The Mayflower Council has secured merit badge counselors to teach a few merit badges virtually.  Scouts can now sign up for the following virtual merit badge offerings.

Space is limited, please sign up as soon as possible.  Each course is only $10.00.

Click on the merit badge you are interested in to sign up.

Communication – Have you ever thought about how to improve your skills of holding a conversation? Can you teach a skill and give a speech about a topic you like? This Eagle Required Merit Badge is for you to think about how we communicate with others! You must attend all sessions. Tuesday’s,  August 18, August 25, September 1 and September 8 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

Citizenship In The Nation – Now is an important time to take Citizenship in the Nation. Join us to have conversations about the founding principles of the United States, how our local representatives work with others around the Country, and how our Scouts can do their best to do their duty to their country! This course runs for 2 consecutive weeks. You must attend all sessions. Wednesday’s – August 19 and 26 from 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

Citizenship In The World – What does it mean to be a Citizen in the World? How well do you know governments around the world and how they work together? Do you know what an Ambassador does? How about World Wide Scouting? Join us for this Eagle Required Merit Badge and learn all about it! This course runs for 5 consecutive days.  You must attend all sessions. Monday thru Friday, August 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 from 10:00 -11:00 am.

The Mayflower Council staff will be participating in a National staff development conference on Thursday, August 13 and Friday, August 14.

The Council Service Center will be closed during this time to allow our staff full participation.

Thank you for your understanding.

The Mayflower Council has secured merit badge councelors to teach a few merit badges virtually.  Scouts can now sign up for the following virtual merit badge offerings.

Space is limited, please sign up as soon as possible.  Each course is only $10.00.

Click on the merit badge you are interested in to sign up.

Dog Care– Dog Care Merit Badge is a great merit badge for you to spend some time with your furry friend! Join us each Monday for this badge to learn about caring tips, literal tricks, and methods to take care of a pet!  Note: In order to take this badge, you MUST have regular access to a dog. It does not need to be your own, but you need to be able to interact with it on a regular schedule.  Monday’s, August 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 6:30 – 7:10 (40 minutes).

Space Exploration– Space Exploration is all about the interesting parts of rocket science! If you know what keeps a satellite in orbit, if you are a fan of the Curiosity Rover, if you have every built a model rocket or you have always wanted to, then this is the badge for you to take!

• Session 1: Monday’s, August 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 8:00 – 9:00 pm.
• Session 2: Wednesday’s, August 5, 12, 19 and 26 from 8:00 – 9:00 pm.
• Session 3: Friday’s, August 7, 14, 21, and 28 from 8:00 – 9:00 pm.

Insects – Insect Study Merit Badge is for all the Scouts that want to get outdoors this summer! If you know how to find the insects in your back yard, campground or local park, if you want to learn about what makes these bugs to different from other animals, or if you just like bees, this is the Merit Badge for you! Thursday’s, August 6, 13, 20, and 27 from 6:00 – 7:00 pm.

Soil and Water Conservation– Soil and Water Conservation is one of three merit badges to get if you want to earn the World Conservation Award. If you know what a watershed is, if you care about sustainability and a clean environment, or if you want to learn methods to control erosion, then this is the Merit Badge for you! Monday’s, August 10, 17, 24, and 31 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm.

Nature  – Nature Merit Badge is perfect for the Scouts that want to get out in the field this summer! This Merit Badge is all about getting outdoors and identifying the amazing flora and fauna in your neck of the woods! Join us for Nature Merit Badge! Monday, August 10 and Monday, August 24 from 3:00 – 4:15 pm.

Photography – Do you know what an aperature or an f-stop are? Do you know how they work together with both digital and film cameras? Do you want to learn easy techniques to upgrade how your photos look? Join us for Photography Merit Badge to practice all this and more! Wednesday’s, August 12, 19, 26, and September 2 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm.

Electricity – Do you know how your house get’s power? Do you know how to wire a circuit? Do you know the first aid for electric shock? Join us for a remote and virtual class of Electricity Merit Badge! Tuesday, August 4th and Thursday, August 6, and Tuesday, August 11 from 7:00 – 8:15pm.

The Mayflower Council Stay Safe CSP sold out in only a few short weeks. We have received numerous requests to purchase one. Another order for 250 has been placed. It is the same design but the border color has been changed to orange. This limited edition CSP can be yours for a donation of $20.00 per CSP. Proceeds from this CSP run will be used to cover the expenses of the personal protection equipment (PPE) purchased for the camp properties, Adventure Day Camp and the council service center.

Pre-Order yours now – before they are gone!

Mayflower Council would like to recognize Scouts and adults who are Scouting at a distance with a patch that is sure to be a collector item. Requirements for Scouts and leaders to earn this award are simple.

Guidelines:

1. Complete the requirements for the appropriate rank
2. Complete online award completion form
3. Order your patch.
   • The link to order your patch will be provided when you submit your online completion form
   • Patches are $4 each
   • Our patch design will be available soon and we think it’s so cool
4. Award is available for a limited time requirements must be completed by September 30 and patches must be ordered by October 15.
5. Contact Joe Livingston if you have questions about the award.

Continue to follow all applicable state, local, and council guidelines. We encourage you to take and post pictures of your events and post them on social media with the hashtag #mayflowerscoutsinaction #scoutingatadistance

Cub Scout Den Requirements (complete 3 out of this list)

• Attend an in person den meeting
• Plan and practice a den skit or song
• Participate in a den campfire (can’t be the same as the den meeting from above)
• Perform at least one hour of community service with your den
• Participate in a den scavenger hunt

Scouts BSA Patrol or Venture Crew Requirements (complete 3 out of this list)

• Attend an in-person patrol or crew meeting
• Plan and attend an in-person patrol or crew camping trip
• Participate in at least two hours of community service with your patrol or crew
• Go on a 5-mile hike with your patrol
• Participate in a patrol or crew scavenger hunt

Adult Leader Required

• Ensure you are 100% trained for your current position through your My.Scouting profile (for ASM, SM, and Crew Advisors if all that is missing is IOLS an in person training submit email to your local council to be notified when this training will be offered next)

Adult Leader Elective Requirements (complete 2 out of this list)

• Facilitate an in person meeting utilizing the guidelines provided at the time based on local guidelines
• Explain Scouting to a non Scouting family or to a community group of your choice
• Share through social media or a letter to the editor explaining the values of Scouting and what Scouting means to you to help spread the positive message of Scouting
• Following Youth Protection Guidelines ensure at least 1 Scout advances a rank or earns a MB (not virtual if allowed by local guidelines)

Looking for a new way to have camp this summer while staying safe from COVID?  Introducing Camp in a Box!  We have partnered with five other councils to bring you this awesome program!  Individuals or troops can sign up to be a part of this historic program!  We will have Scouts from at least 4 different states all joining in the fun.

Each Scout gets to choose up to 5 merit badges or programs from 45 different options.  For the low price of $135, we will ship you a box of everything that you’ll need for the week including camp swag, program materials, and more to be ready for the action!  This is sure to be Not Your Typical Summer Camp!  Click here to download the Camp Guide.

Click here to sign up today!

Dear Scouting Family:

It is with great disappointment that the Mayflower Council announces that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will not allow resident camp programs to be conducted before the summer of 2021. As we stated from the initial decision to move forward, we would only do so if we could conduct a safe program, within the guidelines of national, state, and local authorities. Based on this latest information, we will not be able to provide a resident camp experience to our Scouts this summer.

We appreciate your continued patience and understanding over the past 7 weeks, as we pursued all available options and program modifications to offer a safe resident camp experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our staff was looking forward to greeting you and bringing you another year of fun, but this will have to wait until next year. All along, our first priority has been the health and safety of our Scouts, their parents, our leaders, staff and all their extended families and communities.

While this news is disappointing, we are providing a Scouts BSA virtual camp option offering each Scout the opportunity to choose up to 5 merit badges or programs from 45 different options.  Plus, we will ship you a box of everything that you’ll need for the week including camp swag, program materials, and more to be ready for the action! Click here for all the information and to sign-up.

We will be issuing full refunds to each troop by the end of the month and there is no need to contact the council service center for the refund of the camp fees paid. We ask for your patience as we work through processing all of the refunds. Check our council COVID-19 website for additional updates.

This decision by the Commonwealth does not affect our ability to operate our Cub Scout Adventure Day Camp at Camp Resolute. We are continuing with our plans to offer that program for our Cub Scouts.

We know you are eager to get back to our camps, which is why we have already begun planning bigger and better resident camp programs for next year.

Take care and be well,

Mike Rotar
Council President

Joshua Paulin
Council Commissioner

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive / CEO

How to Sell $1,000 While Social Distancing
Sell for 8 hours, fund your entire year of Scouting!

STEP 1: Create a Trail’s End account for your Scout.

• Text APP to 62771 to download the Trail’s End App.

STEP 2: Make a list of 30+ people you know to ask for support.

• With your Scout, go through the contact lists of your phone(s) and your social media friends lists (ie. Facebook, twitter, etc.).

STEP 3: Draft your Scout’s sales pitch.

• Example: Hi **customer’s name**, I am raising money to help pay for summer camp. Please follow the link to my fundraising page and make a purchase that will help me earn my own way in Scouting. Can I count on your support?

STEP 4: Build your Scout’s personalized fundraising page.

• Once signed into the app, go to Online Direct and then Manage Page.
• Upload a picture of your Scout smiling, preferably in their class A uniform.
• Paste your sales pitch into the About Me section.
• Select your Favorite Product.

STEP 5: Ask for support.

• Share your Scout’s fundraising page from the App through Social Media (Facebook, Twitter), text message, email, and more.
• For BEST results, Scouts should make phone or video calls (FaceTime, Zoom). Scouts can take payment over the phone or use the Online Direct cart sharing feature so your customer can complete the purchase.
• Tip: Just like in face-to-face selling, customers say yes more often with a personal ask (call, text, email, DM) than an indirect ask (general Facebook post).

STEP 6: Ask for support in the neighborhood.

• Ask neighbors for support in local Facebook Groups, Apps (Next Door).
• Visit 30 homes in your neighborhood
• Use the cart sharing feature to remain socially distanced.

STEP 7: Have Fun!

Dear Scouting Families,

Families today have many options, but Scouting continues to stand out as a safe and fun atmosphere where a kid can be a kid all while preparing them to become an even better adult.

As we look toward the future of Scouting, the Mayflower Council is committed to providing a  wholesome and cost-effective Scouting experience.

Our activity fee is being increased out of necessity to support critical safety components of our organization like youth protection resources, criminal background checks, technology upgrades and insurance coverage rates which have risen substantially over the past few years.

The Mayflower Council staff and board volunteers have worked tirelessly to keep the cost of Scouting as low as possible for our families. Our council is fiscally sound; however, it is crucial that we continuously review our financial structure in order to guarantee the longevity of our local programs.

Over the past three years, our council has maintained the activity fee and subsidized rising core costs – the greatest being insurance coverage – to keep fees as low as possible. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to subsidize these costs at past levels.

Additionally, COVID-19 coupled with the challenges created by a National BSA bankruptcy, has required our council to consider how these external factors will impact Scouting in the MetroWest and South Shore.

As a result, the Mayflower Council has been forced to make dramatic changes to expenses because of the decreases in our traditional revenue sources.

ACTIONS & TRENDS

• Family participation in our annual Investment in Character fundraising campaign has fallen from 16% to only 5%.
• Due to COVID-19 camp restrictions we have absorbed $406,000 in camp loss of revenue
• We have reduced our expenses by 31%
• The Mayflower Council Staff has been reduced by 10%

The decision to increase our activity fee was not made lightly, but it is necessary to fulfill our promise and continue to offer the level of Scouting our families are accustomed to without any decline in service. Many factors went into increasing the council activity fee and it was imperative that the information was conveyed in a timely manner to our units and families.

The activity fee will allow the Mayflower Council to provide:

• Medical and accident insurance coverage as well as local liability insurance for all registered members.
• Free tent camping at Camp Resolute, Camp Squanto and Nobscot Scout Reservation.
• Camp fees that are as low as possible while enhancing camp properties.
• Free required training course for adult leaders.

For a comprehensive list of how the Mayflower Council supports units and Scouting families click here.

After careful consideration, and approval by the Mayflower Council Executive Board, beginning on August 1, 2020, the activity fee will be increased from $30 to $36 per youth member (50 cents per month) in Cub Scouting, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Exploring. (the previous activity fee excluded Lions, 18 – 21 year old Venturers and Explorers.) The fee will not apply to adult members and will be prorated on a monthly basis. The new fee will not apply to existing members until their unit recharters for 2021.

One hundred percent of the recently increased annual National registration fee goes to the National Boy Scouts of America Council to support Scouting for you. Including: Scoutbook; Youth Protection Training; liability insurance; program development and much more.

If you have questions on the council activity fee or the National BSA membership fee, please do not hesitate to reach out to your district executive or email us at communication@mayflowerbsa.org.

We thank you for your commitment to Scouting in the Mayflower Council and urge you to continue to be an advocate for Scouting as our programs are preparing thousands of youth across the MetroWest and the South Shore of Massachusetts, for life.

Yours in Scouting,

Mike Rotar
Council President

Josh Paulin
Council Commissioner

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive / CEO