Council Support For Units & Scout Families

What Does Mayflower Council Do For Units & Scout Families?

To help unit leaders, the council maintains a service center with administrative staff to:

  • Assist with online registrations, Scout Life subscriptions, and initiate special requests to the National Service Center and other organizations.
  • Maintain a supply of literature, insignia, forms, certificates, etc., needed by the leader to carry on the unit’s program.
  • Keep records of advancement, membership, training, etc. necessary to unit operation.
  • Publish a weekly newsletter to keep leaders informed of the latest local and national Scouting news, coming events, etc.
  • Produce notices, minutes, agendas, etc., for district and council committees that are developing programs for leader and unit benefit.
  • Handle inquiries and visitors to our service center for information related to unit operation and Scouting procedures.
  • Provide a myriad of forms, applications, certificates and literature helpful in the unit program.
  • Produce district and council calendars and schedules, programs, kits and special aids to assist leaders and their committees.
  • Manage reservations for long-term camping, short-term camps, camporees, jamborees, high adventure bases, training courses, meetings, annual council and district meetings, troop leader and den leader events.

To protect the unit leader, the council:

  • Maintains a liability policy for the protection of all leaders and chartered organizations.
  • Maintains accident and sickness insurance policy for all registered youth and leaders.
  • Screens requests for services and money earning proposals, guarding against improper use of Scouting for commercialism and exploitation.
  • Has staff members available on what is practically an around-the-clock, around-the-calendar basis to meet any emergency.
  • Manages and processes Criminal Offender Records Inquiry (CORI) checks
  • Provides assistance with any Youth Protection issues that may arise.

To help the leader develop unit program, the council provides without charge:

  • Program helps, calendar of activities, meetings and special events.
  • Awards, such as ribbons, certificates, recruiting awards, etc.
  • Recruitment supplies including posters, fliers, digital targeted advertising and other materials.
  • Sample ceremonies, parent’s night program outlines, training aids, etc.
  • Source materials and personnel.
  • Materials, books, pamphlets, folders, videos and special helps from the National Council and cooperating organizations.

In the field of camping and outdoor activities, the council:

  • Maintains three Scout camps, with a total of 1,500 acres, for year-round camping and Cub Scout family outdoor events. Our Scout camps serve as year-round activities, camping and training centers.
  • Offers units the use of equipment for short-term, weekend, and year-round camping.
  • Covers costs of camp improvement, repairs, replacement, maintenance, insurance and administration. These and other charges are not paid for by Scout’s fees.
  • Employs full-time camp rangers for the protection of the Scout camps and the convenience of units using facilities. They keep these facilities ready and available for unit and family use.
  • Provides campers’ early-bird savings discounts, unit leaders’ guidebook, camp videos, literature and other aids to help units with their program.
  • Provides scholarships or “camperships” for Scouts who need some financial help to have a summer camp experience.
  • Offers units and individual youth access to high-adventure bases like Philmont Scout Ranch, Northern Tier and Sea Base, national jamborees, field days, camporees and other special events. These would not exist without the council giving leadership and coordination.

In educational and relationship building programs, the council provides the leader with:

  • A library of videos, digital projectors and screens for use in training and promotional programs.
  • Informal and formal training courses with most of the cost of literature and materials, etc., and all the staff time included in the council budget.
  • Monthly roundtables for the benefit of leaders, committee persons, assistants, and den leaders, providing materials, staff and other costs.
  • Scouter’s Key, training awards, Den Leader’s Training Award, Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit and other Scouter recognitions.
  • A merit badge counselor corps in more than 130 subjects.
  • A variety of advancement forms and certificates without charge.

Providing the unit with district and council activities and service, the council:

  • Plans and conducts various types of activities in which units participate such as Freeze Out/Klondike Derby, Pinewood Derby and Scouting for Food.
  • Organizes camporees, Cub Scout day camps, jamborees, high-adventure trips, absorbing some overhead costs to keep participants’ expenses to a minimum.
  • Works with various community groups to arrange for Scout participation in civic affairs and Good Turn projects.
  • Recruits and trains a corps of commissioners for assisting with unit program and maintaining standards.

To assist leaders, the council employs a trained full-time staff who counsel, guide and inspire:

  • Through person-to-person counseling on unit relationships, administrative and operational challenges.
  • Through guidance of all committees, commissioners, roundtables, meetings, conferences, courses, district and council activities in the development of programs that directly benefit leaders and units.
  • Through contacts with the community resources (clubs, churches, government, etc.), secure help for all units that they alone could not obtain. The use of parks, recreational areas, use of buildings for special events, picnic areas, campsites, and meeting facilities are a few examples.



Workshop: Understanding New Barriers to Abuse

As part of our ongoing commitment to abuse prevention, the BSA is updating the adult supervision requirements for overnight activities.

In this workshop, we will discuss:

  • Enhancements to the minimum “two deep leadership” requirements.
  • The definition of an adult fee required position.
  • Limited exceptions for Cub Scout Parents and Guardians.
  • Scenarios and examples.
  • Required date for policy adoption.



District Award Nominations

All districts are accepting nominations for District Award of Merit as well as recognitions for other outstanding Scouters:

Nomination for District Awards – due April 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 April 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. This nomination form must be sent via email to:  Mayflower Awards

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



BSA Systems Maintenance Update

System Maintenance – Saturday, November 5, 2022 – from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM

The My.Scouting and Scoutbook systems will be down this Saturday beginning at 9:00 AM for a system upgrade. All features will be offline during this time. This includes all My.Scouting tools, the training site, Online Registration, Internet Rechartering and Advancement along with Scoutbook.



Transfer Between Councils Now Available Online

The attached user guide is for for parents and/or volunteers to transfer between councils using the online registration system. 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.

Transfer to Another Council User Guide



Scouting is Part of You

If you have been watching this spot on MayflowerBSA.org, it comes as no surprise that ScouterStan on YouTube is a favorite stop on the “InterWebs.”

Stan Richards, an Orlando-based Eagle Scout and Silver Beaver award recipient was part of a professional Scouting family. He continued his Scouting journey when his son became a Cub Scout. Later, Richards joined a district commissioner staff and now spreads his love of Scouting via YouTube, beginning that career via a Wood Badge project in 2006.

7 Knots Every Scout Should Know ™ – First Knot Tying Video on YouTube – Scouting Knot

Now six seasons into his ScouterStan show/podcasts, Richards, a unit commissioner in his council, recently posted a pick-me-up video for any Scouters feeling the weight of nearly three years of tough headlines, pandemic-planning, virtual meetings, and canceled plans. 

The video “Scouting is a Part of You” takes things down to brass tacks and reminds all of us who “wear the shirt” why we do what we do and why it is so important.

The video and its text are below:

Scouting is a Part of You

“Scouting is a part of you. You know how important it is for all of today’s youth. Scout leaders work hard for the benefit of others to achieve. All the while, remembering your commitments to the Scout Oath. Living an exemplary life, and putting the Scout Law into action in all that you do. You truly know that leadership is more than anyone ever thinks it is. It’s living and acting as the example, and not the exception. The young people you work with will always remember you. How you act with others will leave them smiling, and thinking about how to do better. Leaders often face many challenges and need to know they are not alone. Use all your skills and resources you have to make things better for all Scouts and Scouters. Occasionally, the difficulties cannot be resolved. When this happens your leadership is more of an example than you might think. Your character in accepting things you can not change will prove your wisdom. Always looking forward to solutions that help others find a better path. Mentoring Scouts and helping them make good decisions can only benefit everyone. As you know, Scout leaders are there, for all scouts, no matter what. One day, when your good turn is done… You can look back on all the young lives your leadership has influenced. Their success was made possible by your guidance… your leadership. When you recall all their success, remember you are a part of it. Never forget them shaking your hand and looking up at you. This is what it’s all about! You have made a real difference, and you have made a better world for being there. Scouting is a part of you… Now go make the world better for being a Scout leader.”

Meanwhile, speaking to the level of commitment necessary to be a Scouter, Stan posted a new video entitled, “Making the Most of Your Time in Scouting.”

Again, Stan spoke from the heart, honestly and purposefully, to give a lot of information on creating a fantastic program for our youth.

Making the Most of Your Time in ScoutingAre you interested in volunteering for your local units or the Mayflower Council? Email me here and I will help you learn how.



Youth Applications Online Transition

As we continue our work to enhance the traditions of Scouting here in the 21st Century and augment the privacy and safety of our membership, the Mayflower Council will soon look to move most membership functions online. Long story short, the days of youth paper-based membership applications are coming to an end.



Extensive New Member Marketing Campaign

At their February 16 council executive board meeting, $250k was approved for a major marketing campaign to help entice new members to join Scouting in Mayflower Council. The campaign is being directed by the Council Marketing Committee and managed by Mittcom, a local marketing firm who excels at integrated campaigns unitizing social platforms. The executive board agreed to direct the funds from the council endowment fund.



Guidance on Donations to Ukrainian Scouting

Many volunteers have requested information on how to help Scouting in Ukraine. Please see the official statement from the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) below.

WOSM recognizes one National Scout Organization per country. For Ukraine, the Member Organization is National Organization of Scouts of Ukraine (NOSU). We encourage all NSOs that any Scouting support is channeled through the mechanisms made available through WOSM.

We are aware that many other non-WOSM but Scout-like entities are active in the region, including PLAST. We are not affiliated with organizations in Ukraine besides NOSU.

In most cases, the best way to help with the unfolding humanitarian crisis is to make a financial contribution through WOSM or another reputable NGO.

To directly support Scouts’ humanitarian relief work in Ukraine and for refugees, you can donate here. Representatives on the ground know what is needed and financial contributions help them purchase the most needed and locally-appropriate supplies.

For additional and ongoing updates, please visit here.

Questions? Email International Division at the National Council.



Update on the 19 Cub Scout Elective Adventures

In May of 2021, it was announced that 19 Cub Scout Elective Adventures would be retiring at the end of this program year (May 2022). See details here.

Elective adventures are reviewed for content and popularity. These 19 have been the least popular based on sales and advancement data. They will be archived in Scoutbook and Internet Advancement, removing the ability to mark them as completed after the retirement date of May 31, 2022. These 19 adventures are not being replaced with a new set of elective adventures.

Inventory at the Scout Shops for loops and pins is limited and will only be available while supplies last. Cub Scouts can still wear the adventure loops and pins after that date. Once it’s earned, it’s not taken away from the Cub Scout.

STEM Nova Award Impact – STEM Nova Awards that include Adventures also include an Option A and Option B to earn the award. Cub Scouts may choose to earn one of the remaining Adventures or Option A or Option B.

World Conservation Award Impact – The Wolf and Webelos rank are impacted. The Bear rank has no changes.

For Wolf Scouts who want to earn the World Conservation Award, the requirement to earn the Grow Something Elective Adventure will be replaced with the following activities:

  1. Select a seed, and plant it in a small container. Care for it for 30 days. Take a picture or make a drawing of your plant once each week to share with your den or family.
  2. Find out the growing zone for your area and share the types of plants that will grow best in your zone.
  3. Visit or research a botanical or community garden in your area and learn about two of the plants that grow there. Share what you have learned with your den or family.
  4. Complete one of the following:
    • Make a terrarium.
    • Using a seed tray, grow a garden inside your home. Keep a journal of its progress for 30 days. Share results with your den or family.
    • Grow a sweet potato plant in water. Keep a journal of its growth for two weeks. Share the information with your den or family.

For Webelos (including Arrow of Light) Scouts, the requirement to complete 1, 3a, and 3b of the Adventures in Science adventure will be replaced with:

  1. Draw a picture of a “fair test” that shows what you need to do to test a fertilizer’s effects on plant growth.
  2. Carry out the experiment previously designed as a fair test of fertilizer’s effect on plant growth.
  3. Carry out the experiment again but change the independent variable. Report what you learned about how changing the variable affected plant growth.

Here is the complete list of adventures that will be retired on May 31, 2022:

Tiger

  • Earning Your Stripes
  • Family Stories
  • Tiger Tales
  • Tiger Theater

Wolf

  • Collections and Hobbies
  • Grow Something
  • Hometown Heroes
  • Motor Away

Bear

  • Beat of the Drum
  • Make It Move
  • Robotics
  • World of Sound

Webelos/Arrow of Light

  • Adventures in Science
  • Build My Hero
  • Fix It
  • Looking Back Looking Forward
  • Maestro
  • Movie Making
  • Project Family