Apache District - Around the Campfire
Occasional items of interest that you can search, discover, share, or toss in the fire.
Upcoming Area Events & Information - Posted 1.20.20
Upcoming Merit Badge Workshops
NEW 2020 Merit Badge Classes!!! - GREAT NEW ADDITIONS - UPDATED 1.20.20
CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED Merit Badge Course information
Scouts can register for merit badge workshops at Discovery Place Science at
https://science.discoveryplace.org/programs-and-classes/scout-programs
These courses are scheduled:
Saturday, February 1, 2020 Robotics
Saturday, February 1, 2020 Weather
Sunday, February 2, 2020 Space Exploration
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Pulp and Paper
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Oceanography
Saturday, March 7, 2020 Programming
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Chemistry
Sunday, March 8, 2020 Sustainability
Saturday, May 2, 2020 Oceanography
Saturday, May 2, 2020 Energy
Saturday, May 2, 2020 Space Exploration
Sunday, May 3, 2020 Chess
Saturday, June 20, 2020 Electricity
Saturday, June 20, 2020 Weather
Saturday, June 20, 2020 Chemistry
Sunday, June 21, 2020 Electronics
Saturday, August 29, 2020 Energy
Saturday, August 29, 2020 Engineering
Sunday, August 30, 2020 Chess
Sunday, August 30, 2020 Sustainability
Saturday, September 19, 2020 Robotics
Saturday, September 19, 2020 Oceanography
Sunday, September 20, 2020 Space Exploration
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Weather
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Programming
Saturday, November 7, 2020 Pulp and Paper
Sunday, November 8, 2020 Chess
Saturday, December 5, 2020 Electricity
Saturday, December 5, 2020 Chemistry
Sunday, December 6, 2020 Electronics
Sunday, December 6, 2020 Sustainability
Please call Discovery Place Science at 704 372 6261, extension 300 to register and pay.
For information on requirements, registration, and pre-course homework,
Click HERE for Merit Badge Guide - 2019 / 2020.
NEW UPDATED SESSIONS - Environmental Science Merit Badge
Discovery Place Nature, 1658 Sterling Road, Charlotte NC 28209
https://nature.discoveryplace.org/programs-and-classes/scout-programs
All on Saturdays - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
March 14, 2020
May 9, 2020
Cost is $15 for one class for one person.
Please call Discovery Place Nature at 704 372 6261, extension 300 to register and pay.
For information on requirements, registration, and pre-course homework,
Click HERE for Merit Badge Guide
Public Speaking Merit Badge
Saturday, January 25, 2020, at Beth Eden Lutheran Church, Newton, NC
Cost: $5
Click HERE for information on registration and pre-event homework.
NEW - Rifle Shooting Merit Badge (.22 caliber rifles)
Saturday, February 1, 2020 and
Saturday, April 4, 2020
Point Blank Range, 10726 Monroe Rd., Matthews, NC 28105
Information and links to online registration and payment;
http://www.pointblankrange.com/boy-scouts-of-america/
NEW - Coin Collecting Merit Badge
Saturday, February 8, 2020, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
2020 Charlotte Coin Club Annual Show
Website: http://www.charlottecoinclub.org/show.htm
Location: The Park Expo & Conference Center
800 Briar Creek (corner of Independence Blvd)., Charlotte, NC 28205
Click HERE for pre-event homework.
https://mccscouting.doubleknot.com/event/coin-collecting-mb-workshop-2020/2303178
Engineering Merit Badge Day - REGISTRATION CLOSED - CLASS FILLED - 1.14.20!
Monday, February 17, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
EnergyExplorium at McGuire Nuclear Station
13339 McGuire Nuclear Station Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
The EnergyExplorium will host Scouts as part of National Engineers Week (EWeek) as they earn their Engineering Merit Badge.
NEW - Railroading Merit Badge
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, February 21-22-23, 2020 Rail Camp
Click HERE for information and registration.
NEW - PARI Scouts BSA Space Camps
Astronomy and Space Exploration Merit Badges
PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute)
1 Pari Dr, Rosman, NC 28772
828 862 5554
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, February 28 – March 1, 2020 Scouts BSA Boys Weekend
Information and registration: https://71259.blackbaudhosting.com/71259/Boy-Scout-Space-Camp
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, March 13-14-15, 2020 Scouts BSA Girls Weekend
Information and registration: https://71259.blackbaudhosting.com/71259/PARI-Scouts-Girls-Camp
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, April 24-25-26, 2020 Scouts BSA Boys Weekend
Information and registration: https://71259.blackbaudhosting.com/71259/Boy-Scout-Space-Camp-24Apr2020
NEW - Snow Sports Merit Badge
Friday-Saturday-Sunday, February 28-29-March 1, 2020
Click HERE for information and registration.
NEW - Friday, March 27, 2020 Collections Merit Badge - Please Save This Date
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sardis Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
6100 Sardis Rd., Charlotte, NC 28270
https://www.bsator.com/event/2020-charlotte-trade-o-ree-state-north-carolina/
NEW - Saturday, April 4, 2020, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Lees-McRae Merit Badge College
191 Main St., Banner Elk, NC 28604
https://www.danielboonecouncil.org/LMMBC19
Online registration opens December 1, 2019.
Schedule Your Own Scouts BSA STEM Nova Award Class
Scouts BSA STEM Up and Away Nova Award for Engineering
Scouts BSA members can complete requirements 3, 4, and 5 of the Up and Away Award with a dedicated visit to iFLY Charlotte (Concord).
Website : https://www.iflyworld.com/charlotte/
Click HERE for information on registration, scheduling, and cost.
Click HERE for Scouts BSA STEM Nova Award Requirements
Click HERE for Scouts BSA STEM Nova Award Video Suggestions
Click HERE for information on adult registration and training as a Nova Award Counselor and a Supernova Award Mentor - https://www.scouting.org/stem-nova-awards/volunteer-support/
NEW - Upcoming International Scouting Opportunities
https://www.scouting.org/international/events/
January 4-10, 2020, Interamerican Region JamCam 2020, Foz Do Iguacu, Brazil
https://www.scouting.org/international/events/jamcam-2020/
July 27 - August 6, 2020, European Jamboree EuroJam Polska
https://www.scouting.org/international/events/european-jamboree-2020/
Additional events with BSA contingents (tentative):
Summer 2020, Caribbean Scout Jamboree (exact dates and location TBD)
July, 2021, 16th World Scout Moot, Ireland (exact date TBD)
https://www.scouting.org/international/world-scout-moot/
2021, 4th Interamerican Scout Moot, Argentina (exact date TBD)
2013, 25th World Scout Jamboree, Korea
Other international Scouting opportunities:
European Scout Voluntary Program
https://www.scouting.org/international/ecamp/
Participants must be 18 to 30 years old and must commit to serve on camp staff in Europe for at least 6 weeks.
Kandersteg International Scout Centre
Schedule your own Merit Badge Courses
Aviation and Oceanography Merit Badges
USS Yorktown, Mt Pleasant SC (near Charleston)
Camping is available on-board. More information: http://www.patriotspoint.org/camping/
Yorktown provides instruction; troops must provide merit badge counselors to sign off blue cards. Most but not all merit badge requirements are covered.
Click HERE for Aviation and Oceanography Merit Badge Flier
NEW - Indian Lore Merit Badge
Town Creek Indian Mound
509 Town Creek Mound Rd.
Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/town-creek-indian-mound
An overnight stay may be available by special permit.
A Troop must have their own merit badge counselor to sign blue cards and to coordinate instruction.
Please call Mr. Daniel Alexi at 910 439 6802 for planning.
NEW - Scuba Merit Badge
Lake Norman Scuba LLC
482 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117
Phone: 704 660 3483
Mr. Andrew Katsamas is a registered Scuba Merit Badge Counselor with Mecklenburg County Council.
Pre-course requirements:
Completion of Swimming Merit Badge
Completion of CPR training
Course completion requires 6 hours of pool instruction each day for 1 weekend and 6 hours of quarry diving instruction each day for 1 weekend and 1 hour review with the counselor.
2019 - Apache Awards Banquet
Congratulations to Apache District’s 2019 recipients of the following awards, and to all the scouters who were recognized by their units with the God Send Award.
District God Send Award – Laurie Breininger and Gary Wilson - Pack 79 and Andy Waligowski - Pack 7
Cub Scouters of the Year - Tony Fabiano - Pack 613 & Hector Soberson - Pack 249
Boy Scouters of the Year - Jason Bennett - Troop 3 & Don Denton - Troop 111
Venture Leader of the Year - Doug Whitaker- Crew 167
Commissioner of the Year – David Larsen
55 Years in Scouting
Congratulations to Del Whittaker who received a certificate for 55 Years in Scouting.
2019 District Award of Merit
The District Award of Merit is a Council award presented by districts in the same manner that the Silver Beaver is a national award presented by Councils. The award is available to Scouters who render service of an outstanding nature at the district level.
Congratulations to members of the Apache District - District Award of Merit class:
pictured - Brian Tenholder - Troop 175, Tara Christensen - Pack 34, Sean Spainhour - Pack 258
Special award -
55 Years in Scouting
Congratulations to Del Whittaker who received a certificate for 55 Years in Scouting.
Opportunities for Eagle Projects
Hemby Program Center Brace Family YMCA
The Hemby Center is located on Kuykendall Road; between Providence and McKee.
It is a 21-acre site housing a Preschool, Afterschool Program and Eagle Rock Day Camp. Plenty of opportunities for Eagle Scout Service Projects.
For further details:please contact: Mr. Ben Penegar, Executive Director of the Brace Family YMCA ben.penegar@ymcacharlotte.org Phone: (704) 716-4209
NEW - President James K. Polk Historic Site update!! - posted 10.1.19
Midland Commons is a low income senior housing community. It is owned by National Church Residences a nonprofit organization that provides affordable housing to seniors 62 years old or older and persons with disabilities. They have several potential project, but especially the need for a raised community garden.
Background information from the Service Coordinator:
“Last year we started our first community garden which took the majority of my residents back to their gardening days. Everyone was excited and worked hard making our garden the best. However, Midland Commons has some residents in wheelchairs and lack range of motion to bend and kneel; this prevents them from participating in our garden.
As Service Coordinator, I am attempting to add some cheer to their lives during this spring and summer time by having raised garden beds installed and wanted to know if your Boy Scouts Unit would take this project on? I hear the Boy Scouts have an “Eagle Project” and can’t think of a better project where the boys would gain wisdom from Midland Commons residents and improve their gardening, project management and construction knowledge.”
For further details, please contact Jonas Richardson, Service Coordinator at (704) 395-8777 or 0827. His email address is sc@ncr.org
Reed's Gold Mine
Located in nearby Midland, NC, not far from the Belk Scout Camp, and just a 30-minute drive from the Ballantyne area, this is the site of the first gold mine in the United States. For information about merit badges and Eagle service projects call Mike Scott at (704) 721- 4653.
Comments, suggestions and potential Eagle Service Projects
If you have comments, suggestions or potential Eagle Service Projects, send an e-mail to: w.kalbas@gmail.com.
Keep the Outing in Scouting. Check out the latest Where To Go Camping Guide
Looking for great places to camp? Each year the Catawba Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, prepares an update to the Where To Go Camping Guide (WTGCG). The 2019 version has now been published to the web at
http://www.catawba459.org/where-to-go-camping-guide
The WTGCG contains information on Mecklenburg County Council and BSA camping policies and our Council camps. You can discover where your unit might go car camping or backpacking or canoe camping with sample trips that units have taken. The Guide also contains information on camping in association with unit, council, regional, and national training programs, on camping at BSA National High Adventure Bases and at National and World Scout Jamborees
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden – Belmont, NC - posted 9.4.18
Eagle Service Project and other volunteer opportunities
Eagle Scout projects are a great way for the Garden to not only work with individual Scouts to complete this major milestone, but also to enhance the Garden itself. Garden staff will work with scouts to ensure all projects fall within Garden parameters. Scouts interested in completing their service project at the Garden must contact the Volunteer Manager to set up their initial meeting. The Garden also offers opportunities to fulfill community service hour needs throughout the year. Whether it’s spending some time with our horticulture staff or helping out at one of our many weekend events, there are endless volunteer opportunities at the Garden! Please feel free to contact
Heather Wiley, Volunteer Manager at (704) 829-1257 or Wiley@dsbg.or
Carolina Outdoors Radio Show
Looking for some great information on hiking, fishing, camping or wonderful places to visit, camp, or hike? Listen to Bill Bartee and Don Yager on “Carolina Outdoors Radio Show. You can hear them on WBT radio (1110 AM or 99.3 FM) on Saturday mornings at 5 a m. Or better yet, or download their podcasts and listen to them at your convenience. You can access their podcasts from http://jessebrowns.com
Bill is an Eagle Scout and the owner of Jesse Browns. He and Don have been doing the show for nearly 20 years.
Carolina Thread Trail
Looking for new places to Hike, Bike Walk, Run, Paddle, Learn, or Volunteer
Check out Carolina Thread Trail - http://www.carolinathreadtrail.org
Also view the excellent interactive Map - http://www.carolinathreaedtrai.org/map/
The Carolina Thread Trail (The Thread) is an exciting project that’s creating a regional network of greenways, trails and blueways that reaches 15 counties, 2 states and 2.3 million people. There are 141 miles of The Thread open to the public – linking people, places, cities, towns and attractions.
Fishing Resources
Looking for places to take your kids fishing?
Both the Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation Department
And the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission have EXCELLENT websites. The N C Fishing Access map is AWESOME!
For further details please visit:
http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/StewardshipServices/Pages/Fishing.aspx
http://www.ncwildlife.org/Fishing.aspx
Thank you for visiting - Around the Campfire!!
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