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Tamanend
District
July 2026
| WASHINGTON CROSSING COUNCIL | | | |
Let's Get New Parents Involved!
Scouting families are going to join your unit this fall, and while the newest Scouts will benefit the most from the program, you’re going to also want to make sure the parents of those Scouts get involved. Are you prepared for the task? Here are some tips as you start to plan for their arrival:
- Come up with simple tasks – in the overwhelming majority of instances, a first time Scout parent should not be asked to be the Cubmaster or Committee Chair, despite the amount of training available to them. “Can you bring snacks to the next den meeting?” is a much more doable ask for someone, and it gets parents in the spirit of contributing so that when they’re asked to take on a formal role, it’s more likely they’ll say yes.
- Remember that uniforming is a method, not an aim of Scouting. Feel free to relax the requirement if you find that the full Class A uniform is off-putting to parents involvement, especially at the Cub Scout level. Committee members do not have to be in uniform since the committee works behind the scenes.
- When you talk about your role in Scouting, don’t be afraid to mention that you volunteer and why you volunteer. This is crucial to breaking down that barrier.
- Remember to use your talent survey. A sample one is on the council website. This can be really helpful in learning where parents have skills that they can use to support their child’s Scouting journey.
- For those parents that do take on a formal role, remind them of the ample training available to help them succeed through My.Scouting.org or the council training committee.
- Above all, if you’re having fun along with the Scouts, new parents will want to join in. So make sure that you’re having fun in Scouting!
If you need support with getting new parents involved, please feel free to reach out to your commissioner team. We’re happy to help you on the Scouting trail!
Yours in Scouting,
Joe Donahue
Tamanend District Commissioner
| | District Executive Minute | | |
National Night Out!
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. It serves as a time to break out of our year-round routines and take advantage of warm weather by engaging in outdoor activities. This plays to the strengths of Scouting given both our appreciation of nature and our support of community events. Now that Independence Day is over, the next wide-spread summer celebration is National Night Out. This annual event builds neighborhood camaraderie and promotes police-community partnerships. It typically takes place on the first Tuesday in August across thousands of communities nationwide. Many are surprised to learn this national campaign has local roots -- founded in 1984 by Matt Peskin, a volunteer of Lower Merion Community Watch.
National Night Out 2026 is scheduled for August 4, typically between 5 and 9 pm. Quite a few communities across Tamanend District are planning activities: Bristol Township, Bristol Borough, Bensalem, Langhorne, Richboro, Middletown, Falls Township, Morrisville, Lower Makefield, Yardley, Newtown, and Wrightstown. We encourage every TAM unit to participate in their local community as a preliminary recruitment opportunity. The fall membership drive is rapidly approaching, and National Night Out serves as a good practice run for back-to-school nights and fall festivals. Our membership committee has been assembling materials to support your table or booth. For more information, please contact Katie Pargola (katie@pargola.net) or myself.
Make the best of the summer months with your Cubs and Scouts!
Thanks,
Greg House | Tamanend District Executive
greg.house@scouting.org
C: 267.393.4139
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As a reminder, all adult leaders in PA Units must have a current copy of their PA Clearances on file at the Council office. Reports are valid for five years from the date on the report. WCC is required to “suspend” registrations for leaders with expired clearances until a current report is received in order to be in compliance with PA-15.
If you know your clearances are about to expire, you can access the necessary links to renew them at https://www.wccscouting.org/pa-act-15.
Unit Key 3 members should remind new Leaders who are registering through the online portal to submit their clearances prior to registering. If clearances are not received, the new Leaders registration will be suspended until clearances are received.
If you have questions regarding the status of your clearances please contact our Registrar, Anna Marie Pepper.
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Thank a Volunteer!
The Silver Beaver is Scouting's award for distinguished service. Recipients of this award must be registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given at the council level. All Scouters are encouraged to think of someone deserving of this honor.
Completed nominations are due to the council office by September 11. They may be submitted by email to Anna Marie Pepper or submitted to Washington Crossing Council, 1 Scout Way, Doylestown, PA 18901, Attention: Silver Beaver.
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Don't Get Rolled Over by Popcorn!
The Trail to Adventure begins with a successful popcorn sale! Join us for one of our 2026 Popcorn Kick-Offs to learn about this year's updates, new Waypoints incentive program, products, and resources that will help your unit reach its fundraising goals. Whether you're a first-time Popcorn Kernel or a seasoned veteran, you'll leave prepared for a successful sale. Stay ahead of your popcorn by attending a Kick-Off and setting your unit up for adventure!
Popcorn kick off dates:
July 23 - Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, NJ - 7 pm
July 30 - New Hope Solebury Upper Elementary School, New Hope, PA - 7pm
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Bacco Centro
Date: September 15
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: 890 Second Street Pike
Richboro, PA 18954
Take the night off of cooking and support Scouting in the process! Visit Bacco Centro from 4-8 PM on September 15 and present the adjacent flier or mention that you're there to support Scouting, and a portion of your check will be donated to the Washington Crossing Council. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite for yourself before a Scout meeting or bringing the whole family, this is a great way to support Scouting and grab some delicious food!
Valid for dine in or takeout orders placed directly with the restaurant. Orders placed through third party platforms like GrubHub, DoorDash, or Uber Eats do not qualify
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Membership Rally
Date: August 20
Time: 7:00 - 8:30
Location: (Mercer Area District)
| Join fellow Scouting volunteers for an evening focused on building successful recruitment campaigns for Cub Scout programs. This rally will cover community marketing strategies, school and event recruitment, presentation techniques, joining night structure, and methods to improve family engagement and retention. | | |
Membership Mixer
Date: September 29
Time: 7:30 - 9:00
Location: (Mercer Area District)
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New Member Coordinator
This unit role is key to turning interested families into engaged, long-term Scouts by making sure new parents are welcomed. Units with a strong New Member Coordinator see better retention, smoother onboarding, and stronger family involvement.
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TAM District Roundtable Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey if you have not already:
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Yours in Scouting,
Joe Donahue
Tamanend District Commissioner
| | 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.
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Click on links below to register:
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NYLT - November 6-8 & November 20-22
| | Stay connected with the latest updates, events, and Scouting news — join us on Facebook! | |  | Looking for a previous newsletter? Archives are on our Council website under the ABOUT tab. | | |
Commissioner Meeting
6:00pm on September 3
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Committee Meeting
7:00pm on September 3
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Roundtable
7:30pm on September 9
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