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During the month of April, our thoughts turn to longer days and more sunshine even if late seasonal weather can make planning activities a bit challenging. Be Prepared for Scouting adventures ahead this Spring with all the wonderful programs on the Camping calendar! Our monthly newsletter describes many ways you can be involved in fun and exciting opportunities for Scouts and leaders in the coming months. Reminder: please forward this e-broadcast to other people in your unit who may not be receiving it, or suggest they visit our website, or sign-up for a subscription here!
If you are reading the Dispatch, you may be a winner . . . Beginning last month a few random names of some of our leaders or parents will be dropped into the middle of articles throughout the Dispatch. If you spot your name, congratulations, you are one of our winners for the month and can swing by the Council office for a prize!!! Names of this month’s winners will be placed in brackets to distinguish them from individuals who are otherwise named in articles. For example: “… from each unit [John Smith] who will be recognized during the awards ceremony…” To be eligible to win, individuals must be receiving and reading the Dispatch . . . hint, hint – encourage all your leaders and parents to subscribe!
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General
What's New at the Trading Post?
New Guide to Advancement Available
Range & Target Activities Training
Scouts' Day at the Warriors
Special Thanks to our Council Donors
Scouts' Trash the Trash Day
Spring Outdoor Leader Trainings
Marin Council Fishing Derby
San Francisco Bike Rodeo
Health & Medical Form Reminder
Fall Wood Badge Training
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Cub Scouts:
Den Chief Training Re-cap
Marin Council Fishing Derby
Family Fiesta Weekend at Tamarancho
Tamarancho Summer Day Camp Weeks
Scouts BSA:
A Gathering of Eagles Night
Marin Council Fishing Derby
Camp Tamarancho 80th Anniversary
National Youth Leadership Training
Marin-Sierra 75th-Anniversary
Talako Lodge, Order of the Arrow
| | Council Roundtable Meeting --- 7:30pm Thursday, April 3 | | |
Unit leaders, please remember to assign an adult from your Pack, Troop or Crew to attend this important monthly Roundtable meeting! This is a great opportunity to receive Council news for the 2025 calendar events, plus camaraderie and fellowship with experienced Scouting leaders in Marin!
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This gathering via ZOOM will start at 7:30pm sharp with opening ceremony and brief announcements for all program volunteers together. Please forward this ZOOM link invitation to other Scouters and parents in your local packs, troops and crews to make sure every unit is represented!
Join Marin Council Roundtable Commissioners
Roger Dickerson (Cubs) & Mike Blum (Scouts)!
ZOOM Meeting ID# 415 454 1081
| | What's New at the Marin Council Trading Post? | | |
Is it time to replace your old Scout uniform or get your growing youth into a larger shirt to be prepared for Arrow of Light crossover to a new Troop, attend fun Spring activities or Summer Camp programs? Then now is the time to come into the Marin Council Trading Post and get a new shirt or pants, or update your patches. We have all the supplies you need including uniform shirts, pants, caps, belts, mess kits and new unit numbers. We also have all the handbooks and covers in stock. The new Scouting America Uniform Strips are available for just $1.99 each, and are used to cover the BSA logo with the updated Scouting America name on your uniform shirt.
| | Have You Seen the New Guide to Advancement? | | |
Yes, there is a brand-new 2025 Guide to Advancement that all Unit Leaders and Committee Advancement Chairs should know about! This bi-annual update is considered a top reference when working with your unit Scouting program from Lion Cubs to Eagle. [Chris Deaner] There is also a good run down of the more significant changes in this recent Scouting Magazine article. For your convenience, you can review an online copy of the Guide to Advancement or download your own copy today!
| | Den Chief Training was a Great Success! | | |
A huge shout-out to Eagle Scouts TJ Diaz and Helen Perry who, along with Scoutmaster Willy Coronado, led a fantastic Den Chief Training on Saturday, March 15 at the Council Service Center! The Den Chiefs worked hard, learned a lot, and had a lot of fun! Thanks to the Scouts from T1G, T50, T73 and T200 who came together to sharpen their leadership skills for this important role in Cub Scout Packs.
Don't miss our next Den Chief Training during Cub Adventure Weekend on Saturday, October 4, when Den Chiefs will be running a station for the Cub Scouts. More details coming soon!
| | A Gathering of Eagles Celebration --- Wednesday, April 9 | | |
We are calling on all Eagle Scouts in Marin! The Marin Council invites any Eagle Scouts age 21 and older to join us for a special celebration of their achievements, to reminisce, share Scouting stories and meet new people! Save the date for 6:30pm, Wednesday, April 9 at Trek Winery in Novato. If you would like to attend, an RSVP is required so please email District Director Trish Ferenz. To make a donation and join other Eagle Scout alumni in support of Scouting in Marin, please click here! We look forward to seeing you at this special event!
| | Range & Target Activities Training this Spring! | | |
With Iron Springs Road access becoming available again, our Council Range & Target Activities Committee has been busy planning for our return to Shooting Sports fun. Help our Scouts enjoy this great outdoor program by becoming certified to operate Archery, BB-Gun, Slingshot and Tomahawk events for your unit or Marin Council. For more information, or to register, please click on the links below!
Special thanks to volunteers Steve Dutra, Mike Blum, Calen McEldowney, Bill Millar, and Andre Benguerel with a couple of Pack 76/Troop 76 Scouts for assisting MJ and AJ with range clean-up during two Saturdays in March to get everything ready for these valuable trainings!
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BSA Rangemaster Training --- 9:30am to 3:30pm, Saturday, March 29 at Tamarancho (Archery/BBgun/Slingshot/Tomahawk). Nine volunteer Scouters were re-certified to continue our programs, but we need more!
NRA Range Safety Officer (RSO) Training --- 9am to 5pm, Sunday, April 13 (Marin Council Scout Service Center)
Family Fiesta Spring Camp-out --- Saturday, May 18
We'll need certified Range Staff volunteers for this fun weekend at Tamarancho! Please see details down below.
BSA Rangemaster Training --- 9:30am to 3:30pm, Saturday, May 31 at Tamarancho (Archery/BBgun/Slingshot/Tomahawk)
| | Scouts' Day with the Warriors --- Sunday, April 13 | | |
Gather your family, friends and Scouts to join an exciting Scouts' Day at Chase Center when your Golden State Warriors take on the Los Angeles Clippers! [Fiona McElligott] A limited number of tickets are available for Scouting units, and enjoy exclusive savings and pay NO taxes, surcharges, or fees when securing your tickets through this offer. There will be a Scout Day T-shirt given for FREE to all those who purchase tickets through the special link below.
Flyer with ticket options and purchase link
Questions? Email Andrew Sheets, Warriors Group Sales.
| | With Special Thanks to our Generous Supporters in 2024 | | |
In late April, the Marin Council, Scouting America will be recognizing our major donors from 2024 with a special reception at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Tiburon. Supporters who contributed over $500 in last year will receive an invitation in mid-March. Recognition gifts will be presented at the reception for donors who contributed over $1,000. For more information, please email our Council Scout Executive Michael Dybeck. Thanks for your support!
| | Scouts' "Trash the Trash" Day --- Saturday, May 3 | | |
"Scouts Trash the Trash" Day is an annual international Messengers of Peace project for Scouts around the world on the first Saturday in May, where each Scout is challenged to bring a friend or family member along and pick up at least one Kilo (2.2 pounds) of trash and litter per person. Scouts are asked to bring a non-Scout friend or family member with them to this day of community service in order to double the impact of their trash cleaning efforts! Scouts Trash the Trash Day is about more than just cleaning our planet, it is a day to show our local communities what Scouting is about, educate the public about Scouting's outdoor program and recruit new boys, girls and adults into the Scouting movement.
Sign up your unit (free) here
Patches available for order
| | Spring Outdoor Leadership Training for All Adults --- May 3-4! | | Marin Council Fishing Derby Re-Boot --- Saturday, May 10 | | |
After a 6-yr hiatus, we welcome back the very popular Marin Council Fishing Derby thanks to the dedication of a few adult volunteers! We are rebooting this fun annual event for all Scouting youth (Cub Scouts must have their adult partners with them) and it is a great opportunity to learn about fishing nearby on the Bay.
The Derby itself runs from 11am-1pm on Saturday, May 10 due to the tides. Also, there will be bait, rigging, and knot instruction from 9:30-10:45am for those interested; please be sure to bring your own gear and bait.
Thanks to the continued support of the Marin Rod & Gun Club at Point San Quentin for allowing us to use their pier and picnic ground during the lunch time. The Scout(s) can bring one friend who is not in Scouting for free! If you have Fishing Derby questions, contact Robert Lariviere (cell: 917-318-3236) or sign-up here: Marin Council Fishing Derby.
| | San Francisco Bike Rodeo --- Saturday, May 10 | | |
The annual SF Bike Rodeo is at a new location in 2025 --- the back parking lot of Stonestown Galleria where the Farmers' Market happens on Sundays! All youth under 18 are invited to attend --- Scouts, friends, family and more! These FREE 90-minute sessions begin at 10am, 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm. Participants will learn bike safety, have their bikes inspected/adjusted, take on the CHP Bike Challenge Course (we promise: no traffic tickets!) and go on an escorted bike ride around the Lakeshore area. Click for more information or to register today!
| | Family Fiesta Weekend Returns to Tamarancho, May 15-17! | | |
With Iron Springs Road reopening, we'll kick off the camping season at Tamarancho once again for all Marin Scouting families together celebrating the 80th-anniversary of this fantastic property on Fairfax Ridge! Join this fun family camping weekend where Scouts BSA Troops put on exciting outdoor activities for the Cub Scout families. Find out more details here!
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BSA Annual Health & Medical Record Forms
Plan Ahead for the Camping Season
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A friendly reminder to complete your BSA Annual Health & Medical Record (AHMR) soon before partaking in Summer adventures. To participate in any Scouting activities and campouts, all Scout youth and adult Scouters must complete the AHMR; parts A&B for day or wknd events (for youth it must be signed by a parent), OR parts A/B/C (must be reviewed by a physician with approval signature) for any events longer than 72 hrs including all Summer Camp weeks and high-adventure treks. Don't delay scheduling an appointment with your physician! Find out more details or download a fillable.pdf version here.
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Marin Cub Scout Day Camp Weeks
July 7-11 and July 21-25 at Camp Tamarancho!
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A fun, five-day program held at Camp Tamarancho in the Fairfax hills for all Scout youth entering 2nd through 5th grade during the Fall of 2025. Campers will participate in age-related activities and be grouped in dens by school grade and gender. The dens rotate daily through various fun activities that may differ each day. The den group size is 6-9 youths led by an older teenage Den Chief.
Activity areas may include Archery, BB Gun, Cooking, Field Sports, handicrafts, Nature, Outdoor Skills, Scout Skills, Waterfront (water play, swimming, canoes), and more! The last day of each camp concludes with an afternoon campfire program filled with songs and skits, which the parents are welcome to join. Registration opened on Saturday, February 1; please click here!
Day Camp Staff Needed: we are looking for teenagers and young adults for our Camp Staff to join in all the fun and provide a quality program for our Day Camp Cubs up at scenic Camp Tamarancho. Anyone 14 years or older, please email Camp Director Trish Ferenz.
| | National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) --- June 15-21 | | |
National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) is an intensive week-long BSA leadership training course conducted in an outdoor setting. As members of an NYLT patrol, Scouts BSA and Venturing youth learn the tools of leadership, communication, problem solving, ethical decision-making and much more --- experiencing the Patrol Method of Scouting first-hand while they camp, cook, eat, work and learn together.
| | Wood Badge 2025 --- The Ultimate Scout Leader Training! | | |
Want to take your Troop/Pack/Crew and your leadership to the next level? Don’t just leave the world a better place for your kids, leave better kids for your world! Get trained!
WOOD BADGE is the ultimate leadership and Scout program training for volunteers involved in all levels of Scouting. [John Moriarty] No matter if you are a Den Leader, Troop Leader, Pack Committee Member, or any other registered Scouter, Wood Badge is right for you! For more information:
email Course Director Roger Dickerson.
SAVE THE DATES FOR WOOD BADGE! September 5 - 7 & September 27 - 28, 2025
| | Scouts BSA Summer Resident Camp 75th-Anniversary! | | |
We are excited by the opportunities awaiting us as we celebrate Camp Marin-Sierra's 75th anniversary in 2025! The Marin-Sierra webpage has all the exciting details to plan your best week ever at Scouts BSA resident camp! This annual Summer tradition is critical to the delivering the promise of adventure to our youth . . . Celebrate with us in July!
Click here to download a job application
for more Summer fun on our Camp Staff team!
#MayTheForestBeWithYou #AdventureOn #ScoutMeIn
| | Monthly News Bulletin for OA Lodge Members | | |
This March, Talako Lodge has had much to do and enjoy. We held a fun lodge meeting where Marin’s Venturing Crew 533 also met beforehand. We also had an incredibly successful Klondike Derby Winter Camporee, where we hosted local troops in a fun and snow-filled weekend with a "Scout-opoly" theme.
In the coming weeks our arrowmen are looking forward to growing our lodge with an induction weekend at Camp Tamarancho on April 18-19. In preparation, we have been and will be visiting some of your troops to hold elections for the induction. We also held an early April lodge meeting on the 1st due to schools' Spring break.
We currently have a large selection of Lodge Flaps and other memorabilia available to order online when completing your annual registration and dues payment here. If you have any questions about the National Order of the Arrow organization, or the local Talako Lodge in Marin, please contact by email Talako’s new Lodge Chief: Mason Chiu.
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Scouting, we are . . .
Prepared. For Life.
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At the Marin Council, we will continue to do our best to keep you informed of updates to our program calendar. We will also strive to highlight new ways for your family continue to enjoy and benefit from Scouting both at home and outdoors during these promising times.
Please check our Council website homepage regularly for the most current information and event calendar, and the frequent social media activity on our Facebook and Instagram pages linked below, as well as those for Camps Tamarancho & Marin-Sierra.
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