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.

Below are the March Roundtable flyers.   Thanks for all you do for our youth and for Scouting.

Mayflower March Training Newsletter 

Nomination Forms

Philmont Informational Session

Virtual Freeze Out

FOS Common Questions and Answers

Thank you for attending the February Metacomet District Roundtable.  Below are the slides that were presented as well as a couple of flyers.

February 2021 Metacomet District Roundtable

Philmont 2022

District Awards

2021 Freeze Out

Below you will find nomination forms for recognizing Scouters at the unit and district levels.  As well as nationally recognized nomination forms.

Nomination form for District Awards – due March 15

• Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Venturing crew advisor, committee chair (for any unit) and charter organization representative of the year awards
• Unsung Hero Award – someone who goes above and beyond in the district.
• “Sparkplug” – each pack, troop, or crew can recognize one of their adult leaders for going above and beyond.

Nomination for the District Award of Merit – due March 15

The District Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is a national
award presented by councils. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level.

These nomination forms must be sent via email to:  Mayflower Awards

The district key 3 typically will present the awards at the annual district recognition dinner.

Thank you everyone that attended the Council-wide roundtable held on Thursday, August 20.

Below are the slide presentations from each of the sessions that you can now download.

Opening Announcements

Cub Scouts

How to Meet: Den Leader Outdoor COVID Meeting Guide

Keep Your Pack Sound: Fundraising with COVID Restrictions

Scouts BSA

Rank Advancement in the Virtual World: Scout to First Class

Rank Advancement in the Virtual World: Star to Eagle

Thank you for joining us at the Council-wide roundtable held on Wednesday, July 15.  Below are a few slides presented at this meeting as well as videos from our Council Commissioner and the national announcement on the bar date.

• Using Patrols To Restart Unit Events
• Keeping Scouts Engaged
• Developing Your Team
• Recruiting 2020

Online/Virtual Meetings

• One Den was setting up a service called Jitsi to host virtual Den Meetings
• Virtual Rank Advancement Ceremony – – Many packs Blue and Gold dinners were cancelled. Cubmaster could host Webinar and recognize the Cub Scouts that earned ranks etc. Thought was that recognizing sooner rather than later would be more significant to the Scout.
• MidAmerica Council conducts virtual “den” meetings that are open to everyone. These meetings are based on completing a Cub Scout Adventure and earning a coveted belt loop. Meetings are open to all and are based on Cub Scout Year. For example, Monday is Tigers, Tuesday Wolves, Wednesday Bears, Thursday Webelos. Meetings require pre-registration but are free to join. The schedule is updated frequently
  https://mac-bsa.org/scoutingathome/scouting-at-home-cub-scouts/

Virtual Tours & Fun “Trips” For Example many organizations are hosting live or recorded activities. Den leaders could pick one, encourage Scouts to complete it with their family and have a web meeting to discuss what they saw learned. Other organizations have live Webcams allowing Scouts to see what’s happening without leaving home. Organizations offering programs like this include:

• Mount Washington Observatory  https://mountwashington.org/classroom
• Mass Audubon https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/explore-nature-at-home
• Boston Symphony Orchestra https://www.bso.org/brands/bso/at-home/bso-homeschool.asp
• Museum of Science https://www.mos.org/MOSatHome
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (They have programs at all their Museums) https://airandspace.si.edu/event-series/stem-30
• Roger Williams Park Zoo http://www.rwpzoo.org
• New England Aquarium https://www.neaq.org/visit/at-home-events-and-activities/

Several Organizations have created lists of activities and resources

The New England Patriots have a collection of online resources they have assembled. Everything from a coloring contest, a reading contest to STEM material from other organizations https://www.patriots.com/community/rbtl

Good Housekeeping has posted an article listing 30 virtual tours https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best-virtual-tours/

NASA International Space Station Views of Earth http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iss-hdev-payload

The MidAmerica Council has posted several other ideas & resources on their Scouting at home site. https://mac-bsa.org/scoutingathome/

Other Virtual Ideas and Activities

• Career Day – Parents would discuss their career either via recorded video or live webinar.
• Virtual Project or Collection Fair – – Have Scouts share their collections or something they have been working on. Gives Scouts ability to present something important to them to their friends. This adds enough structure and variety to a webinar to keep Scouts engaged
• Virtual camping trip where each scout camped in their backyard and they met online around a virtual camp fire and did scout songs and skits (done by the scout or scouts if more then one in the family, or the scouts family).
• Team scavenger hunt using “Goose Chase” application. https://www.goosechase.com
• Purchase or collect components of and deliver “Genius Kits” to have a project. Dens can do together via video conference. The kit would include needed components for a specific activity.  http://usscouts.org/bbugle/bb0502/bbpackden.html, Several ideas for Genius Kits on Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/565694403164034257/
• Rocket Day – – Purchase or have families rocket kits. Scouts to assemble rocket at home Launch Day, ask Scouts to arrive as Dens at staggered arrival times to keep group size down. Ask parents to pre-pack Rocket parachutes & have prepacked engines that can simply be inserted into rocket. Set up so each Scout can launch 3-4 times and be on their way before next Den comes.
• Plan outdoor hikes on local conservation property.
• Down-town scavenger hunt. Post clues in local business store windows. Scouts and their families would search for clues and take pictures in front of the business. Businesses would benefit from increased traffic; unit would get to post pack logo in store window over a weekend.
• Bike Safety / Bike Rodeo – Set up outdoor bike course in School or Church parking lot. Ask local Police to come and speak about how to bike safely. Try to get a local bike shop to teach basic maintenance to the Scouts.

Do at Home Activities

• Focus earning Religious Emblem
•  Work on Cyberchip
• Make Cards for Doctors and Nurses at Local Hospitals
• Make Cards for residents at Long Term Care Facilities

Mayflower Council Resource
https://www.mayflowerbsa.org/scouting-at-home

Click Here to download PDF of this document.

Click here to view slides from the May roundtable meeting.