The 2026 National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve will be held on July 22-31, 2026. The Council Contingent Information is being complied and will be released soon.

Click here to see more about the 2026 National Jamboree.

Scouting For Food

Scouts and leaders of the Indian Waters Council are planning for their annual Scouting for Food campaign in the month of February to benefit local food pantries. No one should ever go hungry and the reality is, more families are having a tough time feeding their family. Food pantries are always in need of food to restock their shelves.

Each unit should plan to deliver door hangers on the first Saturday and then collect donated food the following Saturday and deliver it directly to local food pantries.

There are two times that units will be collecting food:

Horry County (Myrtle Beach area)

Saturday December 7 - Place door hangers out in community

Saturday December 14 - pick up donated food and deliver to food pantries

Midlands Area (Columbia, Lexington, Cayce, Camden, Lugoff, Orangeburg)

Saturday, February 1 - Place door hangers out in community

Saturday, February 8 - pick up donated food and deliver to food pantries

Report your unit collection information here!

NEW Expired Youth Protection Policy for Indian Waters Council

Attention Unit Leaders

A continuous valid Youth Protection Training (YPT) is required to keep membership active. Multiple reminders are emailed out starting 90 days before the expiration of YPT. After your YPT expiration date, if any adult has not renewed their YPT, their membership will be suspended until the YPT has been renewed.

UPCOMING LEADER TRAINING

"Every Scout Deserves a Trained Leader"

With new and updated programs and safe Scouting practices paramount to our role, staying current with training requirements is crucial to successful program delivery.

Are you trained for your position? Check Your Training Status

For local, regional, and national training and event calendars...

Click Here for the Council Calendar

Click Here for the Regional (CST-15) Event Calendar

Click Here for the Searchable Nationwide Event Calendar

Wood Badge is Coming to Camp Coker!

March 14-16 & April 5-6, 2025

ONLY 19 Spots Left!

Wood Badge is for all registered adult volunteers in Scouting who have completed the basic training for their position, most of which can be taken online through my.scouting.org.

Registration is limited to 48 participants. Make sure you register early to ensure your spot is secure!

Cope and Climbing Training

April 11-13, 2025 at Camp Barstow

This course has you working on the basics to be able to help one of the council's Climbing/COPE Directors run the Climbing tower and/or COPE course during events. Knots, belaying, climbing, and just hanging around are what's in store! Register Here

Want to Get Things Done for Scouting? We Need You!

Are you a current or past Scout, Parent, or Volunteer? We need you!

Join our AmeriCorps VISTA program today! We have 10 positions across the Indian Waters Council in Columbia, Orangeburg, Florence and Myrtle Beach to help recruit more youth, volunteers, partners and donors to support our amazing growth in membership!

Position Description and Information Questions? Contact Terri Towle.

Start Here for Your Next

Summer Adventure!

Reserve a spot for your Troop at Camp Barstow 2025. Below are the four sessions to choose from. Enjoy the ease of signing up for our Bundle programs!

Have older Scouts looking for a bigger adventure!

Camp Barstow is looking for Summer Camp Staff. Staff members are 15 years of age and up. Some positions do have age requirements. See the link below for our 2025 Camp Staff Application.

Staff Week – June 1-7

Session One – June 8-14

Session Two – June 15-21

Session Three – June 22-28

Session Four – June 29 – July 5

Click here to start your Adventure! Join our Barstow Staff!

Never been to Barstow or just want to know more about Summer Camp 2025? Join our Camp Barstow Virtual Show. Each presentation last approximately 15 minutes with a 15 minute Q & A Session afterwards. All times will be from 8:00-8:30pm, and will utilize the same meeting link.

Here are the dates!

Monday November 18

Tuesday December 3

Monday December 9

Tuesday December 10

Monday December 16

Tuesday December 17

Click here the 2025 Virtual Summer Camp Show for Camp Barstow