SMILEY NEWS - OCTOBER 2016

A monthly newsletter for families and leaders of Samoset Scouting - Where Camping is King!

Upcoming Events
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Meeting the Needs of our Unit Leaders

Over the next twelve months the Samoset Council will engage in a comprehensive study aimed at answering this important question:  How does the Samoset Council best meet the needs of today’s Boy Scout leaders?  Providing the best Scouting programs for youth in our communities starts by having the best volunteer leaders and giving those leaders what they need to be successful.  With everyone working together, we can make it happen. 

Volunteer leaders can help us out by taking a brief survey (less than 10 minutes) linked below.  We are looking forward to gathering candid feedback from volunteers across the Samoset Council.

We also want to hear from our Scouting volunteers in person.  Over the next several weeks we will be hosting Town Hall Discussions and Webinar Discussions with Scouting volunteers from throughout the Samoset Council.  We will be discussing the feedback we recieve from the surveys and a variety of additional topics as requested by our volunteers.  This is another great opportunity to provide your valuable insights.  We do hope you will plan to attend the discussion that works best for you.

Here is the schedule of Town Hall discussions.  Please attend at the time and place that works best for you.

If you prefer to participate by webinar please join us for one of our webinar sessions.  

Cub Scout Leader Training

If you had a magic wand, would you use it to make your pack or den’s program better and more fun for boys? What if the same magic wand made leadership roles easier, more rewarding, and led to better retention among adult leaders? Would using that magic wand be a top priority?

Well, such a magic wand does exist—in the form of training for Cub Scout leaders. Proper training gives leaders the tools needed to make Scouting safe and fun while making sure that the goals of Scouting are accomplished.

Training is available either online at my.scouting.org or in a classroom setting led by experienced leaders who were once in your shoes. In-person training has the advantage of allowing new leaders to ask questions and get advice straight from the experts who have been through it all.

Classroom-style training for Cubmasters, committee chairs, and den leaders will be held: Saturday, October 22, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM at the Wausau Homes Scout Center. The Scout Shop will also be open for participants.

  • All Cub Scout leaders and parents are welcome to attend training to learn how to provide great adventures for Scouts and discover all of the resources that are available to help along the way.
  • Register online at samoset.org/training/cub-scout-leaders or by calling the Samoset Council office at (715) 355-1450.
Silver Beaver Nominations Due

The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America.  Recipients of this award are registered Scouters who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council. To prevent embarrassment, the candidate should not be notified of this nomination.  The nomination form is due December 15! Samoset Council, 3511 Camp Phillips Rd, Weston WI 54476, you may also fax the signed nomination form to 715-355-9849 or email to smiley@samoset.org.

Summer Camp Staff 2017

Even as the smoke of the campfires still smolder from a great summer camping season, the preparation for the 2017 camping season is well underway. We are currently seeking the best candidates to hire for staff. It is the staff that makes a good camp great and the Samoset Council is blessed with many young men and women who, given the opportunity, will be the program providers to Scouts and leaders who have come to expect only the best from Samoset, Where Camping is King!

For more information on being on staff visit our website, contact Samoset Camping at 715-365-3111, or email camp@samoset.org.

Safety Moment

Safety Moments are exactly what the name implies: opportunities to prepare for an activity, review safety measures, and report incidents correctly. This month features weather-related safety.  

Robert Baden-Powell once said the definition of the Scout motto Be Prepared is this: “A Scout must prepare himself by previous thinking out and practicing how to act on any accident or emergency so that he is never taken by surprise.” Baden-Powell also advocated that young men spend a lot of time learning in and about the out-of-doors, as he said, “The open-air is the real objective of Scouting and the key to its success.” However, we still need to be aware of our surroundings and their changing conditions, including what is happening with the weather.

View the weather-related safety moment here.

View the Guide to Safe Scouting; A Guide for Current Policies and Procedures

Winter Camp 2017

Are you looking for something to do with your Pack, Troop or Crew this winter.  Join us for Winter Camp and enjoy the winter wonderland of Wisconsin.  Registraiton for 2017 opens September 1st. Contact Samoset Camping at 715-365-3111 for more information.

Learn more here:  http://clsr.samoset.org/winter