By now, many of you have probably seen or heard the recent news reports speculating that the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America (“National BSA”) is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which allows reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. National BSA has shared with all local councils that...

Scoutbook is the BSA’s online unit management tool and helps Scouts, parents and leaders track advancement and milestone achievement along the way. Scoutbook will be free to all BSA units starting January 1, 2019 and we want to help your unit prepare to access Scoutbook’s powerful features, which are available on any device.   We’re...

One of the characteristics of Scouting—for over a hundred years—is that no matter when you join, however long you stay, or the rank you attain, the Scouting experience prepares you for life. And for some, the pinnacle of their Scouting experience is achieving the highest rank of Eagle Scout. The policies of the BSA indicate...

Dear New Birth of Freedom Volunteer Leaders: Like many other organizations, balancing our Council’s annual operating budget is often a difficult challenge. In fact, in 2017, we had an operating deficit of just over $126,000 – our first deficit year since the Council was formed in 2010. As you might expect, it wasn’t just one...

The Boy Scouts of America on Thursday announced a voluntary recall of Cub Scout neckerchief slides sold between February 2018 and August 2018. The affected products include the orange Lion, red Wolf, green Bear and blue Webelos slides. The $6 slides were sold at local Scout Shops, authorized BSA distributors and online at scoutshop.org....

Keeping our youth safe is paramount in the Scouting program.  Youth Protection Training is vital in being able to provide safe, fun, and memorable Scouting experiences.  For anyone that has not yet completed the new Youth Protection Training, your training is set to expire on October 1.  There have been some communications from National to...

From now until October 31, 2018, both the Mechanicsburg and York Scout Shops are offering special discounts on the purchase of Cub Scout uniform shirts. Save 25% of the purchase of a Cub Scout uniform shirt with purchase of a Cub Scout uniform bottom. Offer is also valid on-line. To better serve new Cub Scout...

Becoming an Eagle Scout is its own reward. Earning a college scholarship because you’re an Eagle Scout? That’s like a reward on top of a reward. The National Eagle Scout Association will award nearly $700,000 in scholarships to more than 150 Eagle Scouts based on their academic performance, Scouting background, college plans and financial need....

To better position the New Birth of Freedom Council to provide quality service to our units, especially when considering the current financial headwinds and a decline in the number of total units over the past several years, the Council’s Executive Committee, at its meeting on July 17, approved a plan that will reduce the number...

  Our new 38′ climbing tower at Camp Tuckahoe is now in use by our Webelos Scout campers and the 700′ zip line across Memory Lake will make its debut in less than two weeks when Boy Scout sessions get underway.  Personally, I think our Scouts are going to love these two new program features...