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.

Thank you for your interest in attending Camp Squanto for the 2021 summer season. We continue to work diligently with the Town of Plymouth Department of Public Health and in accordance with the changing reopening guidance from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with respect to the camping and youth services sector to determine how we can offer a safe and exciting program while doing everything we can to keep our Scouts, leaders, and staff healthy and safe.

We are excited to share with you that we have, with the approval of the Town of Plymouth, crafted a program schedule and a list of merit badge offerings. We will be offering the following merit badges for which cohorts can register over four different 50-minute blocks during the day: Sailing, Rowing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming, Lifesaving, Archery, Rifle Shooting, Shotgun Shooting, Fly Fishing, Cooking, Camping, Pioneering, Emergency Preparedness, Orienteering, Wood Carving, Leatherwork, Metalwork, Mammal Study, Reptile and Amphibian Study, Bird Study, Sustainability, Environmental Science, and Climbing. An entire cohort will have to register for one badge and travel to the area of camp where that badge is offered, per current state guidelines. However, for Scouts that do not want to work on the badge, there will be a program area-related opportunity for Scouts to work on. For example, if a cohort registers for Cooking merit badge, but only 8 Scouts want to work on the requirements, the other 4 Scouts will have the option to work on another Scoutcraft related-skill.

We understand that current Commonwealth of Massachusetts guidance places many limitations on traditional flexibility. However, this does afford us some flexibility at camp this summer with our merit badge offerings. This year, rather than offering set merit badges at certain times, all merit badges will be available at all program areas, limited only by the number of cohorts that a program area can accommodate at one time. This means that, in a normal year, Ecology may offer one section each of Reptile and Amphibian Study, Mammal Study and Bird Study during the day and Scouts would have to find a way to work their schedules to get in to these badges if this is what they wanted to take. This year, if Ecology can accommodate 3 cohorts while maintaining the required social distancing, all three could work on the same badge in individual cohorts, if they all wanted to take the same badge. As part of the registration process, cohorts will select their program area, time slot (9:00-9:50, 10:00-10:50, 11:00-11:50, and 2:00-2:50), and then the badge that they would like to take.

We will be offering afternoon program offerings in shooting sports, boating, swimming, Scoutcraft, handicraft, and ecology in one hour blocks that cohorts will be able to sign up for prior to arriving at camp. In many ways, the afternoon will look similar to a normal week of summer camp. To go over this schedule in greater detail and to answer questions that you may have about summer at Camp Squanto in 2021, we will be holding another summer camp leaders meeting virtually using the same YouTube platform as our April meeting. Please join us on Monday, May 24 at 7:00pm.

Please keep in mind these important deadlines fast approaching:

NEW Unit Commitment Deadline: Friday, May 14
Please let us know your intentions by completing this form RICK – please add link

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday, May 28

We are working diligently to offer the greatest flexibility that current Commonwealth of Massachusetts guidance will allow and that is in keeping with the intent of the guidance – to keep everyone safe and healthy at camp this summer. Thank you for being part of the Camp Squanto family. We look forward to seeing you in just over two months for an exciting, fun-filled, and safe program at Camp Squanto!

Over the past several years, the Mayflower Council has struggled to achieve measurable gains in many of the initiatives stated in our Long-Range Strategic Plan, which mirrors the four functions of Scouting: Membership; Program; Fundraising; and Unit Service. While some of the obstacles we faced were beyond our control, there were challenges that kept coming up that deserved more analysis.

After much consideration and input from staff members, our district and council leadership, best practices from other councils, and an honest assessment of where the Mayflower Council is today, I am pleased to share some changes to our staff structure that I am convinced will yield greater success in all areas of our council operations, the most significant of which is serving more young people with a high quality Scouting program.

As you all know, membership and units have been falling for many years. We have also struggled to raise the funds necessary to sustain our program and keep our camp properties in top condition. We have continued doing the same thing and expecting a different result. We all know that this isn’t a winning strategy and we are not alone in these struggles. Most councils across the country have had similar experiences, although there are some who have taken a new approach and are seeing some positive movement as a result.

I have compared best practices to the needs of the Mayflower Council and will incorporate some of these methods into a plan specifically designed to take advantage of our resources and strengthen our focus on the areas where we must improve.

While some councils have shifted completely to what they call a “Specialized” model, with staff focused on one function like: Membership development, New Unit development, Unit Service, Program, or Fundraising, I believe a hybrid model seems better suited to our needs where we have some staff focused on one specific function, while others oversee two functions.

We have established four teams and subject matter primary contacts to address specific Council needs: Membership and Unit Service will be one team; Development will be a team; another team will focus on Program; and the final team will handle the Administration process.

Our Membership and Unit Service team will be led by Rick Riopelle and there will be three District Executives assigned to work with our district committees and commissioner corps to focus specifically on membership and unit growth and serving our existing units. Marcella will serve as the support staff for this team, processing all membership and unit service requests. Jack Colamaria, Rob Hillman, and Ian Furst will provide the service in the field to our teams of volunteers.

Our Development team will be led by Jim Corcoran and we will have one Fundraising Executive assigned to this function. In addition, Carlene Covino will be supporting the Development team as they work on Friends of Scouting, Popcorn Sales, Special events, Foundations and Trusts, and seeking new opportunities to increase our direct support funding for Operating, Capital, and Endowment.

The Program team will be led by Hunter McCormick who joined our team on April 1st. He brings a wealth of experience, and a sales mentality to our council and district programs. Hunter will serve as our professional staff member with both Camp Rangers and Nora Scott providing support functions. Their focus will be increasing participation in our camp programs as well as our council and district activities.

I will lead the Administration team and will have Mary, Tyler Ericson, and Lisa supporting fiscal management and the systems and processes of council operations.

While each team will be focused on their specific assignments, they will not operate without interaction and cooperation with each of the other teams. To help volunteers and district leadership know who to contact when they need help, we have created a staff responsibility list with primary contacts available here.

I am looking forward to improved efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability with our new roles and am excited about this new opportunity and the teams we have in place to accomplish growth in each of these areas in the coming months and years.

Yours in Scouting,

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive / CEO

To sort list scroll to the bottom and select by responsibility, by team or by primary contact.

Thank you for your interest in attending Camp Squanto for the 2021 summer season. As you know, the process for determining our exact program continues to be a challenge as we strive to develop a great program, implement the reopening guidelines provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and keep all of our Scouts, leaders, and staff healthy and safe.

A new Position Manager tool, found on the Organization Manager page of My.Scouting, will be rolled out in the next few days. This new tool updates and replaces the current Organization Security Manager and gives any currently chartered unit the ability to change leader registrations without having to fill out applications and take them to the council service center.

Position Manager will allow Chartered Organization Representatives and their designees to change any leader positions, except the Chartered Organization Representative, with the drag of the mouse. It will require an overnight sync, and then the new leadership position will be updated in the unit.

The assignment of functional assignments like key 3 delegates and membership chair can be done in Position Manager, too. The below job aid will illustrate the new tool and its features.

Join Hundreds of Other Scouters at the Virtual Little Philmont 2021 Event and Get a Taste of the Philmont Experience

Friday, May 21 from 9pm-10:30pm EDT
Saturday, May 22 from 10:30-2pm EDT

Virtual Little Philmont 2021 provides a unique opportunity to hear from leading Scouters who continue to deliver high-quality programs for our youth. Several topics will be addressed with a variety of focused break-out sessions on subjects like recruiting, involving parents, leading a troop, helping Scouts stay engaged “after Eagle,” utilizing digital tools to reach your Scouting audience, and more. This exciting event can be a catalyst for increased knowledge and energy within the Latter-day Saint Scouting community.

We’ll open the event on Friday evening (May 21st) with a fireside chat with Rex Tillerson, former BSA National President, former U.S. Secretary of State and former Chairman/CEO of ExxonMobil.

We’ll continue the event on Saturday morning (May 22nd), addressing various topics necessary to continue Scouting with energy, increased knowledge, and enthusiasm. Come join us!

Chaplain Aide training will be offered to Scouts of ALL FAITHS on Sunday, May 2 from 1:00 – 5:00 PM at the Holy Name of Jesus House of Studies on 51 Illinois Court in Worcester. This in-person training is also open to adult Scouters on a space-available basis (Scouts have first call on space). The course, offered by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting (DCCS), will be conducted following all current COVID safety protocol, with masks required and temperature checks conducted. The course should be of interest to Scouts BSA troops who are interested in enhancing their use of this youth leadership position within their troop structure and will assist in strengthening the Duty to God component, which is crucial within the advancement and programming activities spelled out by the BSA in cooperation with local and national youth ministry leaders of all faiths. Please pre-register by sending an email to John Atlas, Chairman of the DCCS.

Congratulations to the nine recipients of the 2021 National Venturing Leadership Award.

Two of the 9 award recipients are from the Mayflower Council. We could not be more proud of your accomplishments.

Two shining examples of leadership.

Last week, we communicated that the Webelos uniform will undergo a rolling change for fourth and fifth grade Webelos (effective for the 2021-2022 Scouting year).

Please note the decision has been made to hold off on this planned change until further notice. Any updates (if any) to uniform requirements will be communicated in future newsletters.