At the council’s annual business meeting on Tuesday, May 17, Dr. Kevin H. Mosser was elected as President of the New Birth of Freedom Council.  As council president, Dr. Mosser serves as the top volunteer leader in the council and will give leadership to the effective operations of Scouting locally.  He serves as chair...

Several years ago, it was the gypsy moth caterpillar that threatened the health of the trees throughout the region. Now, another invasive species of insect is causing widespread damage in our area and the impact of this infestation is hitting especially hard at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation. The Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an exotic...

Starting this fall, our council will be participating in the Lion Scouts pilot program (we just received our official approval from national on March 21), which will welcome kindergarten-age boys into the Scouting family for the first time.  It’s an exciting opportunity to grow the Scouting movement and I’ve heard through the grapevine that many...

Thanks to all of our leaders who have already submitted their PA-mandated background clearances using our on-line system.  The on-line submittal process appears to be working very well and provides leaders and parents needing to submit background checks with an easy and convenient means of turning in their paperwork to the council.  You can upload...

It is not possible to thank everyone enough for the myriad of things, both large and small, they did to help make Wizard Safari 2015 a successful weekend for so many of our council’s youth members.  I know it’s a cliche to say this, but if I tried to list everyone whose efforts were important...

Going back to my high school days growing up in Pittsburgh, I was generally aware of how a bill became a law in Pennsylvania, thanks to my social studies teachers.  But I don’t think I ever paid as much attention to a would-be law (introduced as PA House Bill #1276) as that piece of legislation...

The Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law was amended effective July 1, 2015 (Act 15 of 2015). This law is applicable to all youth serving organizations in Pennsylvania. Council volunteers, registered and unregistered, may be affected in two ways: 1) more individuals are now mandated child abuse reporters; and 2) more persons are required to provide...

It’s always fun and meaningful whenever our council’s annual volunteer recognition dinner comes around each year.  I spent most of the evening Monday night looking through my camera’s viewfinder taking photos for the event, but one thing that stuck with me was the incredible tenures of many of the Scouters in the room. As part...

If you’re planning to shop at Amazon, you can support the New Birth of Freedom Council, Boy Scouts of America with your purchase. When you do your on-line shopping at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to the New Birth of Freedom Council, which can really add up. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon...

NOTICE to Mechanicsburg Service Center Patrons: The entire length of Bent Creek Boulevard, from the Route 114 intersection to the cul-de-sac, as well as Baden Powell Lane is going to be milled and repaved. The milling will take place on Thursday, May 2nd, and Friday, May 3rd. A new pavement wearing course will be installed...