Scouting instills values, gives youth a competitive edge and helps them become resilient adults, adults who lead. Scouting brings families together and gives them the platform for true, quality time together, where memories can be made that last a lifetime.

We also recognize that in your social circles, some may wonder about Scouting. They may ask questions about things they’ve heard or seen. They may be confused about who we are and what we do.

To help you answer those questions, we’ve put together a few tools for you.

We need to remind our communities why Scouting has thrived for more than 110-years. While we’ve evolved over the decades, along with our country, our values remain grounded in the same Scout Oath and Law.

Every family in our country should be invited and welcomed into Scouting.

If parents want their children to:

• Be of good character
• To experience the outdoors
• To make friends
• To have fun
• To learn things that will help them navigate life
• To be inspired to find careers and lifelong hobbies
• To work cooperatively with peers and adults
• And so much more

Then, they should try Scouting.

Please use the following tips and tools to help facilitate conversation as needed. You may have already received that question: “What’s going on with Scouting? What am I hearing about?”

If you encounter a question you can’t answer or need some help, do not hesitate to reach out to our Director of Field Service, Rick Riopelle.

Before any conversation about Scouting ends, don’t forget to invite them to join. The easiest way to do that is to invite them to join your unit and they can register online at www.BeAScout.org.

Dear Scouting Family,

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has made substantial progress in its Chapter 11 case by reaching an agreement alongside the Ad Hoc Committee of Local Councils with the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, which represents a large majority of claimants in our Chapter 11 case, the Official Tort Claimants Committee (TCC), and the Future Claimants Representative (FCR). This agreement ensures that the BSA has the overwhelming support of survivors for our proposed Plan of Reorganization, which is a key step in the BSA’s path toward emerging from bankruptcy.

The national organization has agreed to contribute assets with up to $250 million in value to the Trust for survivors. Working through the Ad Hoc Committee of Local Councils, local councils have committed to making a substantial contribution in the form of $500 million of cash and properties. Local councils would also be credited with as much as $100 million to be paid from a Special Trust created under the BSA’s Plan of Reorganization that would be funded with excess payroll cash that would otherwise be contributed to the over-funded defined benefit pension plan, also known as the pension fund, so long as the pension fund is over-funded by at least $100 million at the time of payment. The establishment and operation of the Special Trust does not impact defined benefit pension plan payments to current or future retirees or the BSA’s current pension plan for current or former employees at the Mayflower Council or any other local council.

We are hopeful that this progress toward a global resolution benefits the entire Scouting community, as this agreement will help local councils like ours make contributions to the Trust without additional draw on their assets, allowing us to move forward with the national organization toward emergence as one Scouting Family.

The Mayflower Council continues to communicate with national leadership via the Ad Hoc Committee of Local Councils and is collaborating with all parties to the BSA’s Chapter 11 case to find a solution that will appropriately fund a Trust to compensate survivors while also ensuring the future of Scouting. The Mayflower Council has no plans to liquidate any of our three camping properties to fund our contribution to the Trust. We, also, understand from both the national organization and the Ad Hoc Committee that the proposed agreement will not impact any pension benefits provided to current or former employees of the Mayflower Council.

We remain as committed as ever to delivering Scouting’s unparalleled experiences to young people throughout our communities. We are providing an exciting summer of adventures and character-building activities, including Adventure Day Camp at Camp Resolute, Scouts BSA Summer Day Experience at Camp Resolute, Scouts BSA Resident Camp at Camp Squanto, and both tent and cabin camping at Nobscot Scout Reservation.

Yours in Scouting,

Ian Johnson
Council President

Josh Paulin
Council Commissioner

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive / CEO

Completing the Cub Scout Yo-Yo Preview Adventure and finding fun recruitment giveaways just got a lot easier. Order customized Yo-Yos, choosing your color and adding a logo, or purchase case packs of 12 Yo-Yos, prefect for making sure a den has everything they need for the Yo-Yo Preview Adventure. Duncan also offers the Yo-Yo Teen Program for Scouts BSA to fine-tune their tricks and earn patches long the way.

Changing functional roles can only be done by the COR or COR Delegate. The second tab on the Positions Manager page is for adding and maintaining “Functional Roles” like adding a Key 3 delegate or unit Training Chair. The process to assign or edit is a “drag and drop” method by clicking on a person and then dragging them to the position you are adding them to.

The ability for parents and/or volunteers to transfer between councils using the online registration system went live this week and attached is a user guide for how it works. This allows you to login and transfer from one council to another, and once the application is approved and the overnight sync is run all the training and advancement records for the member will follow.

To deliver the promise of Scouting, your unit needs a great program. And to deliver a great program, your unit must Be Prepared with a plan. With many units returning to in-person meetings and activities, it is a good time to review upcoming program plans and to plan for the upcoming year.

Your unit’s annual program plan also helps with:

• Developing the unit budget
• Setting goals for popcorn sales
• Recruiting youth – Families like to see what fun activities they can expect
• Recruiting help – When you know what events are coming up on your unit calendar, you have more opportunity to ask parents to help out with specific tasks

Program Planning Resources

Full-face snorkel masks are combinations of a built-in snorkel with a mask covering the entire face. Due to several unexplained fatalities involving the use of full-face snorkel masks, their use is prohibited in all BSA aquatic activities. BSA is closely following aquatics industry efforts to further investigate the safety of full-face snorkel masks.

Full-face snorkel masks are prohibited in all BSA aquatic activities; all participants should use traditional snorkel/dive masks and tubes.

There is still time to register for Saturday’s Outdoor Experience event at Resolute Base Camp in nearby Bolton, MA. Climb the monkey bridge, shoot BB guns, throw tomahawks or try the orienteering course. There are nine activity areas to explore including cooking, pioneering, navigation, first aid, camping and fire building. There’s plenty to do and outdoor skills to learn under the guidance of a knowledgeable staff.

Outdoor Experience is an activity day offered on select weekends throughout the year. Units can work towards specific advancements and awards while non-Scouts can participate in fun outdoor activities and skills development – all following the latest Covid-19 protocols.

Our first Outdoor Experience was a huge success with Scouts and families and we’re excited to offer our next event this Saturday, June 19.

Learn all about Resolute Base Camp and get registered for Outdoor Experience today: ResoluteBaseCamp.org

Learn how to grow your unit in the day of virtual Scouting, expand your program and fund your adventures for free. Since our event is being held virtually we won’t do breakouts, so you won’t miss anything!

Climb the monkey bridge, shoot BB guns, throw tomahawks or try the orienteering course. There are nine activity areas to explore including cooking, pioneering, navigation, first aid, camping and fire building. There’s plenty to do and outdoor skills to learn under the guidance of a knowledgeable staff.

Outdoor Experience is an activity day offered on select weekends throughout the year. Units can work towards specific advancements and awards while non-Scouts can participate in fun outdoor activities and skills development – all following the latest Covid-19 protocols.

Our first Outdoor Experience was a huge success with Scouts and families and we’re excited to offer our next event on Saturday, June 19.

Learn all about Resolute Base Camp and get registered for Outdoor Experience today: ResoluteBaseCamp.org