News

At the Council’s Program Launch event on June 1, Council President Jan Wagner and Immediate Past Council President Matt Haar presented our Council’s current financial challenges, including a detailed look at the financial side of our Council’s camping operations.  Given the importance of this information and the current and potential future impacts of this situation, ...

Greetings, Fellow Scouters, I hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying the summer weather. Today, I’d like to provide information and stimulate discussion about our most important threat to Scouting. This is a particularly worrisome dilemma for everyone who loves Scouting and what it can do for our youth. I do apologize...

Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle, and BSA will cease prorating fees. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee and renew their membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting. All proration of membership fees will...

The New Birth of Freedom Council recognized Justin Eberly, Marc Lee, Michael Sargent, David Stark, and Julie Steckbeck with the Silver Beaver Award on Saturday, May 6 at the Annual Volunteer Recognition Reception at Camp Tuckahoe. The Silver Beaver Award was introduced in 1931 and is a council‐level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts...

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that a bridge replacement project is set to begin on Airport Road (Route 3007) in Northeast Madison Township, Perry County. The bridge spans Bixler Run just south of the intersection with Route 17 (Blain Road). Work will begin Wednesday, March 29. The bridge will be closed, and a...

Throughout 2022, we’ve shared information with our Scouting family about our efforts in concert with the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy to preserve “buffer acreage” at Camp Tuckahoe – parts of the property that we don’t actively use for camping and programming but serve as natural wilderness areas and as a buffer against development encroaching on those...

  Troop 168 will host its 20th Annual Merit Badge College on March 11 and April 1, 2023.  Past colleges have been well received, with Scouts attending from eight councils covering five states.    Registration will open on December 17, 2022, at 9 AM, and classes fill up quickly. Before registering, please read all the event details at https://bsatroop168.com/2023-mbc and...

As part of the April 7, 2022 council-wide virtual roundtable and the June 1, 2022 in-person Program Launch at Camp Tuckahoe, Council President Matt Haar and I shared information about discussions the Council was having with the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy about preserving “buffer acreage” at Camp Tuckahoe – parts of the property that we don’t...

Thank you to all of the units that joined us for the 2022 Program Launch at Camp Tuckahoe.  The event was a great evening of idea sharing, fellowship, and preparation for the new Scouting Year ahead.  Whether or not you were able to attend Program Launch, below are some of the key items that were...

Starting July 1, 2022, the merit badge will be required for any youth seeking to achieve the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.  Scouts who complete ALL of their requirements for Eagle, including their Eagle Scout project need to be completed on or before June 30, 2022, may earn the Citizenship in Society Merit Badge but are...