New Birth of Freedom
At its meeting on July 20 at Camp Tuckahoe, the council Executive Board overwhelmingly selected "New Birth of Freedom" as the name for the newly-formed council. Since the merger of the former Keystone Area and York-Adams Area Councils on April 1, work to select an appropriate name that would be meaningful and represent all parts of the council area have been ongoing. In the end, the prominent role that our area has played in the history of the United States and President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address were the driving influences behind the selection of the new name. Read more about "Why the New ...
Fall Popcorn Sale
There are a lot of exciting things that unit leaders can get excited about for the 2010 popcorn sale. Following is a brief program overview to provide unit leaders with the basic information about the upcoming sale. A detailed sale guide will be available beginning at the council kickoffs beginning in July. The entire council will be selling a variety of popcorn products from Campmasters, which was a brand-new vendor for units in the former York-Adams Area Council in 2009 and their products helped to fuel major increases in gross sales and profits earned by units. More Variety, More Flexibility, Earn More ...
Follow the New Birth of Freedom Council on Facebook
Facebook is a great way to stay connected to all that's going on in the New Birth of Freedom Council. If you're a Facebook user and want to stay in touch with everything happening in the council, be sure to "like" the council's page on Facebook. Please help us get the word out about the council's Facebook page to everyone involved in or has an interest in Scouting in south-central Pennsylvania. Visit the New Birth of Freedom Council's Facebook page.
One Last Chance to Get Special Commemorative Council Shoulder Patches
Friday, July 23 - The final council shoulder patches of the Keystone Area and York-Adams Area councils, both issued as special commemorative editions, have been selling exceptionally well. Even more popular has been the Keystone York-Adams Council shoulder patch, representing the interim name used to identify the newly-merged council since April 1. We've been trying to juggle our inventory between the two service centers, as well as the summer camp trading posts at Hidden Valley and Tuckahoe, and we anticipate being sold out of all three patches in the very near future. Demand for all three patches has greatly ...
Gettysburg Heritage Trails Program
The New Birth of Freedom Council, the National Park Service, and the Gettysburg National Military Park/Eisenhower National Historic Site are proud to offer Scouting groups the opportunity to participate in the Gettysburg Heritage Trails program, which includes a stop at the Visitor Center/National Cemetery, two hiking trails through the battlefield at Gettysburg, a walking tour of historic downtown Gettysburg and a tour of the Eisenhower National Historic Site. The National Park Service and the New Birth of Freedom Council have published a trail guide for each of these five trails and tours (the current edition was revised in May 2008, 15th ...
Scouts to Experience the History of Scouting
Advancement Opportunities Highlight Scouting’s Heritage In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America celebrates a century of influencing the lives of America’s youth. Since its beginning, the BSA has used advancement as a method to achieve the aims of Scouting—character building, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness. Each aim is emphasized in the four phases of the Scouting program: Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing. One aspect of Boy Scout advancement — the merit badge program — has always been an important element of Scouting. Through completion of merit badge requirements, generations of Scouts have learned lifetime citizenship lessons, ...
Special Discounts on New Council Shoulder Patches
Our Council has a distinctive new name that celebrates our region’s significant role in the history of the United States and two impressive Council Shoulder Strip (CSP) designs that our members and leaders will wear with pride. These CSPs are being distributed directly by the Council and, to encourage rapid transition to the new CSPs, with special discount pricing available for “quantity” purchases. Check out all the details by clicking the link below to the attached announcement flyer. This flyer is also being mailed now to the top leader and committee chair for all ...
Hersheypark Encampment – September 24-26
The council and Hersheypark are pleased to hold a unique 100 Year Anniversary Celebration at Hersheypark and Hershey Highmeadow Campground on the weekend of September 24-26. Units, Scouts and families are invited to participate in a fun weekend with special package discounts for all participants. Don’t miss this great opportunity, pre-register today!
Take advantage of three great packages for the weekend – day, one-night camping or two-night camping. All packages include admission to Hersheypark on Saturday, a 100-year Anniversary Patch, Hersheypark 2-for-1 game voucher and complimentary Hersheypark parking pass. Camping at the Hershey Highmeadow Campground is conveniently located just a few minutes drive from Hersheypark. Participants also receive free access to ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, when entering Hersheypark and a free movie at Highmeadow Campground Friday night.
For more information, download the encampment brochure or call Hersheypark Groups at (800) 242-4236. Reservations will be excepted until Friday, September 10, 2010.
Free Dutch Wonderland Tickets
Receive two free tickets to Dutch Wonderland as a part of our special Fall Roundup Promotion for New Birth of Freedom Council, BSA.
For every new Cub Scout application turned in during the month of September, your Pack will receive two tickets to Dutch Wonderland (September 1 – October 1). Applications must be turned in to the York or Mechanicsburg Council Service Centers. Tickets will be available when the new Cub Scout applications are turned in.
A New Recruiting Tool: Introducing BeAScout.org!
Just in time for the annual fall round-up, the National BSA launched a NEW recruiting initiative called Be A Scout! The initiative is focused around a new website: http://www.beascout.org/ that will also be linked to the national Scouting website.
A View of the BeAScout.org Homepage
When interested youth or parents want to find more information Scouting and to join the unit nearest them, they can simply visit the new website, enter their address, and find the closest Pack, Troop, or Venturing Crew!
Special Discounts on New Council Shoulder Patches
Our Council has a distinctive new name that celebrates our region’s significant role in the history of the United States and two impressive Council Shoulder Strip (CSP) designs that our members and leaders will wear with pride. These CSPs are being distributed directly by the Council and, to encourage rapid transition to the new CSPs, with special discount pricing available for “quantity” purchases.
Check out all the details by clicking the link below to the attached announcement flyer. This flyer is also being mailed now to the top leader and committee chair for all units in the council.
- Promotional flyer (PDF)
- Order form (PDF)
Submitting Tour Permits On-Line
Unit leaders can conveniently submit local and national tour permits electronically. This system takes just four easy steps, and it will save the transportation and training information, so leaders can easily recall it for future permit applications.
All registered unit leaders will have access to Tour Permits from MyScouting, accessed on www.scouting.org. Councils will approve or return the permit applications using MyBSA.
The MyScouting account verifies that the owner is a BSA leader associated with a unit. Within Tour Permits, the leader has access only to his unit. This authentication replaces the physical signatures on tour permit applications. Other unit leaders are notified via e-mail when an application is submitted and approved.
Important Change in Youth Protection Training Policies
Youth safety is the No. 1 concern of the BSA.
To increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America is implementing several important changes to further enhance its Youth Protection policies:
Effective June 1, 2010: Youth Protection Training is required for all registered volunteers. New leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training before they submit their application for registration.
