Tamanend

District

April 2026

WASHINGTON CROSSING COUNCIL

Commissioner Corner

Let's Retain Our Membership!

There is no question that young men and women benefit from Scouting no matter how long they are in the program. But the longer a Scout participates, the more benefits they will see. Far too often, Scouts join during a successful fall recruitment only to bail after a few months. This is certainly frustrating for unit leaders who dedicated the time and effort recruiting them! We also see huge drop-offs after the summer, so units start their fall recruitment in the hole. Here are some helpful tips to retain your Scouts:

Assign a New Member Coordinator to make sure that new Scouting families are welcomed and set up for success in the unit. Give this role to an outgoing and welcoming parent who who doesn’t want the responsibility of, say, a den leader. This shouldn't be the committee chair or the Scoutmaster/Cubmaster’s since they have enough on their plate already. When you add a New Member Coordinator, share who it is with us! The council and district membership teams will be working closely with them to conduct trainings, exchange best practices, and share updates. This person will not be left out to dry!

A big problem for packs is “going dark” during the summer months. Try to avoid this! Prepare turnkey programs to keep your families engaged with Scouting year round. Some examples include Cub Scout Day Camp, Adventure Camp, Order of the Arrow Cub Nights, Scout nights at local sports games, community festivals, 4th of July parades, and more. These types of events require little to no effort by the pack leadership and remain a great way to keep Cubs engaged.

Communicate with your Scouting families before the summer hits. We talked last month a lot about having an annual calendar, and you should have this ready to go by the time your unit’s annual program is disrupted by summer vacations. Keep the communications channels alive. Furthermore, encourage your Scouts to share pictures of their summer Scouting activities on social media channels.

Please let us know if your commissioner team can support you in this endeavor. Reach out to you unit commissioner, or contact Assistant Commissioner Jim Rugarber or myself at any time. We’re here to be your best resource! As always, thank you for all you do for Scouting!

Yours in Scouting,

Joe Donahue

Tamanend District Commissioner

District Executive Minute

Let's Celebrate Scouting!

Saturday, my local Troop went on a shake down hike in preparation for Philmont this summer. The slow climb to the Appalachian Trail with loaded packs was certainly a challenge. However, it was beneficial to be accompanied by supportive Scouters who helped work through the issues. After lunch, the backpacking went more smoothly, capped with setting camp and sharing an awesome Scout prepared dinner. A steady rain greeted us the next morning, but we were well prepared to pack wet and hike back over the slippery trails.

In many ways, this weekend embodied my first school year as Tamanend District Executive. Autumn came fast and furious as I worked through the steep learning curve. However, it was really beneficial to be supported by so many great volunteers while navigating a wide variety of new responsibilities. Please join us at our annual district dinner on May 1st, held in appreciation for your local impact on Scouting. We have quite lot to celebrate, including the realistic prospect of growing our program during the coming school year!

Thanks,

Greg House | Tamanend District Executive

greg.house@scouting.org

C: 267.393.4139

TAM District Dinner

Set you reservations now for our May 1st dinner! Please come out and support your fellow Scouters as they are recognized for their achievements at Pack 3, Pack 10, Pack 19, Pack 20, Pack 95, Troop 3, Troop 11, Troop 17, Troop 29, Troop 30, Troop 130, Troop 145, Troop 147B, Troop 147G, and Troop 230!

TAM Membership Update

Important Membership Announcement!

Katie Pargola has agreed to become the Membership Vice Chair for Tamanend District! She will be working directly with your New Member Coordinator. If your unit doesn’t have one yet, now is the time to identify someone who can own that experience and help your program grow. This role is the key to turning interested families into engaged, long-term Scouts by making sure new parents are welcomed, informed, and connected from day one. Units with a strong New Member Coordinator see better retention, smoother onboarding, and stronger family involvement.

Time to Fill Den Gaps!

Spring is prime time to strengthen Packs. Identify missing den levels and plan targeted Den Gap Fill efforts now so you head into summer strong. A simple spring join night, bring-a-friend activity, or focused outreach can close gaps quickly. Growth now sets you up for success at the June 30 benchmark, positioning you to be ready for the fall.

Roster Checks!

Every unit must conduct a roster check to ensure all active youth and adults are properly registered. Scouts and Scouters may have unintentionally dropped during renewal. This is an insurance and safety priority so correct discrepancies immediately Contact your Commissioner or District Executive if you need assistance.

TAM District News

Tamanend District was saddened to hear about the passing of Lew Mohr at 96.

Lew was a dedicated Scouter who served young men and women in Tamanend District for over 70 years. He had a huge impact on the lives of so many Scouts and Scouters. Lew often attended Eagle Scout Courts of Honor to recognize the new Eagle Scouts on behalf of the district. Most of our long-time Scouters have a story or two about Lew, and if you met him, you knew how important the Scouting program was to him.

More information on services will be forthcoming as they are available. Until then, may the great Master of all Scouts guide Lew to his eternal resting place.

TAM Roundtable Roundup

Annual planning is something that every unit needs to do for a successful program. It's important to have your plan in place before your unit becomes busy with activities like Summer Camp, Day Camp, high adventure, or the Jamboree. Our Roundtable in April focused on building out the annual program calendar.

Roundtable Calendar @ St John's:

May 13 (How to Market Your Unit)
June 10 (Annual District Social)

2026 Popcorn

Simple to Start, Strong Results!

The 2026 Popcorn Sale is designed to be simple, effective, and worth your time. Units can earn up to 40% commission, with our average unit sale reaching $10,721. Even better, storefront locations are coordinated for you. Once you commit and set your unit goal, the Trail’s End team works to secure storefront opportunities in your area. All you have to do is claim them and sell.

This is one of the easiest ways to fund your entire Scouting year with minimal upfront work. Commit to the sale, enter your goal, and let the system start working for you.

Commit Your Unit Today!

2026 AdventureCon

Join leaders from across Washington Crossing Council at our 3rd Annual AdventureCon and discover where the adventure awaits your Scouts! From outdoor experiences to local programs and partners, you’ll see just how much fun—and opportunity—we have right in our own backyard. AdventureCon connects units with businesses and organizations ready to help you deliver unforgettable experiences all year long.

Mark your calendar to get inspired!

May 5 from 6 - 8:30pm

Bucks County Community College, Newtown, PA

Interested in participating as a vendor?

Registration, booth requirements, and setup information is live. Space is limited so early interest is encouraged.

Participant Registration

Vendor Registration

2026 Fish Camp for Cubs

Fish Camp is a Cub Scout family camping adventure for all Cub Scouts.

Dates: May 8 - 10

Location: Ockanickson Scout Reservation.

Cubs & parents will learn fishing knots, build their own rods, and discover local fish species on shore of Great Buck Lake.

All meals included for a worry-free weekend of fun and learning.

SCOUTS BSA - If you are interested in staffing Fish Camp, click the link below.

Fish Camp Details

2026 OSR Camp Staff

Serving on the Ockanickon Scout Reservation staff is the opportunity of a lifetime. It offers an unprecedented chance to lead, teach and work with over 1,500 Scouts from the region. Staff members get to work as part of our family at camp.

Every staff member gets an opportunity to:

Apply the leadership skills they have learned through Scouting.
Be part of a team that enjoys bringing Scouting to others.
Make connections and friends that will last a lifetime.

Positions available:

Aquatics Staff (Min age 15)
Aquatics Lake Director (Min age 18)
Aquatics Pool Director (Min age 18)
Office Manager (Min age 18)
Dan Beard First-year program (Min age 15)
Maintenance & Trades Staff (Min age 16)
Ecology Staff (Min age 15)
Scoutcraft Staff (Min age 15)
Civics Staff (Min age 15)
Dining Hall Steward (Min age 16)

Apply Here

2026 Cub Scout Day Camp

Day Camp Registration

2026 Summer Camp at OSR

Troop Reservation

Individual Reservation

Range & Target Activities

Throughout the year, the Council Range & Target Committee offers several different activities for Cub Scouts. For all activities, an adult is required to be present to satisfy the 1-to-1 adult participant ratio. Fall registration opens September 1.