Tamanend

District

December 2025

WASHINGTON CROSSING COUNCIL

Good Chartered Organization Relationships

If you’ve joined up with a unit recently, you have probably heard the term “Chartered Organization.” Simply, a chartered organization is the organization that sponsors, and is ultimately responsible for, your unit. Even if your unit doesn’t meet at your chartered organization, your chartered organization “owns” your unit, so to speak. Chartered organizations appoint unit volunteers and make sure that your unit has what it needs to succeed. They can be churches, civic groups, schools, or other organizations. They seek permission from Scouting America to provide the Scouting program to youth. Each appoints a Chartered Organization Representative, or COR, to work directly with the units that are chartered to it. The COR is a member of the unit’s Key 3 leadership.

With unit renewal season upon us, this can be the time when units are most active with their chartered organizations, since their signatures are required to renew the unit for the new year. This is also your reminder that if you haven’t started your unit renewal, now is the time to do it! At the same time, the healthiest units have solid relationships with their chartered organization year-round. Your chartered organization has a vested interest in your unit’s success.

Here are some tips to help foster a relationship with your chartered organization:

• Have regular Key 3 meetings and ensure your COR can attend them. This helps the full Key 3 stay aligned on the unit’s health.
• New Key 3 members (Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Committee Chair) should try to meet directly with the COR to learn more about their goals for the unit, and allow the COR to get to know the new Key 3 member in a less formal setting than a Key 3 meeting, committee meeting, or unit meeting. Similarly, if you get a new COR, make sure to connect early.
• When you’re planning your unit’s annual calendar, include your COR in the process. Your COR may be aware of events that your unit should participate in with the chartered organization, such as Scout Sundays or Scout Sabbaths, major anniversaries, or other events that should go on your unit’s calendar. Your COR will also be a key resource in getting space for your unit if it wants to have an activity outside of its regular meetings but using the chartered organization’s resources.
• Invite your COR to unit events. Whether it’s a pack Blue & Gold banquet, a troop’s court of honor, or a community activity your unit is involved in, your COR should be included on those invitations. This helps the COR buy into the mission of Scouting even more, especially if the COR “inherited” the unit and isn’t familiar with Scouting.

Your commissioner team can be a resource to help. If you have a unit commissioner and have questions about how to make sure you and your chartered organization have a healthy relationship, reach out. Alternatively, you can reach out to me at any time. Thank you for all you do for Scouting!

Yours in Scouting,

Joe Donahue

District Commissioner

Winter Wonderland

On Sunday, our district woke up to the first big snow fall of the winter season. Everything was covered in a thick fluffy coating as far the eye can see. What a scenic sight! For the youth, the day held the promise of sledding, creating snowmen, or building snow forts. But for the adults, the scene held the prospect of cleaning snow off cars, spreading rock salt, shoveling sidewalks and driveways, and spreading more rock salt.

During my travels through our district, I have witnessed the scouting program in action: scout lead unit meetings, court of honors, families sharing in packs giving, cub scouts performing service projects in conjunction with their Charter Org.  Our youth participate in Veteran Day parades and ceremonies, lead Scouting for Food drives, fundraise through popcorn and Christmas Tree sales, and camp out in the hills of West Virginia. The events list goes on and on.

Behind all these great Scout activities is a hardworking team of volunteers comprised of Cub and Scout Masters, various committee members, charter partners, and supportive parents. It is the tireless efforts of you, the adult participant, that make our great program possible. As this year comes to a close, I would like to personally thank each one of you for all you do for Scouting.

Thanks,

Greg House | Tamanend District Executive

greg.house@scouting.org

C: 267.393.4139

It is time to Renew!

The Unit Renewal deadline has passed, but it’s important that all Packs, Troops, Crews, and Ships complete their renewal as soon as possible. Be sure to have your Annual Unit Charter Agreement signed by your Executive Officer and Charter Organization Representative. It should be emailed to the District Executive (greg.house@scouting.org).

Please review your adult roster to ensure you meet the minimum required leadership for your unit to renew. All registered adults must have current Safeguarding Youth Training and Hazardous Weather Training, so take a moment to confirm everyone is up to date. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to your Unit Commissioner or District Executive—we’re here to help you finish strong.

Updated Life to Eagle Process



The Life to Eagle Process has been revised to coincide with recent Guide to Advancement changes and Council specific instructions. This information is important for the Scouts, their parents, unit leaders and committee to familiarize themselves to better understand the Eagle Scout Service Project and the Eagle application processes. Encourage Scouts to review. This will help them navigate a daunting process. Knowledgeable unit leadership will be better equipped in supporting the efforts of Scouts on their trail to Eagle. The information is under the Advancement section of the website. Navigate to wccscouting.org, then to the Advancement section and to the Life to Eagle Process.

Scouts BSA Test Lab Releases New Prospective Merit Badges

The Scouts BSA Test Lab is an exciting way to help in the development of fun and interesting new topics unique to the Scouts BSA program. Recent additions include Physics, Sewing & Needlework, and Dance. The requirements for each badge have the look and feel of merit badges, but instead of a printed pamphlet, you will find links to digital resources to help you complete the requirements.

Roundtable Recap

At our December Roundtable, we talked about best practices for recruiting new adult volunteers and how to get them to take a leadership role.

Did you miss this important and engaging discussion? Make sure to come to Roundtable so you don’t miss out on these important topics.

The next Roundtable is January 14. Every unit should send at least one representative.

Explorer Post 98

The Morrisville Fire Company has an Explorer Post. It is open to girls and boys ages 14 to 16. You do not have to live in Morrisville Borough. You can live anywhere!

Post 98 has two drills (we call them drills instead of meetings) twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Starting time is 7 pm until approximately 8:30 pm.

The Explorers learn firefighting equipment and their use. They can operate hose lines up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Other subjects are first aid, CPR, knot tying, ropes and riggings, and much more. Members are supplied with safety gear.

For more information, email tom.deshields@aol.com by clicking below.

2026 Klondike Derby

It is a good time to register!

The annual Klondike Derby will be hosted by the Mercer Area/Tamanend Districts. Join your fellow Scouts in this skills-based competition as your sled will race around Camp in challenging activities that could include Pioneering, Orienteering, Cooking, Emergency Preparedness, Fire Building and First Aid to name a few. Is your Unit ready to have fun and demonstrate that you are Prepared? Come and join the fun, cannot wait to see you all there!

2026 Fish Camp for Cubs

Good Citizen Award

Call For Nominations!

Washington Crossing Council is proud to partner with the Union League of Philadelphia - Founding Forward on the Good Citizen Award program. Each year, several Scouts from the Washington Crossing Council are selected to participate in the all day immersive program.

Unit Leaders are invited to nominate outstanding Scouts for the Good Citizen Award! Nominees must be juniors in high school, and demonstrate hard work and fair play, have personal attributes of honesty, courage, tolerance, curiosity, and loyalty, and endeavor to follow and uphold the principles of American patriotism. Nominations are submitted online, and require additional background information and preparation.

Nominations are due by:

January 2, 2026

Start Your Engines! Pinewood Derby Car Kits Are Here!

It’s that exciting time of year again—Pinewood Derby season! Packs can now pick up their official Pinewood Derby car kits at the Council Scout Shop so their Cub Scouts can start designing their winning creations.

Each kit includes everything you need to get started: a wooden block, wheels, and axles—ready for your Cub Scout’s creativity, craftsmanship, and competitive spirit. Whether you’re planning to build a sleek speedster or a wild themed racer, now’s the perfect time to grab your kit and start shaping your design.

Don’t wait until the last minute—supplies go fast! Stop by the Scout Shop today to get your Pinewood Derby car kit and join the fun of one of Scouting’s most beloved traditions.

Price: $6.99

Bulk purchase of 12 or more $5.99 each

Visit our Council website for Scout Shop hours.

Scouts BSA & Venturers

Walk-in registration, $10 paid at the door or pre-register for all four dates and save $10.

Dates: January 4, February 1, March 1, and April 12

Time: 12:30-4:30pm (arrive no later than 3pm)

Location: Ockanickon Scout Reservation - Foster Hall

Range & Target Activities

Cub Scouts

Throughout the year, the Council's Range & Target Committee offers several different activities. For all activities, an adult is required to be present to satisfy the 1-to-1 adult participant ratio.

BB Gun Adventure:

February 1

Slingshot Adventure:

March 1

Archery Adventure

April 12

The 2026 Cub Scout Day Camp “Dinotopia” will be here before you know it! Cub Scout Day Camp is a fun-filled week of adventure for Cub Scouts. Make new friends while participating in archery, fishing, STEM, sports, Scout skills, crafts, nature, and more! Scouts are placed in dens by age and grade, and stay in those dens all week. Age appropriate activities are offered to challenge the campers and allow them to learn new skills or expand existing skills. Campers will rotate through a variety of stations each day. Our camps are assessed annually and are nationally accredited to ensure the highest quality and safety so your child will have a positive camp experience! There are 5 different weeks of day camp to choose from. Consider volunteering with your child to join in the fun. Camp is where memories are made to last a lifetime!

Registration opens February 1, 2026

2026 Reservations

Troops can start planning now for Summer Camp 2026 at Ockanickon! With over 80 merit badges to choose from, every troop should consider OSR as a summer camp option. Troop deposits are now being accepted!

The theme for 2026 will be based on America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

Troops can choose from six different sessions.

Chainsaw Work Day

January 10

February 14

Campbuilder Day

December 20

January 17

February 21

Family Troop Program

Scouts BSA

Our National Council has announced the new Family Troop Program, offering units an option to welcome more families into Scouting together. If your Troop wants to consider making the move to this new model, please reach out to your District Executive to start the conversation (greg.house@scouting.org).

Don't miss out on some great Scouting events beyond your district!

• One World Observatory, NYC - offered Saturdays & Sundays at 9am
• Eastern State Penitentiary - Sunday, December 7 (virtual)
• 2025 Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope
• PSATS Youth Awards - deadline for entries: December 31
• 2026 National Jamboree - July 22-31
• 2027 World Scout Jamboree

For more information regarding these Events please refer to the Council newsletter.

Commissioner Meeting

January 8

District Committee Meeting

January 8

Roundtable

January 14