Serving the Youth of South-Central Pennsylvania
Boy Scouts of America

Upcoming Events
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Why New Birth of Freedom?
Why New Birth of Freedom Council

Help Get Camp Tuckahoe Ready for Summer Camp!

CT-TentsiteThere are still quite a few tent sites that need to be setup before summer camp and Camp Tuckahoe is looking for your help!

If you or your troop are able to help setup tents on June 8 from 9-4 p.m. at Camp Tuckahoe please email Scott Holbrook at scott.holbrook@scouting.org and let him know how many people will be attending. Lunch and lots of FUN will be provided!

National Jamboree Visitors

jamboree-visitorThe council will not be sponsoring a bus trip to this year’s National Jamboree, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a trek to West Virginia yourself!

Many things at the new Bechtel Summit National Jamboree site are very different than past National Jamborees. Visitors will not have full access to the entire National Jamboree site. Visitor access will be limited once the daily visitor capacity number is reached. A daily admission fee for visitors and visitor activities will be charged. All visitors will be shuttled into and out of the Jamboree from an office site location.

For all the latest National Jamboree visitor information go to the information page!

Wanted: Summer Camp Cooks

campcooksLooking for a summer job or know someone who is? Both Hidden Valley and Camp Tuckahoe are looking for Camp Cooks for this summer. The positions are from mid-June to mid August, and offer competitive wages as well as room and board. Interested applicants should apply by emailing todd.weidner@scouting.org or by calling Todd at (717) 502-4190 or Mitzi at (717) 827-4576.

NYLT Course Is Now Full

nylt part patchThe 2013 National Youth Leadership Training Course scheduled for June 16-21 is now full.  Scouts that still wish to take the course can fill out and submit the application to be put on the waiting list.  Scouts on the waiting list will be added to the course as vacancies open in the order in which the application was received. For more information or questions please contact Ben Wielebinski at (717) 620-4515.

Proposed Change to BSA Membership Policy

BSA-color-logo-thumbnailIn February, the Boy Scouts of America embarked on the most comprehensive listening exercise in its history to consider the impact of potential changes to its membership standards policy on the organization and gather perspectives from inside and outside of the Scouting family. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change.

Scouting’s review confirmed that this remains among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today. Even with wide-range of input, it is extremely difficult to accurately quantify the potential impact of maintaining or changing the current policy. While perspectives and opinions vary significantly, parents, adults in the Scouting community and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting.

Read the rest of this entry »

Save Big On Hersheypark Tickets This Summer

hersheypark Trying to find great deals on discounted Hersheypark tickets for this summer?  Look no further than the New Birth of Freedom Council’s website for the best prices you’ll find ANYWHERE in central PA for deep discounts on tickets to Hersheypark! Online ordering through our council website is now available.

Scouting groups, along with families and friends, can take advantage of special on-line discounts on Hersheypark one-day passes through the council’s website.  These great ticket discounts are only available through the council’s website.  These tickets purchased on-line through the council’s website can be used for ALL of Hersheypark’s 2013 summer season dates!

New Voice of the Scout Survey Underway

csp-icon-100A new Voice of the Scout survey has been developed in support of the Listening Phase of the Membership Standards Study.  The questions included in the study have been developed by an  independent research firm.  The survey launched March 8 and will run through April 4.  This survey will be sent to parents of Scouts, Volunteer Leaders at the Unit, District, and Council levels as well as Chartered Organization Representatives and Heads of Institutions.

Everyone is encouraged to please take the time to answer the survey and let your thoughts be heard in this important conversation.

“Camp Card” Sales Help Youth Attend Summer Camp

CampCard2013(web)So, what exactly is a “Camp Card” anyway?  And why are Scouts selling them in your neighborhood?

Both are good questions … Camp Cards are discount cards only being sold by our Scouts that offer discounts at several local retailers throughout the New Birth of Freedom Council’s service area, which includes Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry and York Counties.  Each Camp Card is sold for $5, with 50% going to the local Scouting group and 50% to the council.  Local Scouting groups are encouraged to use their share of the proceeds to ensure that every Scout who wants to go to summer camp this year is able to afford the cost of attending.  The council’s portion covers the cost of the production of the cards, securing sponsors and promotional materials, along with supporting camping and other operations for Scouting year-round.

This year’s sale is off to great start and runs until May 17.  Our 2013 Camp Card features great discounts from these local businesses: Read the rest of this entry »

Gettysburg Encampment Date Change

gettysburg-icoWe have shifted the date of our Gettysburg 150th Anniversary Encampment from September 13-15 to September 27-29.  When we first scheduled the event, we missed the fact that the planned dates conflicted with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year.  Absent a change in dates, no Jewish Scouts or leaders would have been able to attend.  We apologize for any inconvenience this change may cause, but the Council Executive Board felt it was important that no Scout or leader have to miss out on this event due to a conflict with a significant holy day.

Camping will still be available at the Spangler Farm that weekend.  With plenty of gently sloped space and a short walk from the park’s Visitor’s Center, Spangler Farm will be a great “home” for all campers.

Also, please note that participation at this event is going to be limited to a grand total of 2,500 youth and leaders that weekend, so if your unit is planning on participating, you will want to make your reservation quickly once sign-ups are opened to avoid getting shut out.

York Revolution Suites Available

PrintThe New Birth of Freedom Council, Boy Scouts of America is honored and excited to be the Presenting Sponsor for the York Revolution baseball club for the upcoming 2013 season. One special opportunity this arrangement affords us is the ability to offer a luxury suite for 30 of the 70 home games during the season. Enjoying a game from these “suite” seats is a great way for your business or place of employment to recognize employees, to entertain customers and clients, or to treat your Scouts to a night at the ball park!

A portion of the proceeds from all suite sales will benefit our council’s local Scouting programs. For more information and to reserve your suite and game date please click here.