December 2024

Volume 17, Issue 10

Greetings Michael,

With the holidays now upon us, it's time to consider all that we are thankful for, to help other people at all times, and to appreciate the season of giving. Look through our monthly newsletter and find out how you can be involved in fun programs and new opportunities for Scouts and leaders in the coming months. You'll find more event information below or on our new Marin Council Google calendar here (or Apple iCal here) which can be integrated with your own personal calendar online!

Reminder: please forward this monthly newsletter 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!

Council Roundtable Meeting --- 7:30pm Thursday, December 5

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 wrapping up this year and preparing for 2025 with Scouting in Marin!

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 for information sharing and Scouting fellowship!

Join Marin Council Roundtable Commissioners

Roger Dickerson (Cubs) & Mike Blum (Scouts)!

ZOOM Meeting ID# 415 454 1081

Gift-Giving Ideas from Your Marin Council Trading Post!

The holiday season of gift-giving is upon us, and your Marin Council Trading Post is a great resource to find that special something for your Scout youth or adult Scouter! Uniforms are back in stock, and don't forget: 'tis the season to hand out Pinewood Derby cars to your Cub Scouts. We have the latest edition car kits for $6.99 each; email Trading Post Mgr Mary if you would like a batch to hand out at your December Pack meeting or scholl break!

Pinewood Derby Kit Gift Box

MB fleece blanket

2024 Ornament

In addition, we have new fleece blankets with merit badge designs and the 2024 Christmas ornaments available, either of which would make a great Holiday gift. Open weekdays Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm . . . come on down and check it out! Also, don't forget that the Trading Post will be closed for annual physical inventory over the holiday week

starting Saturday, December 21, 2024 through Thursday, January 2, 2025.

Support the Marin Council with Your Year-End Giving Plans

Please consider the Marin Council in your year-end giving. No other program brings together adventure, leadership, and service like Scouting. Your gift will help maintain a strong Council with quality Camps and programs serving more families through Scouting in the new year.

You can donate by clicking here:

Give - Boy Scouts of America

Marin Water District Guided Nature Walks --- December 8 & 21

Sunday, December 8: Get to know the birds of the Mt. Tam Watershed through a Ranger-led bird walk near Lake Lagunitas. All ages and birding levels are welcome. Bring binoculars if you have them, otherwise we will have a few pairs to lend.

Meeting location is Lake Lagunitas parking lot at 10 a.m. Please purchase a parking pass across from the Sky Oaks Ranger station. Registration is not required.

Saturday, December 21: Join naturalists on a 2.5-mile guided nature walk up Pilot Knob Trail and down to the lake along Lakeview Fire Road. The climb of 450 feet elevation rewards one with a gorgeous view of Mt Tam. One Tam’s Community Steward and Engagement Fellow will share their knowledge about the recent work done in this area, including forest thinning and the use of beneficial fire.

This nature walk will take place after the morning habitat restoration activity, and you are welcome to join either or both events that day. The nature walk does not count toward school service hours. This is a family-friendly activity and minors under the age of 16 must have a guardian present.

Meeting location is at Lake Lagunitas parking lot at 1 p.m. sharp! Parking passes are not provided to those who have not volunteered in the morning habitat restoration event. Please purchase a parking pass across from the Sky Oaks Ranger Station. 

2024 "Of The Year" (OTY) Award Nominations

for Scouting Youth & Adult Volunteers

One of our favorite Marin Council events each year is the Volunteer Recognition Dinner,

held annually (scheduled for Monday, March 31, 2025). The reason it's so popular is

that we recognize dozens of outstanding Scout youth and adult leaders at that time. Scouts,

Explorers, and adult volunteers from all over the county attend this wonderful event.

Now is the time to begin to consider individuals for those 2024 OTY nominations. Please note

the following important dates in this process, and don't miss this opportunity for recognition!

Friday, January 31 --- All Scouting youth and adult volunteer nominations are due at the Council office.

Wednesday, February 19 --- all Scouting youth nominees will be interviewed by a panel of

Marin Council adult volunteer leaders in-person.

The OTY volunteers from each unit will all be recognized with certificates. For all the other Adults awards, the honorees are selected from all the nominations by the Council Recognition committee. All Scout youth & adult nominees will be recognized at the Marin Council Recognition Dinner on Monday, March 31, 2025. This is a great opportunity to see the successes of the Scouting program throughout Marin County! Updated "Of the Year" nomination forms will be emailed to all unit leaders in early December, and are available to download from the Council website here: Documents & Forms.

Construction Repairs to Iron Springs Road Continue . . .

For the past month or more, drill rigs and other heavy equipment have been busy on Iron Springs Road, and the contractor has been able to place all the anchor beams and pour a lot of the concrete structure.  We are please with the progress being made and can count the weeks until the slide is repaired and Tamarancho once again reopens for full vehicle access.

We are still shy of funds for completing this first phase of construction and welcome support from Scouting families and alumni. To make your gift in support of this important project please click here:

https://donations.scouting.org/li/Tamarancho

See you at camp . . . soon!

Commissioner Service for Scouting in Marin

Will you answer the Call? Will you rise to the challenge?

Our unit leaders are in need of your support! Are you ready to step in and guide them to success on their Scouting journey? Your contribution will be invaluable!

Become a resource for Scouting youth and Marin Council programs, providing leaders with the latest information they need. Take on this rewarding challenge and become the hero your fellow leaders and parents genuinely deserve! For more information, contact by email:

Council Commissioner Chris Cardinal. 

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. 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

Reserve your Scouts BSA Summer Resident Camp Week NOW!

After another successful Summer reviving the excellent Scout programs and Camp traditions at Marin-Sierra, we are excited by the opportunities awaiting us as we celebrate the camp's 75th anniversary in 2025! All of our camp forms will be updated soon and the Marin-Sierra webpage has all the exciting details to plan your best week ever at Scouts BSA resident camp! This annual Summer experience is critical to the delivering the promise of adventure and the mission of the BSA to our youth!

Click here to place your unit reservation at the best alpine Summer camp in California!

#MayTheForestBeWithYou #AdventureOn #ScoutMeIn

Choose your unit session from:

Week #1: June 29 - July 5

Week #2: July 6 - 12

Week #3: July 13 - 19

Week #4: July 20 - 26

Click here to download an application for more Summer fun on our Camp Staff team!

Scouting, we are . . .

Prepared. For Life.

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 page linked below, as well as those for Camps Tamarancho & Marin-Sierra.

Marin Council #035, BSA | www.boyscouts-marin.org | 415-454-1081

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