Our council has begun transitioning to a new online event registration platform named Black Pug, which is used by almost half of all Boy Scout councils nationwide. The previous system, Doubleknot, was a major step forward when we adopted it nearly 16 years ago. After careful, thoughtful and detailed evaluation we believe the Black Pug platform will be an improvement, addressing multiple issues brought up by our members and volunteers and improving your experience when signing up for camps and other activities and accessing the council calendar.

The transition to Black Pug has already begun. Many of our recent events and summer camp sign-ups have been utilizing the new platform. Black Pug will soon become the new platform for the council calendar providing many of the most requested features including calendar subscription links and RSS feeds. We anticipate the full integration of Black Pug into the council website to be completed by June 1.

Individuals and units will have until July 31 to archive any data on the Doubleknot system they wish to retain and we will be sunsetting Doubleknot in Mayflower Council in early August. 

We are excited to be sharing this new event registration system with you and we thank you for your patience as we make this transition. We look forward to serving you better. If you have any questions or need assistance with Black Pug please contact Lisa Olson our Black Pug subject matter expert.

Susquehanna, Mayflower, Juniata Valley, Washington Crossing, Five Rivers, Westmoreland Fayette and Baden Powell Councils are excited to offer for the 2nd year, an alternative summer camping experience in 2021 – Camp in a Box 2021.

Camp-in-a-Box 2021 provides the opportunity to select from 45 merit badge offerings (tentatively) and/or participation in the New Scout Program.

The Scout will have the opportunity to complete all or most of the requirements for each merit badge offered. Seventeen of the merit badge offerings provide the Scout the opportunity to complete all of the requirements to earn the merit badge. Twenty-eight of the merit badge offerings provide the Scout the opportunity to complete most of the requirements to earn the merit badge but will require completion of selected requirements after Camp-in-a-Box. After Camp-in-a-Box, some councils may provide in-person opportunities to complete some of the remaining requirements, but not all. Thus, the Scout will likely have to coordinate with a local counselor to complete many or all of the remaining requirements.

Scouts will have the opportunity to enroll in up to five offerings in a week – all merit badges or a combination of New Scout Program classes and merit badges.

List of Tentative Merit Badges

Tentative Schedule

Planned class size limit

The maximum size limit for any class will be 15 Scouts, with a few classes limited to 10 Scouts.

Cost

The all-inclusive fee for a Scout participant will be $135.

Mayflower Council is excited to offer Scouts BSA Summer Experience, a re-imagining of the traditional Camp Resolute summer camp program in a daytime-only format. Open to all youth 10 1/2 to 17, Summer Experience delivers a fresh take on the camp we all love using the new Resolute Base Camp. There will be plenty of activities; all of your summer camp favorites are here including waterfront, shooting sports and COPE climbing!

Resolute Base Camp is an outdoor adventure space designed for children and adults of all ages to build character, explore nature, and create lifelong memories through seasonal and year-round programs.

Registration for Summer Experience is open NOW.

The all-new Resolute Base Camp kicked off on Saturday, May 8 with a weekend program called Outdoor Experience. Participants were excited to be the first ones to climb the monkey bridge, shoot BB guns or throw tomahawks.

With eight activity areas to visit, over 40 Scouts and their families had a fun-filled day at Resolute Base Camp in Bolton, MA. From cooking, pioneering and camping to first aid and navigation, there was plenty to do and outdoor skills to learn under the guidance of a knowledgeable staff.

Following a strict Covid-19 check-in protocol, participants were formed into groups and rotated to each of the activity areas throughout the day. This assured that Covid-19 restrictions were being adhered to, but also allowed each group to visit all areas.

A special shout out to Troop 126 Franklin and Pack 39 Stow for joining us and thanks to all our volunteers for helping to kick off programs at Resolute Base Camp!

Outdoor Experience is an exciting new program offered on most weekends throughout the year. Units can work towards specific advancements and awards while non-Scouts can participate in fun outdoor activities and skills development. Registration for our next Outdoor Experience on June 5th is opening soon.

Scouts BSA Summer Experience is a re-imagining of the traditional week-long “residential” summer camp feel in a daytime-only format. The Summer Experience takes advantage of new Resolute Base Camp facilities while building on the legendary history and traditions of Camp Resolute.

Adventure Day Camp is back this summer! Get set for fun, adventure and a whole lot of new experiences at our week-long camps! Located just across Little Pond from Resolute, we offer weeklong day programs developed especially for boys and girls entering grades 2-5 in the fall of 2021.

International Water Safety Day, May 15, aims to spread water safety education and drowning awareness.

Suggested ways to observe the day include:

• Adults: Update your Safe Swim Defense and/or Safety Afloat training.
• Units: Present the “Aquatics Safety” Safety Moment at a unit meeting.
• Cub Scouts: Work on an aquatic-related adventure, such as Floats and Boats (Tigers), Spirit of the Water (Wolves), Salmon Run (Bears), or Aquanaut (Webelos/Arrow of Light).
• Scouts BSA: Work on an aquatic-related merit badge, such as Lifesaving or Swimming.
• Sea Scouts: Review a Sea Scout Safety Moment video, such as Life Jackets or 10 Boating Essentials.
• Venturers & Explorers: Review Safe Swim Defense principles and plan a safe aquatic activity for the summer.

Find more tools on the BSA Aquatics Resources webpage.

Located off Route 495 in nearby Bolton, MA, Resolute Base Camp is an outdoor adventure space for area youth ages 7 to 17. Base Camp offers families, scouting units, school groups, or corporate teams exciting and challenging instructor-led activities of their own choosing in exciting new programs.

Fire Up Your Scouts for the 2021 Virtual FREEZE OUT!

All Scout BSA units in Mayflower Council are invited to participate.

Have your patrols tune up those sleds for this year’s Freeze Out adventure. Your Scouts will hone cold weather skills, participate in a variety of races, competitions, and take home memories for a lifetime. There will not be any troop vs. troop competition this year, rather troops can compete Scout vs. Scout or patrol vs. patrol. Your choice!!

This is the first virtual Freeze Out!  Each unit can decide when, where, and how to hold your troop freeze out.  We are here to help you create a fantastic adventure for your Scouts.

Troops and Scouts will receive:

• Ribbons for each event (1st, 2nd, 3rd) these will be mailed to the troop when registration closes.
• Council support & some “suggested” outdoor winter ideas, suggestions and guidelines, these will be emailed to you.
• Special 2021 Freeze Out patch per participant will be mailed to the troop after the event.
• Additional patches can be purchased for $5.00 ea.

When:  Pick any weekend in March – troops will decide what day(s) works for them.

Location: Troops decide on a location that works for them and their group size(s). You may now schedule to hold your event at one of the Mayflower Council camps.  Tent camping is now open at Camp Resolute, Camp Squanto, and Nobscot Scout Reservation or another location of your choosing.

Cost:  $10.00 per Scout, adults are free

Proposed activities but are not limited to:

1. fire starting
2. knot knowledge
3. lashing structure build
4. bear bag
5. obstacle course
6. patrol winter emergency shelter
7. cross the creek (crates and planks)
8. panning for gold (tarp and ping pong balls)

Video contest – Troops are invited to have their Scouts take short videos of their event.  Videos will be judged and ribbons awarded for funniest video, best original event, best appearance of Scout spirit.  You will receive a link to upload your videos once registration closes.

This event is being sponsored by the Headwaters District.

Make Your Summer Camp Plans Now!

Mayflower Council is giving you more options for the Summer of 2021!

Cub Scouts Rock!

Cub Adventure Day Camp, located at Camp Resolute in Bolton, MA will once again offer an outstanding weekday program for boys and girls completing grades 1-4. Now in its 48th year, Adventure Day Camp provides traditional Scout games and achievement opportunities, archery, BB instruction, nature, sports, swimming, fishing and outdoor camp skills. From 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday, our young people are challenged with ongoing activities that will help them develop self-confidence, independence and teamwork skills. Cub Adventure Day Camp will run six one-week sessions from July 12 – August 20. Get set for a rockin’ great time!

Weekly Overnight Troop Adventures!

Camp Squanto is Mayflower Council’s designated resident summer camp, for 2021, for week-long summer camp fun! Located in Plymouth, MA, Camp Squanto is situated on 650 acres deep in the woods of Myles Standish State Forest with its own private, natural pond. With 14 campsites to choose from, since 1925, Camp Squanto continues to offer a unique, Cape Cod-style wooded experience with archery, .22 rifle and skeet ranges, nature, sports, swimming, sailing, fishing and outdoor Scout skills. Typically, Scout Troops attend as a unit for a Sunday-Saturday experience. However, individual Scouts are also encouraged to attend and join in with other Scouts who form a Troop for a week. Camp Squanto is fully equipped with activity areas, expansive waterfront, new showers, flush toilets, a trading post, Scout Museum and a beautiful Dining Hall pavilion. Camp Squanto will offer six one-week sessions from July 11 – August 21. Let the adventures begin!

Scouts BSA Day Experiences!

Camp Resolute re-imagined! An exciting new day program is being developed that will offer a weekly summer day experience for all Scouts BSA members. Think of it as an outdoor adventure park operating daily Monday – Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm! You’ll be able to choose traditional Scout activities and advancement programs like nature, campcrafts and outdoor cooking or enjoy our outdoor climbing course, archery, rifle shooting, fishing, boating, sailing and swimming and much more! Our Resolute day experience program will run six one-week sessions from July 12 – August 20. You set your pace – you set your experience!

But that’s not all for Camp Resolute – stay tuned as we set the future course for a brand new twist on the camp we all love. We promise you an entirely new experience! Stay tuned for more information and details!

Philmont Scout Ranch!
This promises to be the highlight of your Scouts life – many consider it a life-changing experience!
A special contingent limited to 12 Scouts will head to the 200 square mile BSA’s premier National High Adventure area located in New Mexico for a 12 day backpacking adventure traversing at least 50 miles along the rocky, rugged terrain of the Sangre De Christo mountains. Along the way, our Crew will participate in programs that combine the best of the old West – horseback riding, burro packing, gold panning, rock climbing, burro racing, meals over stoves and fires and campfires under a gazillion stars that light up the night sky. Scouts must be at least 14 years old and advisors at least 21.

More info on all these Summer 2021 experiences now available
Adventure Day Camp
Scouts BSA Day Camp
Scouts BSA Resident Camp

Mayflower Council Camps
All Mayflower Camps are led by trained camp and program directors who are certified by National BSA Camp Schools. Our camps are certified by a camp visitation team approved by the Boy Scouts of America, licensed by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Accredited by the American Camp Association and comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and are licensed by the local board of health. All adults involved in our Camp Programs have undergone specific leadership training as well as updated Youth Protection certification.

Do you need your BSA Swim test? Join us at Camp Resolute or Camp Squanto. We have three dates available. Space is limited.

September 5th – 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

September 8th – 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

September 9th – 5:30 – 7:00 pm

• Each registrant will be given a time slot in 15 min increments and must adhere to COVID restrictions.
• Please arrive on time and in your bathing suit, there are no changing areas.
• Be prepared to do you your swim test and immediately exit the water, there is no free swim time.
• Please wear a mask at all times when not in the water and maintain social distancing.
• Upon arrival there will be a pre-screening of COVID related questions.

The various components of each test evaluate the several skills essential to the minimum level of swimming ability. Each step of the test is important and must be followed as listed below:

SWIMMER’S TEST:

Jump feet first into water over the individual’s head in depth, level off, and begin swimming. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy resting backstroke (elementary backstroke). The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.

BEGINNER’S TEST:

Jump feet first into water over the individual’s head in depth, level off, swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming as before, and return to the starting place.

NON-SWIMMER TEST:

This is reserved for anyone that attempts one of the swim tests above and does not complete it to a satisfactory degree, subject to the test’s administrator (Lifeguard or Scout Leader). Anyone who does not attend swim tests is automatically assigned a “Non-Swimmer” classification. Please do not sign up for these swim tests if you are planning to attempt a non-swimmer test, you will be sent home.

Guide to Safe Scouting; what do Swimmers vs Beginners vs Non-Swimmers do?

Guide to Safe Scouting online version

Age appropriate Guidelines for Scouting activities

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!