In the midst of uncertainty, turmoil, and change, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Strong leadership is essential in helping us navigate through rough waters and the Tantamous Lodge has been blessed with exceptional leadership! Several of our Lodge’s youth leaders have gone on to serve in key positions for our Area and at the National level of the Order of the Arrow. We are proud of these young leaders and all they have and will accomplish as they serve this great organization! In addition to our youth leaders, our adult advisors have played a significant role in developing the qualities in our young people that have led to their elevation to these esteemed positions. I want to personally thank Josh Paulin for serving as Tantamous’ first Lodge Advisor and setting us on a path toward greatness. For the past year, Candy Martel has served as our Lodge Advisor, through one of the most challenging years anyone can remember. The dedication, commitment, flexibility, and grace she has shown through this year is truly amazing! Her contributions will pay dividends for generations to come.

As we begin a new year, we have our third Lodge Advisor stepping up to assist in the development of the youth in Tantamous Lodge. Mark Vecchione will serve as our new Lodge Advisor and will guide our Lodge through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I am excited about our youth and adult leadership and look forward to seeing all they will do to serve the brotherhood in the coming months.

In Brotherhood,

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive
Supreme Chief of the Fire

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.

With the pandemic limiting some in-person activities, these videos offer an easy-to-deliver virtual alternative for leaders.Your Content Goes Here

On Sept. 1, Member Care Contact Center will shift to serve council employees so they can address local volunteer needs.

Those connected to the process for the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts should review the updated guidance.

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)

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

That’s right! We’re happy to announce the New England Scout Shop in the Brickyard Square Plaza located in Southborough has reopened with modified operating hours to help further your Scouting adventure! Over the last several weeks, we have been working hard to implement enhanced safety measures that make yours and our team members safety the top priority!

Effective today, you’ll notice the following changes upon entering our location:

• Hand sanitizer is available for customer use in all Scout Shops.
• We’ve implemented rigorous cleaning routines throughout the day and have temporarily closed fitting rooms.
• Prior to beginning every shift, all team members must complete an Employee Health Screening to ensure they are ready and able to work safely.
• Every team member is provided with facial coverings to use during their shifts and are asked to frequently wash their hands.
• Social distancing markers are placed in every Scout Shop.
• All product returns are being disinfected or quarantined for five business days before returning to the salesfloor.
• We have updated our payment systems to need fewer signatures and to accept contactless pay to include Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
• Plexiglass sneeze guards are installed at checkout points, in areas of the country where required.
• Limited occupancy regulations will be in place in compliance with state and local requirements.

While not mandatory in every Scout Shop, we respectfully request you to follow social distancing and safety protocols recommended by public health officials, including wearing a facial covering when visiting our stores to help protect yourself and our team members.

Now that we have re-opened, we are very excited to announce that we’ve redesigned our in-store shopping experience with your safety and convenience as our main goal.

Effective today, you can purchase any of our 600 Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Advancement related products online, and have the order gathered, bagged, and set aside for you to either pickup in-store, contactless curbside, or have the items shipped directly to you!

Click on the image below to check it out.

Looking ahead, we will continue to evaluate and modify our safety measures and in-store experience with you and our team members in mind. In the meantime, we’re taking this seriously so we can get it right. We cannot wait to welcome you and our Scouting community back to our Scout Shop!

Remember, every purchase made in our store supports the future of local Scouting.

Join the National Recruiting Webinars happening this summer. These regular, one-hour sessions will cover topics important to recruiting in 2020, including geofencing, BeAScout.org, Zoom 101, online registration, and much more. Plus, the hosts will answer your questions. Mark your calendars.

Register today!

Schedule:

June 24 – 8:00 pm:  National Recruiting Webinar – Virtual Recruitment Events, Working with Schools

July 9 – 8:00 pm: National Recruiting Webinar, Tech Edition – BeAScout.org, Invitation Manager

July 16 – 8:00 pm: National Recruiting Webinar – Scoutbook 101, “Who’s Zooming Who?”

July 23 – 8:00 pm: National Recruiting Webinar – Geofencing, Search, Social Media, Peer-to-Peer Recruiting

August 6 – 8:00 pm: National Recruiting Webinar – Local PR How-to’s Print, Digital, Video

August 20 – 8:00 pm: National Recruiting Webinar – It’s Not Too Late: Five Things You Should be Doing Now

Dear Scouting Family,

Today the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced an increase to the annual membership fees. These increases are a result of rising operational costs and COVID-19, which has created a substantial unplanned loss of revenue due to mandated Scout Shop closures and shortened high adventure base seasons.

Locally, our council is also facing financial challenges and we are doing our best to address the impact of three months of office closure, activity cancellations, diminished fundraising campaigns, and the loss of some of our summer camp season. We know, however, that our staff and volunteers will continue to do their best to offer high-quality Scouting experiences during these challenging times.

We understand many of our Scouting families are also dealing with similar financial issues. We do not want finances to be a barrier to participation in Scouting, and will do our best to assist families who need it, to the fullest extent possible.

We are aware some of our members may have heard about these fee changes this weekend via social media. The Mayflower Council did not share this information previously because the National Council requested that all councils wait until June 1st before distributing this news. Some councils, unfortunately, chose to share the information prematurely, which may have spawned some confusion. The Mayflower Council apologizes for any inconvenience this action may have caused.

Please review the infographic below. Click here to view the frequently asked questions about the fee increase. As more information is released, we will share the most up to date information here.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our Scouts. As Scouting navigates these turbulent times, we stand together to achieve our shared mission: helping young people in our community learn, grow, and thrive.

If you have specific questions regarding these changes, please contact your district executive or email us.

Yours in Scouting,

Mike Rotar
Council President

Josh Paulin
Council Commissioner

Bryan Feather
Scout Executive / CEO