About The Good Scout Award

The Good Scout Award is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated integrity and genuine concern for others in both their professional and personal lives.

The recipients need not have been Scouts but must carry the “Spirit of Scouting” into their adult lives. They are people who have been unselfish in their service to others on an individual and community basis. They seek no return for their service other than the satisfaction of aiding their fellow citizens, their community, and their nation.

The Good Scouts are people who truly capture the respect and imagination of our youth.

You may register and pay online or fill out the mail-in registration form.
Registration and program book ad’s must be received by October 20, 2022.

If you have any questions, please email: Westborough Good Scout Committee

Earlier this summer, the Venturing Crew 29 and BSA Troop 64 Scout earned the accolade during the American Legion Camporee at Gardner’s Camp Collier.

Recently, the Mayflower Council was thrilled to learn that Dante D. received the American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year Award at the America Legion Camporee, held June 17-19, 2022, at Camp Collier in Gardner, Mass.

“My Eagle Scout Project was to re-side the tool shed at my middle school, Mullein Hill Christian Academy, and to clean up the surrounding area,” explained Dante in the write-up of his project, which garnered the attention of the American Legion. 

“Before I could start any work on the shed, I had to take measurements to see how much siding I would need to cover the shed,” added the Scout. “Then I had to research and see which siding would be the best based on durability, longevity, appearance, and cost.”

No Eagle Scout Project is easy. But Dante’s was especially detailed. Author’s note: Dante’s dedication while completing the task is evidenced by the no less than six Scouters who wrote in this summer to mention it and his American Legion award.

“I contacted a local contractor to ask him if he could donate any materials for the project,” explained Dante in his documentation. “He helped me come up with a list of needed materials, such as corner pieces, flashing, and other smaller items that would be required to finish the project. 

“Once I had a list of the needed supplies and a budget, I contacted local businesses to get donations not just for materials for the project but also for other items such as food and water for the volunteers.”

Working in a short amount of time, Dante made the most of his materials and volunteers.

“The work happened over two days,” continued the Scout. “On the first day, we removed any protruding objects and replaced any of the rotting wood found at the base of the shed.

“On the second day, we finished siding the shed,” he wrote. “Then we had to wrap the shed in Tyvek wrap to prevent future water damage to the shed or siding. We then began to side the shed, having two groups of people, one cutting the siding and the other placing it onto the building. 

“We also placed down a rock bed around the perimeter of the shed and pulling weeds. Once this was all done, we put up some signage and did some touch-up painting around the roof and door of the shed,” wrote Dante.

The results speak for themselves. The work performed by Dante and Co. will have a significant impact.

With the shed re-sided and no longer exposed to the elements, the school’s equipment — the bulk of it being landscaping equipment and machinery — would not be damaged. The new siding also extended the shed’s longevity, helping the school save money on buying and repairing damaged gear.

As a result of Dante’s hard work, the Massachusetts American Legion later recognized him as their Eagle Scout of the Year.

Click here to learn more about Eagle Scout Projects (and the Mayflower Council).

In Scouting, we say “it’s about the youth” and none of our adults are involved for the recognition, but every now and then we need to say thanks especially to those volunteers whose leadership and example has left a lasting positive impact on the program and the broader community. One way we do that is through nominating a Scouter for the Silver Beaver Award, the highest adult recognition a council can bestow. Take a few moments to reflect on volunteers within your unit or district and consider nominating them for the Silver Beaver Award.

To simplify the process this year a new online nomination form was completed. This form will allow you to save your work and go back and add additional information at another time prior to the nomination deadline.

All nominations must be received by Monday, October 31, 2022.

A detailed nomination form, to review before completing the online form, is available by clicking here. Kindly do not submit paper versions of the form.

Questions regarding nominations should be emailed to:  awards@mayflowerbsa.org.  The awards will be presented at the Council’s Recognition Dinner to be held January 26, 2023.

Frequently asked questions about the Silver Beaver Award:

Overview

To recognize registered Scouters of exceptional character who have provided distinguished service within a council.  The award is presented by the National Court of Honor on behalf of councils.

Who Can Earn This Award?

Anyone may nominate any deserving registered Scouter to the council, which selects recipients for the following year. Each council may process their own annual allotment of Silver Beaver awards and shall send a list of Silver Beaver awards presented each calendar year to the National Court of Honor no later than January 31 of the following year.

Help your old LEGO bricks find a new purpose!

The Mayflower Council is looking at giving your unused LEGO collection a second life; assisting with new youth recruiting. We will be launching a LEGO Pinewood Derby activity as part of our new member recruiting efforts at community fairs, farmer’s and artisan markets, and other community events so that a whole new generation of youth and can experience the thrill of a Pinewood Derby and the the joy of building with LEGO while finding out about Scouting’s life-long values.

To make a donation, simply round up any loose LEGO pieces and place them into a cardboard box or zipper top bag. We are accepting loose LEGO bricks and Minifigures. They do not need to be full sets. We are unable to accept donations of DUPLO and Technic elements.

Donations can be dropped of at one of the following locations:

• Council Service Center, 83 Cedar Street, Milford, Massachusetts.
• Adventure Day Camp, 129 Hudson Road, Bolton, Massachusetts. (while camp is in session)
• Camp Resolute, 75 Hudson Road, Bolton, Massachusetts (while camp is in session)
• Camp Squanto, 200 Cuttersfield Road, Plymouth, Massachusetts. (while camp is in session)

If you have unwanted LEGO bricks lying around (and hurting your feet) we’ll take them!

Have questions regarding donating LEGO bricks to this worthwhile initiative contact Jack Colamaria or Rick Riopelle.

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has worked to keep the membership fee as low as possible. As you know, costs continue to rise, and the annual fee must be increased to address the fiscal realities we face to deliver a safe and quality Scouting program.

To ensure we have the resources to fulfill the promise of Scouting, the following national membership fee structure will take effect August 1, 2022.

• $75 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts participants
• $45 for Exploring participants
• $45 for all adult volunteers (includes cost of background check)
• $100 for a unit charter/affiliation fee
• $25 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts (Not pro-rated)
• $15 for Scout Life magazine; this is the first price increase since 2005

The Mayflower Council Activity Fee will remain at $36 per youth member.

The national membership fee helps cover the cost of essential services, including program resources, liability insurance for those participating in approved Scouting activities, criminal background checks, youth protection, and the development of intellectual property for national, council, and unit programs. As we move forward, we will continue to look at the membership fee structure and how we deliver the Scouting program for future generations.

Online registration remains the preferred method of transferring youth and will become the way to register new youth beginning August 1.

Thank you for your understanding, together we will continue to provide a great Scouting program for our families.

Mayflower Council has been accepted into the Boy Scouts of America National Family Den Pilot Program.

Distinguished Citizen Awards Dinner

Tuesday, October 18, 2022

Lombardo’s

6 Billings Street, Randolph, MA 02368

Reception 6:00 pm – Dinner & Program 7:00 pm

2022 Honorees

Distinguished Citizen Award Recipient

James M. Dunphy, President & CEO
South Shore Bank

The Distinguished Citizen Award is presented to community or business leaders who provide outstanding civic service to the adult and/or youth in the community. Those who receive the award are not necessarily Scout volunteers, but rather individuals who personify what the Boy Scouts of America stand for – good citizenship, outstanding moral fiber with a dedication to others, and for living their lives by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Distinguished Scouter Award 

Arnold Briggs, Educator (retired)
Scouter & Community Volunteer

The Distinguished Scouter Award is presented to a Scouter who provide outstanding civic service to the adult and/or youth in the community. Those who receive the award are not only Scout volunteers, but also seek no return for their service other than the satisfaction of aiding their fellow citizens, their community, and their nation and for living their lives by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Second Century of Leadership Award

Accepted by David Dirubbo, President

Second Century of Leadership Award is presented to a company or organization that consistently sets the pace for the corporate leadership and philanthropic support of the South Shore and MetroWest communities. The honoree’s work and leadership exemplify the ideals and successes of the Boy Scouts of  America. The organization’s corporate citizenship and community involvement set the example of what can be achieved through hard work, leadership and character, traits that set both organizations apart.

You may register and pay online or fill out the mail-in registration form.

Registration and program book ad’s must be received by September 30, 2022.

If you have any questions, please email:  Development Office

Eric H. of Troop 28 Cohasset Earns Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award

Eagle Scout created “first responder sensory kits” to help first responders 

Wrentham, Mass. — The National Eagle Scout Association established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award to recognize valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, community, or other entity. 

The award recognizes a Scout for their Eagle Scout leadership service project, which is part of the requirements for earning the Eagle Scout Award. Each year, local councils select a council-level winner, and each region selects a region-level winner from that pool. A national winner is then chosen from the four regional finalists.

On June 13, 2022, The Mayflower Council, BSA proudly presented the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Award of the Year to:

Eric H.
Troop 28 Cohasset
Sensory Kits for First Responders

Eric’s project raised awareness of autism while providing first responders with the resources and tools they need when they assist people with special needs. His project included: providing 80 sensory kits to multiple towns in the surrounding South Shore towns of Cohasset, Hanover,

Hingham, Hull, Norwell, Scituate.

Eric saw this need for sensory kits after experiences with his older brother, who has autism, where first responders were not equipped to respond to his brother’s needs. To address this need, Eric spoke with a family friend who was a former EMT and Eric’s brother’s teacher at the Amego School in Franklin, Mass., to form his idea of creating a “first responder sensory kit” go bag. 

The kits contain items to help first responders communicate with the person in need as well as bring them comfort.

Following the presentation of the Adams Award, Eric also received a citation and a medallion from Brigadier General (Ret.) Emery Maddocks of the Military Order of the World Wars.

“We have a really outstanding project to recognize,” said Gen. Maddocks of Eric’s Sensory Kits. “For dedication to the principles of the Boy Scouts of America as evidenced by not only by his achievement of the highest achievement in Scouting – the Boy Scout Eagle Award –but further by [earning] the 2021 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.”

“The best camera is the camera you have on you…”

As mentioned before, the BSA’s “Bryan on Scouting” is a terrific resource for Scouters. Moreover, some of the best stories on the blog give readers a solid kick in the pants.

“Get out there and try it,” is a cause celeb for Bryan and co. Reasonable, given the traditions of the BSA.

However, this time around, the blog reminds Scouters – via the advice of BSA pro photog Michael Roytek – “The best camera is the camera you have on you.”

In other words, your smartphone might be the best camera any of us might ever acquire.

Writer Aaron Derr explained why so  in a piece entitled, “How to take and share the best photos of your Scouts this summer … and beyond”:

Some folks might prefer to carry around heavy pieces of photography equipment with long, powerful lenses, and that’s great. For the rest of us, we have the modern smartphone, which has the capability to produce photos good enough to save as memories — and to share online with friends, fellow Scouting families, and maybe even members of your community.

In the article, even the most trepidatious photographers will learn about:

• The rule of thirds
• Action Shots
• Sharing photos

My favorite advice in the piece reads, “Nothing tells the story of Scouting more than great photos of Scouts having a blast in their natural environment, whether that’s at summer camp or any fun Scouting activity.

“If you can get those photos in front of the eyes of some non-Scouting families … who knows? Your unit just might recruit for itself, thanks to all the fun you’re having.”

Check out the accompanying video:

How to Take Better Scouting Pictures!

And be sure to read the article – then get out there and take some photos!